The first biography of legendary and influential British punk band The Raincoats, who were instrumental in the origins and longevity of Rough Trade Records, lauded by Nirvana and Sleater-Kinney, among others, and have long been revered by those in the international punk scene.

Though The Raincoats were formed in London in 1977, their sound was decidedly post-punk. Founders Gina Birch and Ana da Silva applied self-taught skills to their performance but also a non-linear and less aggressive  approach to their song compositions than their contemporaries. Geoff Travis, label founder, even noted that “the whole genome of Rough Trade wouldn’t have been anywhere near as good without them.” The Raincoats went on to create what Vivien Goldman called “a new legacy of punk,” and arguably became the most pioneering and challenging female band of the post-punk era while inspiring a new wave of DIY, Riot Grrrl, and queercore artists. In the new millennium, The Raincoats went on to play at New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Pompidou in Paris, as well as major festivals, and experimented with emerging DIY music technology.

Featuring exclusive interviews, photos, and graphic ephemera from the Raincoats’ archives, alongside testimonies from members of Sonic Youth, Hole, Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney, Big Joanie, Liz Phair, and many more, Shouting Out Loud is the first biography of this groundbreaking and influential band.

About the Author:
Audrey Golden is a New York–based author, journalist, and editor whose work focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. She is the station manager of Louder Than War Radio, where her monthly show, Breaking Glass, highlights women in all aspects of the music industry. Golden holds a PhD in literary studies from the University of Virginia and is the author of I Thought I Heard You Speak: Women at Factory Records.