Punk Icon Viv Albertine’s Memoirs To Be Adapted For TV

If you know your punk music, you’ll know Viv Albertine was a pivotal park of the British punk movement. If you don’t, the critically acclaimed memoirs of legendary punk musician will soon come to a television near you.

A deal was struck with Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley’s Number 9 Films and Rachael Horovitz’ West Fourth Films have acquired the much sought-after television rights.

Albertine has released two revealing and fearless memoirs detailing her upbringing in the ‘70s and rise in punk music as guitarist for all-girl band The Slits (1977-1982) at the height of the male-dominated punk rock music scene. Albertine was amongst the first “inner circle” fans of the Sex Pistols, and was a close friend of both Mick Jones and Paul Simonon of The Clash. In 1976, she helped form The Flowers of Romance with Sid Vicious and Susie Souix.

Her memoirs The first, Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys. was published in 2014 and was a Sunday Times Music, Mojo, Rough Trade and NME Book of the Year.

The second, a more personal autobiography delving into her family life and relationships, To Throw Away Unopened, was published in 2018 and was shortlisted for the Costa Book of the Year Awards and longlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize.

Upon the release of both memoirs, Albertine has been courted by major producers for several years to obtain the rights to her fascinating life story, but has never agreed until now.

Viv Albertine said: “I’m so happy that Rachael, Elizabeth and Stephen are bringing my books to the screen! Right from the start they were sensitive to the extremely personal nature of the work and I knew the books were in the hands of producers with integrity. Their vision is perfectly in tune with the work, they understand the subject and the times, I can’t wait for the project to get started and to see all the characters in my story come to life!”

Producers commented on the announcement saying… “What an exciting and exhilarating prospect to re-explore a time when music, fashion, political ideologies and sexuality were turned on their heads. So beautifully evoked alongside personal insights and frank reflections of an extraordinary woman’s life in Albertine’s two incredible memoirs.

Nothing that has happened before or since can match the explosion that was 70s London Punk, and Viv Albertine helped pack the dynamite, place the detonator and light the fuse. The Slits forged the soundtrack to a gender-bending, iconic cultural revolution and guitarist Viv Albertine was right in the thick of it. She helped create an uninhibited new attitude, a unique musical language and a DIY aesthetic that invaded and ingrained itself into the mainstream.

Albertine’s memoirs and our show are a narrative of brave and sheer joyous rebellion. The story of a working-class girl fighting for a place and voice in a restrictive world, Viv’s story is a kaleidoscope of painful truth and witty honesty that will resonate with everyone who’s lived a life, and today’s music loving, boundary-breaking generation.”

Stephen Woolley will be known mostly for his producing and especially lot of book to screen adaptations like Interview With A Vampire, The End Of Affair, Carol, Great Expectations. His working partner and Wife  Karlsen who has worked on many of the same projects and her own including Paolo Sorrentino‘s Youth. Horovotz will be know for her work on Moneyball and Benedict Cumberbatch‘s Patrik Melrose,

Albertine is no stranger to Television and Film. After her band split up she wrote and directed the short film Coping With Cupid (1991). she has also collaborated with filmmaker Joanna Hogg on several occasions, completing the soundtrack for her film Archipelago as well as starring in Exhibition.