Rough Trade was a Canadian new wave rock band in the 1970s and 1980s. The band are most famous for their 1981 hit "High School Confidential", one of the first explicitly lesbian-themed Top 40 hits in the world. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... The 1980s refers to the years of 1980 to 1989. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... High School Confidential is a song by Canadian new wave band Rough Trade, from their 1981 album Avoid Freud. ... A lesbian is a female emotionally and/or sexually attracted only to other females. ... Top 40 is a radio format based on frequent repetition of songs from a constantly-updated list of the forty best-selling singles. ...

The band began in 1968, when Carole Pope and Kevan Staples began performing as "O". The following year. In 1970, they changed their name to "The Bullwhip Brothers". 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... Carole Pope (born August 6, 1950 in Manchester, England) is a Canadian rock singer, whose provocative blend of hard-edged new wave rock with explicit homoerotic and BDSM-themed lyrics made her one of the first openly lesbian pop stars in the world. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ...

In 1975, the band became Rough Trade, adding Joanne Brooks, Rick Gratton, Happy Roderman, John Lang and Marv Kanarek to the lineup. The band, through their combination of hard-edged new wave rock and raw sexuality (Pope often performed in bondage attire), became a popular draw on Toronto's live music circuit through their regular shows at Grossman's. 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... A collar is a common symbol in BDSM. BDSM is any of a number of related patterns of human sexual behavior. ...

In 1980, the band's lineup changed, with most of the backing musicians leaving and being replaced by Sharon Smith, Jon Cessine, Bucky Berger and Terry Wilkins. 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...

Also that year, the band landed a record contract with True North Records. Their first album, Avoid Freud, was released later that year, and the controversy around the raunchy lesbian-themed single "High School Confidential" made them stars. They released one album each year until 1985, scoring at least one significant hit, including "Weapons", "All Touch" and "Crimes of Passion", from each album. Although not as widely remembered as "High School Confidential" today, "All Touch" was the band's most successful single on the Canadian charts during their career. True North Records is a Canadian independent record label. ... Avoid Freud is the debut album by Canadian new wave band Rough Trade, released in 1980. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1983, they were offered a Pepsi commercial to air in the Canadian market, but the ad was soon pulled from the airwaves as Pepsi had failed to obtain permission from another Canadian rocker, Nash the Slash, to include his picture in the commercial. 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pepsi-Cola, commonly called Pepsi, is a soft drink produced and manufactured by PepsiCo. ... Nash the Slash Nash the Slash is a Canadian progressive rock, classical, and alternative musician. ...

The 1985 greatest hits compilation Birds of a Feather was the band's final release, although they continued to perform on stage. Their final full scale tour took place in 1986, although they continued to perform occasional concert dates in Toronto until 1988. In their final years, guitarist Wild T also joined the band. 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A greatest hits album (sometimes referred to as a best of album) is a compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular music artist or band. ... Tony Wild T Springer is a Canadian blues-rock guitarist. ...

The band subsequently performed several reunion shows in the late 1990s. For the band, see 1990s (band). ...

Discography

• Rough Trade Live! Direct to Disc (1976)
• Avoid Freud (1980)
• For Those Who Think Young (1981)
• Shaking the Foundations (1982)
• Weapons (1983)
• O Tempora! O Mores! (1984)
• Birds of a Feather: The Best of Rough Trade (1985)