Carole Pope and Rough Trade, a pioneering Canadian rock band, traversed the punk movement of the 1970s, bridging the gap to the new wave sound of the 1980s, and catapulted themselves onto the international music scene. Their provocative act and sexually explicit lyrics captivated a diverse audience, including fellow artists who were experimenting with their own forms of nihilism.
In her autobiography, Anti Diva, Pope offers a candid and unflinching account of her experiences in the music industry, recounting her adventures on stage, in the recording studio, and behind the scenes, as well as her involvement in extravagant, gender-bending parties. During her early days, Pope socialized with renowned comedians Gilda Radner, Martin Short, Bill Murray, and Dan Aykroyd, who were part of the Saturday Night Live (1975) cast, and even had a romantic affair with the legendary singer Dusty Springfield.
Pope's eclectic career has spanned multiple mediums, including stage performances, television appearances, and music productions. She has starred alongside drag queen Divine in the stage play "Restless Underwear" and has sung high opera. Pope has also toured with the iconic David Bowie and performed at the Womyn's Festival.
Throughout her illustrious career, Carole Pope has paved the way for the diva and anti-diva in all of us, fearlessly pushing boundaries and risking it all. Her impressive list of accolades includes three Juno Awards, a Genie Award, and four Gold and two Platinum records, solidifying her status as an icon of transgressive music.
In recent years, Pope has continued to write and record new music, with a new CD and a TVO production of Shaking the Foundations, a musical based on Rough Trade's songs, premiering in the fall of 2000. Currently residing in West Hollywood, California, Pope remains an influential figure in the music industry, leaving a lasting impact on generations of artists to come.
