It is not an exaggeration to call the Raincoats one of the most important British bands of the late 1970s. Releasing three albums on the famed Rough Trade label, the Raincoats (composed of an all-female lineup) played music that was punk only in the sense that it defied pop conventions and gender expectations at nearly every turn. In the process, the band inspired myriad off-shoots of punk and D.I.Y. music, from Riot Grrrl to twee pop to Sonic Youth and Nirvana. The Raincoats' albums remained out of print for many years until, at the insistence of Kurt Cobain, their first three albums were reissued on Geffen in the mid-'90s. In the following years, the band made live appearances and reissued material from their back catalog. ~ Rovi Staff