Rough Trade, a Canadian rock band centered around singer Carole Pope and multi-instrumentalist Kevan Staples, was formed in Toronto in 1968. Initially known as "O," the duo began performing folk music with Clive Smith. After Smith's departure in 1970, they renamed themselves "The Bullwhip Brothers" before settling on Rough Trade in 1973. The band gained popularity through their theatrical performances and provocative lyrics, often featuring Pope in bondage attire.
Rough Trade released their first album, Avoid Freud, in October 1980 under True North Records. The controversial single "What's the Furor About the Fuhrer?" sparked attention, but it was the B-side "Fashion Victim" that became a Top 40 hit in Canada. Their next album, For Those Who Think Young, included the sexually charged single "All Touch", which peaked at number 12 on the Canadian charts and reached number 58 in the U.S. The band's explicit lesbian-themed hit "High School Confidential" from this period was one of the first such songs to reach the Top 40 worldwide. Despite their success, Rough Trade disbanded in 1988. Rough Trade: Live 1979-1980, a live document capturing the band at its peak, came out in 2022.
