Trailblazing rocker Carole Pope hitting Hamilton for special ‘Antidiva’ doc screening

The Canadian rocker Carole Pope will be in the Hammer Sunday, for a special screening of a new documentary about her life.

The film follows her career as a queer trailblazer in the male-dominated rock scene of the 1970s and ‘90s in Toronto, and her success with her band Rough Trade.

She’s Canada’s original queer rock icon, best known for her classic 80s songs “High School Confidential” and “All Touch.”

Now, Pope’s story is being told in an all new Canadian documentary.

“It was interesting to look at the early footage, because I didn’t remember a lot of it, and I was like ‘oh my god, we were pretty, pretty amazing,” said Pope.

Michelle Mama, the filmmaker and director of Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions, is bringing the rocker’s story to life.

“You know a lot of people didn’t know Carole at all and she has this mythology, and for me it was infuriating that no one had done a doc about her — why?,” said Mama.

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At the height of Pope’s fame, in the late 1970s and early 80s, Pope fronted the band Rough Trade, whose breakout hit “High School Confidential” was something never seen before.

It was a song about lesbian lust with lyrics that pushed the limits of what was allowed on daytime radio at the time.

“I don’t think I really paid attention to what people in the industry said to me, and said to Kevan and I about Rough Trade, because they were like, ‘you can’t do original material, nobody wants to hear original material’ and we were like, ‘yes they do,’ and then we developed this huge following,” said Pope.

The documentary delves into the partnership between her and Rough Trade co-founder and ex-lover Kevan Staples.

“We had the same vision — it was an amazing partnership, we loved each other,” said Pope. “It was just a cosmic melding of words and music.”

“It’s a beautiful love story, on top of a story about a survivor, and a woman in the music industry, and an artist, you know, who didn’t necessarily get her due,” said Mama.

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Pope says the film, which also explores her status as a musical icon who comes from the gay community, is hitting the screens at an important time.

“It’s a very difficult time to be queer right now — you know we all have to stick together and support each other,” said Pope.

She says she’s glad her story is getting out there and reflects fondly on her legacy.

“We got to titillate people and get away with it, so I’m pretty happy about that,” said Pope.

Hamilton’s Playhouse Cinema will be screening Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions Sunday at 4 p.m.

There will be a question and answer session following the film with both Pope and Mama.

Tickets are available online.

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