Carole Pope - the lewd, lesbian lyricist of Rough Trade - says she's surprised she remembers the 1970s.

Sporting black leather pants, a black sweater and short cropped black hair, a visibly-aged Pope made a rare television appearance Monday to plug her autobiography, Anti Diva.

During the past 30 years, Pope lost her brother to AIDs, and her good friend, Dusty Springfiend (We always loved each other) to cancer - both tragedies which she revisits in the book.

Pope, now 50, said she also recounts, the many, many parties, binges, sexual adventures and other unconventional indulgences she undertook over the years.

But she told CTV's Canada AM that despite her sexually explicit lyrics and flaunting stage antics, many music fans of the 70s didn't take notice that she is a lesbian.

People didn't get that High School Confidential was gay, Pope said of hit song she recorded about lusting after a pretty high school girl.

To some measure, notes Pope, Rough Trade was successful at breaking new ground. We kind of opened the music scene for other people to do original material, she said. Madonna and Prince kind of did what I did, but years later.

The British-born rocker lived in Toronto for years, playing at clubs, recording and appearing in theatre productions. She established Rough Trade in 1974 with Toronto musician and songwriter, Kevan Staples.

Pope's assertive vocals, sexual lyrics and unconventional lifestyle garnered the duo a large and loyal following throughout North America and Europe.

Pope now makes her home in Los Angeles, where she is an AIDs activist and, she added, enjoying menopause.

I'm loving the menopause, said Pope, appearing reserved, if not a bit tired due to the early hour of the interview. It's like a giant, cosmic relief.