Poly R.I.P.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 04-27-2011, 12:24 PM

Punk icon Poly Styrene dies at 53

Quote:

Punk icon Poly Styrene, former X-Ray Spex singer, dies aged 53

Punk singer Poly Styrene, former singer with the X-Ray Spex, has died at the age of 53 after suffering from cancer.She was one of the first female punk icons, whose unorthodox yet infectious style was highly influential.

Real name Marianne Elliot-Said, she had cancer of the spine and breast.
A statement on her official Twitter feed said: "We can confirm that the beautiful Poly Styrene, who has been a true fighter, won her battle on Monday evening to go to higher places."

Singer Billy Bragg was among those who paid tribute, saying: "Punk without Poly Styrene and the X-Ray Spex wouldn't have been the same."

Poly Styrene formed her band after watching the Sex Pistols perform on Hastings Pier on her 18th birthday and became known for her unpolished vocals and energetic rallying cries against consumerism and environmental destruction.X-Ray Spex's signature tune was Oh Bondage Up Yours!, a riotous rejection of social and gender norms that began with Poly Styrene's spoken line: "Some people think little girls should be seen and not heard."
The band released just one album, Germ Free Adolescents, in 1978, before splitting up.

The singer went on to record a more subtle and subdued solo album, Translucence, in 1980, before retreating from the music industry to join the Hare Krishnas.She moved into a Krishna temple in Hertfordshire with her daughter, and struggled with bipolar disorder.

Boy George - who once tried to break her out of the temple - wrote on Twitter: "I was a fan of Poly before I got to know her, she was a Krishna follower too, oh bless you Polly you will be missed! Legend!"

Former Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock praised the "general joie de vivre nuttiness" shown in songs like Oh Bondage Up Yours
"She wouldn't kow-tow to even what the punk fashions should be, I think that's what that song is about," he told BBC 6 Music.
"I did see her not that long ago so it's sad. Again, somebody from the punk rock scene has died far too young and it's a loss."

Billy Bragg told the radio station that Oh Bondage Up Yours! was a "slap in the face" to male punk bands and rock journalists.
"It's always hard for women in rock music but it was particularly hard in the 70s," he said. "I think she cut right through that. The work that she did and the things that she produced always stayed true to that original spirit of punk."

TV presenter Jonathan Ross said his first concert was an X-Ray Spex gig, adding that the singer had "changed lives".

Poly Styrene occasionally re-emerged into the limelight, and released her third solo album, Generation Indigo, last month.
"I know I'll probably be remembered for Oh Bondage Up Yours!" she told 6 Music last month. "I'd like to remembered for something a bit more spiritual."

This is sad.
The Day the World Turned Day-Glo was one of the first punk records I ever heard & was responsible for getting me into punk.
I still listen to Germ Free Adolesence when I need cheering up.

I've got Translucence as well, it's not punk but it's well worth a listen.

R.I.P. Poly

FRED HALE SR. · 04-27-2011, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

Punk icon Poly Styrene dies at 53

This is sad.
The Day the World Turned Day-Glo was one of the first punk records I ever heard & was responsible for getting me into punk.
I still listen to Germ Free Adolesence when I need cheering up.

I've got Translucence as well, it's not punk but it's well worth a listen.

R.I.P. Poly

Surprised this has not received any comments. Great band and a huge loss for the punk community. Read about this yesterday and immediately threw on Germ Free also on vinyl. These bands the older crowd grew up on are all getting long in the teeth, sucks getting old.

**Janszoon** · 04-27-2011, 02:17 PM

God damn this sucks. If ever there was a punk rocker I expected to live a long, long time it was her.

Oh cancer, up yours.

Buzzov*en · 04-27-2011, 02:32 PM

Saw Jeff Clayton talking about this, but at the time it was not confirmed or denied.

Sucks.

~~James~~ · 04-27-2011, 03:35 PM

That's a shame, I read ani nterview with her recently and she seemed great....it's a shock.

music_phantom13 · 04-27-2011, 07:39 PM

:/ She was definitely the first rock/punk female singer I got into and probably changed my taste in music a good bit due to that. Admittedly it's been too long since I've given them a proper listen, but I admired her quite a lot during my young teenage years. **** cancer.

BANSHEE · 04-20-2012, 07:09 AM

Not fair ..........and Toyah , the plastic punk still walks the planet ...........not fair boo hoo.

04-27-2011, 02:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	God damn this sucks. If ever there was a punk rocker I expected to live a long, long time it was her. Oh cancer, up yours. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

04-27-2011, 02:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
Buzzov*en Anxiety Hangover Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Gardenia Posts: 501	Saw Jeff Clayton talking about this, but at the time it was not confirmed or denied. Sucks. __________________ Save the environment, shoot yourself in the head. And when there is no hope I'll smoke some crack I'll shoot some dope.

04-27-2011, 03:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
~~James~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,483	That's a shame, I read ani nterview with her recently and she seemed great....it's a shock.

04-27-2011, 07:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
music_phantom13 Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 942	:/ She was definitely the first rock/punk female singer I got into and probably changed my taste in music a good bit due to that. Admittedly it's been too long since I've given them a proper listen, but I admired her quite a lot during my young teenage years. **** cancer.

04-20-2012, 07:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
BANSHEE Groupie Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK Posts: 7	Not fair ..........and Toyah , the plastic punk still walks the planet ...........not fair boo hoo.