I know it has been several months since I've been on here, but I think it's time to start updating more often. So for my first post in months, I've decided to pay tribute to a punk icon. Poly Styrene, whose real name was Marion Elliot-Said, passed away last Monday at the age of 53 from breast cancer. She was the lead vocalist and songwriter for X-Ray Spex. The band is best known for their single, "Oh Bondage Up Yours!", which has since become a punk rock anthem. They were also known for creating one of the greatest punk rock albums of all-time, Germ Free Adolescents. Despite being together for a short period of time, the band were a major influence on both punk and new wave music.
Shortly after the band split up, Poly pursued a solo career and released a few albums. Most recently with her third studio album Generation Indigo, which was released three days after her death. Poly will be remembered for being a pioneer of punk rock and new wave music with her anti-consumerism/feminist lyrics and thrifty style. She was an artist way ahead of her time. Styrene will certainly be missed and her spirit will continue to live on through her music.
R.I.P. Poly. You'll be sorely missed.
ReplyDelete-Wop
very sad... i knew her not, but i alas you are here...
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog... and this is the first I hear of Poly Styrene's death?! My favorite song of the Specs was "Warrior in Woolworths," but the whole debut album was special. I'd heard that she ended up as a Hare Krishna, handing out flowers in airports, but I never checked to see whether or not that was just an urban legend.
ReplyDeleteHey, welcome back!
ReplyDeleteStick around, why donchya?
And I, too, was sorry to hear about the death of Poly. She was an icon in her own right.