25 April 2024
Poly Styrene (born named Marianne Joan Elliott-Said) past
away this day, 25 April in 2011, only 53, due to breast cancer.
R.I.P.
(Photo on top: Movie poster of the Poly Styrene documentary)
Great bands from the past
One of the most genuine Brit punk bands of
the late ’70s was, unquestionably, X-RAY SPEX.
School friends Marianne Joan Elliott-Saidn, loudmouth Poly Styrene, and
Susan Whitby, saxophonist Lora Logic, started the group in 1976 and made
an instant intense impact on London’s punk scene with loud and clear feminist
punk manifestos, but they also ranted about the consumer society, environment
issues and other essential daily life problems.
They sounded amazing, they looked amazing and they
made an amazing debut LP with Germ Free Adolescents.
By 1979 Styrene left the band an did some solo work and
later X-Ray Spex had some reunion shows, but in 2011 Poly
was diagnosed with breast cancer. She didn’t survive the
cruel attack on her body. She was only 53. R.I.P.
Three great X-Ray moments.
– THE DAY THE WORLD TURNED DAY GLO –
– IDENTITY –
– OH BONDAGE! UP YOURS! –
(Saxy live version. ACE!)
Some people think little girls should be seen and not heard
But I think “oh bondage, up yours!”
One-two-three-four!
Bind me, tie me, chain me to the wall
I wanna be a slave to you all
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
X-RAY SPEX: Story
15 February 2023
One of the most genuine Britpunk bands of
the late ’70s was, unquestionably, X-RAY SPEX.
School friends Marianne Joan Elliott-Saidn, loudmouth Poly Styrene, and
Susan Whitby, saxophonist Lora Logic, started the group in 1976 and made
an instant intense impact on London‘s punk scene with loud and clear feminist
punk manifestos, but they also ranted about our consumer society, environment
issues and other essential daily life problems.
They sounded amazing, they looked amazing and they
made an amazing debut LP with Germ Free Adolescents.
By 1979 Styrene left the band an ddid some solo work and
later X-Ray Spex had some reunion shows, but in 2011 Poly
was diagnosed with breast cancer. She didn’t survive the
cruel attack on her body. She was only 53. R.I.P.
Three great X-Ray moments.
– THE DAY THE WORLD TURNED DAY GLO –
– IDENTITY –
– OH BONDAGE! UP YOURS! –
(Saxy live version. ACE!)
Some people think little girls should be seen and not heard
But I think “oh bondage, up yours!”
One-two-three-four!
Bind me, tie me, chain me to the wall
I wanna be a slave to you all
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
X-RAY SPEX: Story
Great covers of magazines from the past
POLY STYRENE of London’s punk legends X-RAY SPEX
Smash Hits (UK) – 1979
R.I.P.
X-RAY SPEX: Story
Sonic knockouts from the past…
13 March 2019
‘The Day The World Day Glo‘ by X-RAY SPEX
Stupendous track by one of the most remarkable punk bands at the time with the late great Poly Sterene. Released in April 1978. B-side: ‘Iama Poseur‘. It peaked at #23 on the UK Singles chart and was the closer of their amazing debut LP Germfree Adolescents.
Here we go…
X-RAY SPEX: Biography
Going back in sonic history looking for memorable albums…
9 November 2018
Band: X-RAY SPEX
Album: GERMFREE ADOLESCENTS – the band’s debut LP
Released: 10 November 1978 – 40 years ago
ALL MUSIC review: “Perhaps the most utopian aspect of the U.K. punk scene was that it offered creative, articulate young people the opportunity to express themselves, and to kick
up an exuberantly noisy racket in the process. X-Ray Spex certainly came from this wing of the movement, the brainchild of two female schoolmates who re-christened themselves Poly Styrene and Lora Logic. X-Ray Spex was far from the only female-centered British punk act, but they were arguably the best, combining exuberant energy with a cohesive worldview courtesy of singer and songwriter Poly Styrene. As her nom de punk hinted, Styrene was obsessed with the artificiality she saw permeating Britain’s consumer society, linking synthetic goods with a sort of processed, manufactured humanity. Styrene’s frantic claustrophobia permeates the record, as she rails in her distinctively quavering yowl against the alienation she feels preventing her from discovering her true self.” – Full review here – Score: 4/5
TURN UP THE VOLUME! says: To my ears and eyes frontwoman Poly Styrene – born Marianne Joan Elliott-Said – was one of the most genuine, outspoken, creative and honest DIY artists of the era. Not like the many media punks stars we all know/knew, but a great individual with a unique talent and style. May she rest in peace.
TOP TRACKS: The Day The World Turned Day-Glo / Identity / I’m A Poseur
* The Day The World Turned Day-Glo
* Identity
* I Am A Poseur
ALBUM in full…
(#1 – #12)
.
X-RAY SPEX: Website
The best of the past…
Every week Turn Up The Volume! jumps into the past! Relive 25 Crackers and
3 Top Albums per year/per week. Here’s another fabulous year to remember: 1978.
The 25 KILLER TRACKS…
.
The 3 TOP ALBUMS…
– ‘All Mod Cons‘ by THE JAM –
Stream here…
.
– ‘Parallel Lines‘ by BLONDIE –
Stream here…
.
– ‘This Year’s Model’ by ELVIS COSTELLO –
Stream here…
.
See/hear you next week for the year of 1979…
