Topic: Poly Styrene dies at 53

[GillE]

Poly Styrene (real name Marianne Elliot-Said) of the punk band X-Ray Spex has died of cancer at the age of 53.  I doubt she will have been too well known but she was an icon in the punk movement of the late 1970s.

 

[Clive]

When I was working for my final company, one of my co-ordinators was called Polly Esther. 

[Simon]

When I was working for my final company, one of my co-ordinators was called Polly Esther. 

I certainly remember Poly Styrene.  She used to dress in what looked like a torn black bin bag.

[Delgado]

I only knew Polybond; she came to a sticky end!

 

[Rik]

Then there was Polycell - he became a monk...

[Simon]

X-Ray Spex only had one or two good tracks.  The rest was Polyfiller. 

[Rik]

[GillE]

I remember Identity but that's about it.  I always thought X-Ray Spex were just another vehicle for Malcolm McLaren's publicity machine.  Poly Styrene was relatively photogenic but the music had no substance.

[Simon]

Photogenic?  She had braces on her teeth and acne! 

[GillE]

That's why I said relatively photogenic.  Despite her youthful flaws she had a good underlying bone structure and her flamboyance certainly lent itself to the camera.

[Simon]

I was never into the punk thing, at the time, but now, Never Mind The B******s is one of my favourite albums if I just fancy a bit of noise.  

[GillE]

I enjoyed punk a lot, although I thought the clothes and hairstyles were silly.  I liked the Sex Pistols but my favourites were the Stranglers and the pre-pop Blondie.

[Simon]

Never really liked The Stranglers, but Sham69 were a laugh! 

[GillE]

I saw Sham69 live at the Cleethorpes Winter Gardens, of all places.  Believe it or not, it was the best live performance I've ever seen!  The PA system broke after the first couple of songs so the band continued without.  Jimmy Pursey didn't need a microphone anyway.

[Delgado]

Then there was Polycell - he became a monk...