Poly Styrene
Poly Styrene | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Marianne Joan Elliott-Said |
Born | Bromley, England | 3 July 1957
Died | 25 April 2011 Sussex, England | (aged 53)
Genres | Punk rock, new wave, downtempo |
Occupation(s) | Vocalist, songwriter |
Years active | 1976–2011 |
Labels | Universal, EMI/Virgin, Future Noise Music |
Marianne Joan Elliott-Said (3 July 1957 – 25 April 2011),
Early life
Poly Styrene was born Marianne Joan Elliott-Said[3] in 1957 in Bromley, Kent, and brought up in Brixton, London.[4] Her mother, who raised her alone, was a Scottish-Irish legal secretary.[5] Her father was a Somali-born dock worker,[6][7] although Poly Styrene used to tell the press that he was a dispossessed Somali aristocrat.[8][9]
As a teenager, Styrene was a
Having been 'an itinerant traveller, alternative fashion designer and a failed pop-reggae singer',
Music career
Demo and first single
Styrene recorded her first demo album in 1975, when she was 18 years old. Her manager enlisted Ted Bunting to produce the record.[13]
In 1976, Styrene released her first single under her real name, Mari Elliott. Titled "Silly Billy", it was a reggae track, with some touches of the then popular ska style. Her daughter Celeste has called it 'similar to
X-Ray Spex
After watching a very early gig by the Sex Pistols in an empty hall on Hastings Pier, playing a set of cover songs,[12] she was inspired to put an ad in the music papers for 'young punx who want to stick it together' to form a band.[16] From this, she became the singer with X-Ray Spex, Poly Styrene,[5] a name she chose from the 'Yellow Pages' when she was 'looking for a name of the time, something plastic.'[17] She was described by Billboard as the "archetype for the modern-day feminist punk"; because she wore dental braces, rebelled against the archetypal female sex object of the 1970s, sported a gaudy Dayglo wardrobe, and was of mixed race. She was "one of the least conventional frontpersons in rock history, male or female".[18] They launched their debut single in 1977.[19]
In 1978, after a gig in
Solo career
After the original line-up of X-Ray Spex broke up in 1979, Poly Styrene recorded a solo album, Translucence, in 1980. The album abandoned X-Ray Spex's loud guitar work for a quieter and more jazzy sound that has since been described as foreshadowing later work by Everything but the Girl.[21] In 1986, she released the EP God's & Godesses [sic] on the Awesome record label. A New Age solo album, Flower Aeroplane, followed in 2004.[5]
She described herself as "an observer, not a suffering artist writing from tortured experiences. I was playing with words and ideas. Having a laugh about everything, sending it up."[5]
In 2007, Styrene was invited to the Concrete Jungle festival in
She made a guest appearance at the 2008 30th anniversary concert of Rock Against Racism in Victoria Park, London, performing "Oh Bondage Up Yours!" with guest musicians Drew McConnell (of Babyshambles and Helsinki) and 'Flash' David Wright playing saxophone.[24] That same year, she dueted with Goldblade's John Robb on a remix of Goldblade's "City of Christmas Ghosts".[25]
In March 2009, Styrene joined other members of
Styrene announced "Virtual Boyfriend" as the first single from the new album Generation Indigo via Spinner Music,
"Ghoulish" was the first posthumous single to be released from Generation Indigo, and was backed by a remix from Hercules and Love Affair.[31]
New York magazine's music journalist Nitsuh Abebe described her singing style with X-Ray Spex as "a bold, keening yelp" and "fierce but fiercely feminine."[19]
The band U2 paid tribute to Styrene during the "HerStory" video tribute to notable women in 2017 for the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree during a performance of "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)"[32] from the band's 1991 album Achtung Baby. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Poly Styrene at number 195 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[33]
Personal life
In 1983, Styrene was initiated into the
In 1995, Styrene's solo work was put on hold when she suffered a fractured pelvis after being knocked down by a fire engine.[36]
In March 2009, Styrene took part in the inaugural
Styrene had a daughter,[38] and lived alone in St Leonards, East Sussex.[8]
Death
In February 2011, in an interview published in The Sunday Times magazine, which largely focused on her past and present relationship with her daughter, Celeste, Styrene revealed that she had been treated for breast cancer, and that it had spread to her spine and lungs. She died of metastatic breast cancer on 25 April 2011, at the age of 53.[1][2][39]
Documentary and biography
Author Zoë Howe and Styrene's daughter, Celeste Bell, co-authored a biography of Styrene that was published in November 2018.[40] The book, titled Day Glo: The Poly Styrene Story, was published in the United States in September 2019.[41]
In 2021, Styrene was the subject of a documentary,
Solo discography
Albums
- Translucence (United Artists, 1980)[49]
- Flower Aeroplane (2004)[50]
- Generation Indigo (Future Noise Music, 2011)[51][52]
EPs
- Gods & Goddesses (Awesome, 1986)[53]
Singles
- "Silly Billy"/"What A Way" – as Mari Elliott (GTO, 1976)[15]
- "Talk in Toytown"/"Sub Tropical" (United Artists, 1980)[54]
- "City of Christmas Ghosts" – Goldblade featuring Poly Styrene (Damaged Goods, 2008)[55]
- "Black Christmas" (2010)[27]
- "Virtual Boyfriend" (2011)[29]
- "Ghoulish" (2011)
References
- ^ a b "Punk icon Poly Styrene dies at 53". BBC News. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ a b Nissim, Mayer (26 April 2011). "Punk star Poly Styrene dies, aged 53". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ Sweeting, Adam (26 April 2011). "Poly Styrene obituary". The Guardian.
- ^ "Music Obituaries: Poly Styrene". The Daily Telegraph. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "The return of punk's first lady". The Independent. 21 November 2008. Archived from the original on 11 February 2011.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ "Omnibus Press". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ a b Philby, Charlotte (19 April 2008). "My secret life: Poly Styrene, Singer, 51". The Independent. London. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ Abbene, Jillian (2008). "On the record with Poly Styrene". SugarBuzz Magazine. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ Garry Mulholland Fear of Music, p.51
- ^ "Gig List – My Sex Pistols collection". Punk1976.webs.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ a b Simpson, Dave (23 March 2011). "Poly Styrene: The Spex factor". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ McCarthy, Nick (30 April 2011). "Poly Styrene and the Birmingham demo tape". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ^ Dayglo, the Poly Styrene Story, p.38
- ^ a b "Mari Elliot – Silly Billy " at Discogs
- Hartnett, P-P. "Once upon a time..." X-Ray Spex. Archived from the originalon 27 February 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
It was in the hot summer of 1976 that Poly Styrene placed an advert in the British music papers NME and MELODY MAKER which started with the grabbing header of 'YOUNG PUNX WHO WANT TO STICK IT TOGETHER'.
- ^ jaymusseato (6 April 2013). "X-Ray Spex / Poly Styrene interview '77 punk". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
- ^ "Poly Styrene Music News & Info". Billboard. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ a b c Abebe, Nitsuh (9 May 2011). "A Glorious Yelp". New York. pp. 112–113.
- Hastings & St. Leonards Observer. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ "X-Ray Spex Music News & Info". Billboard. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ "Concrete Jungle Festivals". JackTheLadProductions.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ X-Ray Spex - Live @ The Roundhouse London 2008, retrieved 30 March 2022
- ^ "David "Flash" Wright". Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ Denney, Alex (3 December 2008). "Robb & Poly Styrene Cosy Up For Xmas". The Quietus. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ "Musicians criticise Google in YouTube royalties battle". NME. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ a b "X-Ray Spex Poly Styrene to release solo album". NME. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ Murray, Robin (9 December 2010). "Track of the Day 9/12 – Poly Styrene – Punk Icon Gets festive". Clash. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
The track was inspired by news reports about an American serial killer dressed as Santa Claus, and references the recession.
- ^ a b "Poly Styrene Takes Aim at Technology's Failings in 'Virtual Boyfriend' Video". Spinner Music. 9 February 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ "Poly Styrene". Poly Styrene. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ Ghoulish - Poly Styrene | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 30 March 2022
- ^ "The Women of Ultra Violet: Light My (Mysterious) Ways: Leg 1". U2 Songs. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ "The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ "When 'gay' Boy George was rejected to be part of Hare Krishna movement". TopNews.in. 27 July 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ Galland, Hugh (25 May 2011). "Poly Styrene". Vive Le Rock. Archived from the original on 23 August 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ^ Swash, Rosie (26 April 2011). "Poly Styrene dies aged 53". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "Ken Livingstone debates with pop stars in London pub". NME. 26 March 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ "Punk icon Poly Styrene dies". The Independent. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ Fullerton, Jamie (26 April 2011). "X-Ray Spex's Poly Styrene dies of cancer". NME. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ "Poly Styrene, X-Ray Spex frontwoman and punk icon, subject of a new documentary". FACT Magazine. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ "Celeste Bell | Day Glo: The Poly Styrene Story". Celeste Bell. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- ^ a b c Gush, Charlotte (30 March 2017). "i am a cliché: documentary on x-ray spex frontwoman poly styrene announced". i-D. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "Film Review: Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché". cine-vue.com. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ a b Bradshaw, Peter (5 March 2021). "Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché review – riveting take on British punk heroine". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ Cooper, Leonie (3 March 2021). "'Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché' review: the perfect tribute to punk's forgotten queen". NME. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (24 February 2021). "Utopia Picks Up Sales Rights To Glasgow & SXSW Music Doc 'Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché' Narrated By Ruth Negga". Deadline.com. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ Aggs, Rachel (5 March 2021). "Poly Styrene's inspiring sensitivity should be the true legacy of punk". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché — bittersweet portrait of a pink pioneer". Financial Times. 4 March 2021. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ Translucence at Discogs
- ^ "Poly's solo activity". X-raySpex.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ ASIN B004LYG4I8, Generation Indigo (26 April 2011)
- ^ Poly Styrene Official Channel (17 March 2011). ""Generation Indigo" Track By Track Interview". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ Gods And Goddesses at Discogs
- ^ "Talk in Toytown " at Discogs
- ^ "City of Christmas Ghosts " at Discogs (list of releases)
External links
- Official website (archived)
- Poly's Punky Party (archived X-Ray Spex site)
- Poly Styrene discography at Discogs