X-Ray Spex CBGB New York 17th March 1978 (TFTLTYTD#1)

For some reason it seemed right for me to kick off this 'memorial' thread with something by X-Ray Spex. That band along with their enigmatic singer Poly Styrene were in many ways the epitome of British punk rock. A more unlikely 'rock band' you would be hard pushed to find! A band of young kids thrashing out a set of songs that told of a plastic, art-I-ficial and disposable existence that was our present and future. Poly in particular was an absolute polar opposite of your mid-'70's A&R perception of a female lead singer. Poly could not be marketed in the conventional manner of the day. Blondie got that treatment (although I think that Debbie Harry was well aware of the value of her looks when it came to shifting units) and even a forward thinking Stiff Records messed up with The Adverts debut single 'One Chord Wonders' when they featured Gaye only on the sleeve... old marketing habits die hard.

If visually Poly and Co embodied punk rock, the opening line of the band's debut single was the perfect lyrical distillation of the attitude of punk rock.

'Some people think little girls should be seen and not heard,

But I think 'Oh! Bondage, up yours!'

The band were lauded even in the early days of punk as being something unique amongst their peers. However, the pressure of being the face in such a band took a heavy toll on Poly and in 1979 suffering with exhaustion and mental health issues she left the ranks of the band. They in turn, rather adrift without their charismatic singer, split soon after.

I was lucky enough to see them on the occasion of their first reunion gig at the Brixton Academy in 1991.

Several years later Poly performed 'Oh! Bondage' at the Love Music Hate Racism Festival on 28th April 2008, 30 years to the day that Victoria Park in Hackney hosted the Rock Against Racism festival at which X-Ray Spex played. London was to see one final appearance from the band at the Roundhouse on 6th September 2008.

Poly (or rather Marion Elliot) succumbed to spinal and breast cancer in April 2011 at just 53 years of age. She was a true original.

So, to complete the picture, here's a recording of the band at CBGB's in New York's Bowery, wher the band enjoyed a significant residency.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-1IU6jgwE2i

FLAC: Speed corrected: https://we.tl/t-xmEplOhe3f

Many thanks to Mark for this corrected version!

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-LJpZR38Bhg