X-Ray Spex
X-Ray Spex are an English punk band from London that formed in 1976. The or… Read Full Bio ↴X-Ray Spex are an English punk band from London that formed in 1976. The original line-up featured singer Poly Styrene (born Marianne Joan Elliott-Said) on vocals, Jak Airport (Jack Stafford) on guitars, Paul Dean on bass, Paul 'B. P.' Hurding on Drums, and Lora Logic (born Susan Whitby) on saxophone. This latter instrument was an atypical addition to the standard punk instrumental line-up, and became one of the group's most distinctive features.
X-Ray Spex's other distinctive musical element was Poly Styrene's voice, which has been variously described as "effervescently discordant" and "powerful enough to drill holes through sheet metal". As Mari Elliot, Poly had released a reggae single for GTO Records in 1976, "Silly Billy", which had not charted. Born in 1957 in Brixton, London, of Somali-English parentage, Poly Styrene became the group's public face, and remains one of the most memorable front-women to emerge from the punk movement. Poly Sytrene also became one of the first high-profile black people in punk rock. She wore braces on her teeth and once stated that "If anybody tried to make me a sex symbol I would shave my head tomorrow".
X-Ray Spex existed from mid-1976 to 1979, during which time they released five singles - "Oh Bondage, Up Yours", "Identity", "The Day the World Turned Day-Glo", "Germ Free Adolescents", and "Highly Inflammable" - and one album, Germ Free Adolescents. The album and title single reached 30 and 19 in their respective charts, although "Oh Bondage, Up Yours" is regarded as their most enduring artifact, both as a piece of music and as a phrase. The song was not originally on the album, although later CD releases added it as the final track. The group did play a fortnight's residency at New York's CBGB's even though Germ Free Adolescents was not released in America until 1992. Exhausted by touring, Poly Styrene left the band in 1979 to release a solo album, Translucence, before joining the Hare Krishna movement (as did Lora Logic, in a coincidental move, who left the band aged 16 in 1977 to form a new group called Essential Logic).
Without Styrene, the group lost its momentum and split up. Hurding and London went on to form Classix Nouveaux, while Paul Dean retired from musical activities.
In 1991 re-grouped X-Ray Spex played a surprise sell-out gig at the Brixton Academy. Uniquely, this version of the group did not include Poly Styrene, and according to an interview with Lora Logic: "...that was a mistake. They put that together with another singer and I played with them for a tour but you can't really have it without Poly."
The group reformed more successfully in 1995 with a line-up of Styrene, Dean and Logic to release a new album Conscious Consumer. Although heralded as the first in a trilogy, the album was not a commercial success. Styrene later explained that touring and promotional work suffered an abrupt end when she was run over by a fire engine in central London. The group disbanded, but subsequent releases include a compilation of the group's early records, a live album, and an anthology of all the aforementioned.
Jak Airport later worked for the BBC's Corporate and Public Relations department under his real name, Jack Stafford; he died in August 2004.
Discography
Singles
"Oh Bondage, Up Yours", 1977
"The Day The World Turned Day-Glo", 1978 #23 UK
"Identity", 1978 #24 UK
"Germ Free Adolescents", 1978 #19 UK
"Highly Inflammable", 1979 #45 UK
Albums
Germ Free Adolescents, 1978
Conscious Consumer, 1995
Poly Styrene later went on to reform X-Ray Spex with a 30 year anniversary sell-out gig at The Roundhouse, Camden, London September 6th 2008 with original bass player Paul Dean, Jak Airport sadly no longer with us was replaced by Saxby guitarist for Arnold, saxophone was provided by Flash formerly of Rip Rig & Panic and finally drummer Sid (Sidation) Truelove from Rubella Ballet and Flux of Pink Indians, hand picked by Poly for his authentic resemblance to B.P. Hurdings original punk style completing the line up for one of the most long awaited gigs of the last three decades. This performance will be available to buy on DVD and live album in November 2009 on Future Noise Music, for more info go to www.futurenoisemusic.com
Polystyrene sadly lost her battle with cancer and passed away 26/04/11
www.x-rayspex.com// http://www.myspace.com/xrayspexrealofficialpage
X-ray Spex
X-Ray Spex's other distinctive musical element was Poly Styrene's voice, which has been variously described as "effervescently discordant" and "powerful enough to drill holes through sheet metal". As Mari Elliot, Poly had released a reggae single for GTO Records in 1976, "Silly Billy", which had not charted. Born in 1957 in Brixton, London, of Somali-English parentage, Poly Styrene became the group's public face, and remains one of the most memorable front-women to emerge from the punk movement. Poly Sytrene also became one of the first high-profile black people in punk rock. She wore braces on her teeth and once stated that "If anybody tried to make me a sex symbol I would shave my head tomorrow".
X-Ray Spex existed from mid-1976 to 1979, during which time they released five singles - "Oh Bondage, Up Yours", "Identity", "The Day the World Turned Day-Glo", "Germ Free Adolescents", and "Highly Inflammable" - and one album, Germ Free Adolescents. The album and title single reached 30 and 19 in their respective charts, although "Oh Bondage, Up Yours" is regarded as their most enduring artifact, both as a piece of music and as a phrase. The song was not originally on the album, although later CD releases added it as the final track. The group did play a fortnight's residency at New York's CBGB's even though Germ Free Adolescents was not released in America until 1992. Exhausted by touring, Poly Styrene left the band in 1979 to release a solo album, Translucence, before joining the Hare Krishna movement (as did Lora Logic, in a coincidental move, who left the band aged 16 in 1977 to form a new group called Essential Logic).
Without Styrene, the group lost its momentum and split up. Hurding and London went on to form Classix Nouveaux, while Paul Dean retired from musical activities.
In 1991 re-grouped X-Ray Spex played a surprise sell-out gig at the Brixton Academy. Uniquely, this version of the group did not include Poly Styrene, and according to an interview with Lora Logic: "...that was a mistake. They put that together with another singer and I played with them for a tour but you can't really have it without Poly."
The group reformed more successfully in 1995 with a line-up of Styrene, Dean and Logic to release a new album Conscious Consumer. Although heralded as the first in a trilogy, the album was not a commercial success. Styrene later explained that touring and promotional work suffered an abrupt end when she was run over by a fire engine in central London. The group disbanded, but subsequent releases include a compilation of the group's early records, a live album, and an anthology of all the aforementioned.
Jak Airport later worked for the BBC's Corporate and Public Relations department under his real name, Jack Stafford; he died in August 2004.
Discography
Singles
"Oh Bondage, Up Yours", 1977
"The Day The World Turned Day-Glo", 1978 #23 UK
"Identity", 1978 #24 UK
"Germ Free Adolescents", 1978 #19 UK
"Highly Inflammable", 1979 #45 UK
Albums
Germ Free Adolescents, 1978
Conscious Consumer, 1995
Poly Styrene later went on to reform X-Ray Spex with a 30 year anniversary sell-out gig at The Roundhouse, Camden, London September 6th 2008 with original bass player Paul Dean, Jak Airport sadly no longer with us was replaced by Saxby guitarist for Arnold, saxophone was provided by Flash formerly of Rip Rig & Panic and finally drummer Sid (Sidation) Truelove from Rubella Ballet and Flux of Pink Indians, hand picked by Poly for his authentic resemblance to B.P. Hurdings original punk style completing the line up for one of the most long awaited gigs of the last three decades. This performance will be available to buy on DVD and live album in November 2009 on Future Noise Music, for more info go to www.futurenoisemusic.com
Polystyrene sadly lost her battle with cancer and passed away 26/04/11
www.x-rayspex.com// http://www.myspace.com/xrayspexrealofficialpage
X-ray Spex
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X-Ray Spex Lyrics
016-Oh Bondage Up Yours! Some people think little girls should be seen and not…
1-04 I Am A Poseur I am a poseur and I don't care I like…
13 I Live Off You I live off you And you live of me And the whole…
Age Darling, am I looking old? Tell me, dear, I must be…
Art-I-Ficial Art-i-ficial! I know I'm artificial But don't put the blame…
Cigarettes Packet of cigarettes on the counter Carrying a government he…
Crystal Clear How do you feel now? I want to know Clear as…
Dog in Sweden Iggy says "I wanna be your dog." But I want you…
Encore – Oh Bondage Up Yours! Some people think little girls should be seen and not…
Genetic Engineering Genetic engineering Ein, zwei, drei, vier! Genetic engineer…
Germ Free Adolescents I know you're antiseptic, your deodorant smells nice I'd lik…
Germfree Adolescents I know your antiseptic Your deodorant smells nice I'd like…
Good Time Girl I don't want to be? I don't want to be A…
Hi Chaperone You know, you know, you know you know you know I…
HIghly Inflammable Highly inflammable Waiting to explode Neurotic tensions Rise…
I I live off you And you live of me And the whole…
I Am a Clich I am a poseur and I don't care I like…
I Am a Cliché I am a cliche I am a cliche, I am a…
I Am a Cliche I am a cliche I am a cliche I am a…
I Am A Poseur I am a poseur and I don't care I like…
I Can't Do Anything I can't write And I can't sing I can't do anything I can't…
i cant do anything I can't write And I can't sing I can't do anything I can'…
I Live Of You I live off you And you live of me And the whole…
I'am A Poseur I am a poseur and I don't care I like…
Identity Identity Identity is the crisis, can't you see? Identity, id…
India India, India, India India, India, clarified butter from the …
Junk Food Junkie Johnny's got an addiction He's strung out without convictio…
Let's Submerge It's dark and eerie and it's really late Come on kids,…
Let’s Submerge It's dark and eerie and it's really late Come on kids,…
Melancholy My mother the cow who still feeds me now is…
No Rules Let's go, let's go Come and feel my vibe, vibe Yeah, yeah,…
Obsessed With You You are just a concept You are just a dream You're just…
Oh Bondage Some people think little girls should be seen and not…
Oh! Bondage, Up Yours! Bind me tie me Chain me to the wall I wanna…
On the Roof Roofs of the roots Eyes of the moon So much to…
Party Did you enjoy the party you went to the other…
Peace Meal Not much difference 'tween a cow and you Flesh, blood, bone…
Plastic Bag 1977 and we are going mad It's 1977 and we've seen…
Plastic Bag. 1977 and we are going mad It's 1977 and we've seen…
Prayer for Peace We got something don't you know it's true? We got something…
Prefabricated Icon Je crache à la gueule de tout ce système Quand je…
Sophia Sophia look like a witch A beautiful witch is she Sophia loo…
The Day The World Turned Day-Glo I clambered over mounds and mounds of polystyrene foam Then …
Warrior in Woolworth Warrior in Woolworth's Humble he may seem Behind his servile…
What Do I Get I'm stuck With this suggestion of you I can't see you from…