To: "Typical Girls: Women in Punk/Post-Punk/Underground Music \(Circa 1975-1980s\)" <typicalgirls AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Cc: "Typical Girls: Women in Punk/Post-Punk/Underground Music \(Circa1975-1980s\)" <typicalgirls AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [TypicalGirls] Poly Styrene, R.I.P.
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2011 06:42:53 -0700 (PDT)
Very sad. I was not expecting this; I've become used to friends surviving breast cancer. And it seems very quick. Have been listening to the new album; will listen differently now.
Yes, sadly, this is true. Her official Twitter confirmed about an hour ago:
@Poly_Styrene: "We can confirm that the beautiful Poly Styrene, who has been a true fighter, won her battle on Monday evening to go to higher places. PSTeam"
I remember hearing X-Ray Spex for the first time in high school via a foreign exchange student from England whom I befriended mostly because she had cool new records from England that I knew I needed to hear. Indeed Poly Styrene was one of the forces that made me the woman I am today.
The last tweet Poly wrote (posted this past Wednesday, April 19):
"Slowly slowly trying 2 get better miss my walk along the promenade. Would b so nice 2 sing again & play #GenerationIndigo live. Luv Poly X"
I woke up to the horrible rumours this morning
of Poly Styrene's passing. Nothing official from her publicist yet
but close friends have confirmed her death on Facebook and other
sources.
If anyone hears any other news please share.
More than most other women in punk from that era Poly Styrene was
a major inspiration for me. So beautiful and radiant she was.