Oh Cancer! Up Yours!

Wow...there are a lot of sad deaths from the big C out there right now. I’d heard Poly Styrene, arguably one of the most important figures in the whole punk movement, was battling cancer a few months ago but it’s just been confirmed that she’s passed away. If such a thing can be made even sadder Poly recently made her comeback, releasing a brand new solo album after decades in relative obscurity.

Mixed race (at a time when racial tension was still a big deal), wearing braces and screaming up a storm she was everything that was great about punk...that whole’ just get up there and do it no matter what you looked or sounded like’ ethos that ushered in a musical revolution...something we could all do with again now I reckon. If you’ve not heard it the album she made with X-Ray Spex, Germ Free Adolescents is frankly essential. Click on the vid above for a quick blast. RIP Polly.