X-Ray Spex

X-Ray Spex was one of the definitive British punk bands of the late-1970s. Formed in 1976 in London, England, the group's original lineup included frontwoman Poly Styrene, guitarist Jak Airport, bassist Paul Dean, drummer Paul 'B. P.' Hurding, and saxophonist Lora Logic. The use of female vocals and brass instruments made X-Ray Spex a unique act within the emerging scene of punk-rock, and the group debuted with 1977's "Oh Bondage Up Yours!" Although the song failed to chart, it became one of the more acclaimed songs of the era and was followed by "The Day the World Turned Day-Glo" / "I Am a Poseur," a double-sided single that reached Number 23 in the UK. Before the year was up, X-Ray Spex had earned additional Top 40 hits with the singles "Identity" / "Let's Submerge" and "Germfree Adolescents" / "Age," which charted at Number 24 and Number 19, respectively. All three singles appeared on the band's full-length debut, Germfree Adolescents, which was released in November 1978 and reached Number 30 in the UK. Despite the momentum, X-Ray Spex's classic era proved to be short-lived, with the band splitting up after completing its first and only UK tour. The pressures of the road had left Poly Styrene exhausted, and she left the band's lineup in 1979 to launch a solo career. Her first album, Translucence, was released in 1980. The band fell apart in her absence, although 1995's Conscious Consumer found Styrene and her X-Ray Spex bandmates reuniting for a brief spell. The group performed together sporadically during the following years, although the momentum slowed as Jak Airport passed away in 2004 and Poly Styrene lost a battle to breast cancer in 2011.

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