X-ray Spex

X-ray Spex were a UK punk band formed in 1977. The band featured singer Poly Styrene[?] (born Marion Elliot) on vocals and, unusually for one of the earlier punk bands, saxophone played by Lora Logic[?] (born Susan Whitby).

As strange as the combination sounded, it worked. Poly Styrene's wailing/screaming creating a synergistic balance to the saxophone. Songs like "Identity" are a perfect example of this synergy at work.

Other songs like "Warrior in Woolworth's" are slower, more melodic numbers which still manage to be punk, despite being heavily sax-dominated. Their best known songs were probably "Oh Bondage Up Yours!", and "The Day the World Turned Dayglo", the former being featured as background music on one of MTV's programs (Jackass?).

In (year?) Poly suffered a nervous breakdown, and later joined the Hare Krishna Temple.

Lora Logic went on to form Essential Logic.

External links

• http://www.terrapin.co.uk/xrayspex/
• Pictures of Poly Styrene when in X-ray Spex (http://www.cbgb.com/shrine/shriners/polystyrene.htm)
• http://www.comnet.ca/~rina/xrayspex
• http://www.comnet.ca/~rina/poly
• http://www.comnet.ca/~rina/lora