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Farewell, Poly Styrene and Phoebe Snow

April 26, 2011 by WendyB

I was shocked to read that punk icon Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex died of breast cancer at 53. I frequently listen to X-Ray Spex at the gym to get revved up.

In other sad songstress news, ’70s singer Phoebe Snow died of complications from a brain hemorrhage she had last year. She was 60. Damn! Neither Poly nor Phoebe got as far as they should have in the music business. Poly was misdiagnosed as schizophrenic and later diagnosed as bipolar;  Phoebe dropped out to care for her severely brain-damaged daughter, Valerie. But what they did accomplish was special. Thanks for the memories, ladies.

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Filed Under: music, obits

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fashionistable says

    April 26, 2011 at 6:29 pm

    Wow 2 of them too young. I had heard earlier about Poly but not Phoebe. Sad news. Enjoy the present it is all we have.Xxxx

  2. Katie, Interrobangs Anonymous says

    April 26, 2011 at 6:48 pm

    I woke up with Phoebe Snow and Linda Ronstadt’s duet “The Married Men” running through my head, and then heard the news.

  3. Terri says

    April 26, 2011 at 7:02 pm

    Phoebe’s news gave me pause…

  4. Helen F says

    April 26, 2011 at 7:09 pm

    Very sad news, far too young

  5. Madeleine Gallay says

    April 26, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    I wish we were designed better, made to last.

    Phoebe Snow and Two Fisted Love. Why are these ladies getting older (barely old at that) and dying?

    Singing might be the best gift of all.

  6. stacy says

    April 26, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    Oh… X-Ray Spex, what an awesome band. Poly was cool. I can listen to The Day The World Turned Day-Glo 100X in a row and not get bored.

  7. Meri says

    April 26, 2011 at 11:42 pm

    I just heard about Phoebe Snow on the news tonight, what a sad story!

  8. Vix says

    April 27, 2011 at 2:32 am

    Such sad news. X-Ray Specs were a huge favourite of mine as a teen. xxx

  9. Brie says

    April 27, 2011 at 2:55 am

    Great minds think alike…I just made a Poly Styrene post at my blog.

    I loved X-Ray Spex so much…the band that inspired many girl punk/alternative bands afterward.

    I shall have to dig out my cassette of Germ-Free Adolescents to listen to in homage.

  10. mystyle says

    April 27, 2011 at 3:15 am

    Hi there-yes, very sad indeed and too young to go.

  11. Laura says

    April 27, 2011 at 8:21 am

    I agree, X-Ray Spex are fun for the gym. I’m saddened by this news, too.

  12. fashion herald says

    April 27, 2011 at 2:11 pm

    I’ll never forget hearing all those commercial jingles Phoebe Snow did, thinking why these, why isn’t she a major recording star? And then I heard the story about her daughter.

  13. Marian says

    April 27, 2011 at 5:21 pm

    may they rest in peace
    xoxo
    Marian.

  14. Elizabeth says

    May 7, 2011 at 2:11 pm

    Sad losses, both of these. 🙁

  15. Natalie / Fashion Intel says

    May 7, 2011 at 3:58 pm

    Poly was absolutely amazing and her music will live on forever. I too enjoyed her wails while breaking a sweat, particularly running.

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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