So what is your favourite girl-punk anthem? Comment below Here is a Spotify playlist of all the Oh Bondage Up Yours inspired songs mentioned in the video as well as your suggestions: open.spotify.com/playlist/2GPGI0jhKMNIVnLPt7jijr?si=VLDqFrZ5QSK-dYi71k_trw Trash Theory playlists - Spotify: tinyurl.com/yxp32pjf Deezer: tinyurl.com/y2mdp8h2 Also if you want to help out, here's my patreon link: patreon.com/trashtheory
@@Djarra I kept thinking of The Gits watching this. I'm surprised they didn't get name checked. The line of descent from Poly Styrene to Mia Zapata seems even stronger than Bikini Kill or Slater Kinney.
As mentioned above, Le Tigre, their whole first album is brilliant but thats just Kathleen Hanna doing what she does best. Another favourite of mine is The Moldy Peaches, more no-fi than punk, but still very good.
Half the time Trash Theory covers a band or song that I love and thought nobody else appreciated, and half the time I’m learning about a band/song that I’m going to obsess over and hunt down the entire back catalogue. X-Ray Spex I had heard of but never heard; now I’m a fan.
That's why I like the Trash Theory series so much; it gets me interested in bands I'd never heard of and also giving me a deeper appreciation for a song or a band I already love.
Indeed, very talented, clever, unique, & influential in music & culture, but unfortunately misunderstood, exploited, & succumbed to other unsavory pressures; so burned very bright, very fast, & too soon. The message should have persisted but generally lost so people became susceptible & vulnerable, although maybe some aspects have resurged but still concern for becoming heisted & exploited: recognize those just ethics & moral actions required for involvement & accountability (Marianne experienced & recognized good & bad treatment from everybody), respect & protect individual freedom but still feeling together & accepted, wary of conforming to unethical & destructive conditions such as bad policies, awful cultural or peer influences along with massive excessive consumption always promoted (,greenwashing) without regard but externalizing environmental destruction, resource extraction, polluting, poisoning, & destroying beside conflict for profit, corruption, distorted values, undeservedly imposed austerity, disparity, & injustice promoted or endured by anybody, ... Better days contrary to those maladies for elevating & celebrating every soul, opportunity, fulfillment, & happiness! Poly deserves appreciation, we should heed contemplation & wisdom in her lyrical messages, be invigorated by her eternally youthful energy, get together & stick it!
agreed. I'm always looking for "new" old music. I keep thinking I've heard everything, but I am continually finding more obscure gems. this channel is a big help.
Don't remember if I heard them in the 70s, but read about them in the early 90s. Their CDs were hard to get in the states back then, but on trip to Europe in 95 went to record store with a list of albums to buy. Picked up one their CDs along with the Members too. They soon became a band I would share with everyone. Another band from back in the late 70s are the Fabulous Poodles too.
In my house, Poly Styrene is treated as an icon. In my teens she helped soothe my dysphoria....as I grew older, she helped me understand that all along I had been fine, that it was just fine that I was a woman in this world. She helped me see the world and myself with her lyrics and style and way.
Germfree Adolescents is one of the most underrated albums of the 70's, if you have never heard it go and give it a try, I promise you will not be disappointed.......R.I.P Poly you are a legend.
As a Somali girl, Poly is just kind of representation that I support; confident, independent and knows she has something important to say and doesn't care who hears it. A Woman with a capital W to me.
I was three years old when this came out. I was listening to pop country. 44 years later, and I finally caught up. Thank the universe for this channel and people like you. I bet you have stories galore. Good to know you're out there, my friend!
1994 I was 16 and a budding amateur punk historian. I walk into Roundhouse Records, and on the wall between the DIY vintage punk 7-inch's is this day-glow album with these bizarre looking kids in vials. The owner of the store, Pete, convinces me that this record is worth my hard-earned $30 i made from dishwashing on the weekends. Needless to to say, I bought it, took it home, and my mind was just blown open. I'm so glad that she's getting her recognition finally, but I'm just sorry it took history so long to catch up to Poly.
Poly Styrene told the magazine "The Big Takeover" that she did have voice lessons as a child. Her distinct singing style was a deliberate choice because it projected well.
Me too. And me too. It’s still a clarion call, a throwback to when I was a little less establishment. It does the heart good to know it existed and still does.
I had no idea that PS had such a fraught time due to her mental health. Such an amazing presence. Thanks so much for this episode, brilliant as always.
I’m not surprised. Almost from the start she had a lot to deal with in her life. The black kids abusing her at school, then as her band made the big time, the media never once understanding what she was about.
I remember first hearing x ray spex and their song oh bondage up yours was when I was like 10-11 and saw Sid and Nancy for the first time. I remember thinking that the song was way better than any of the Sex Pistols songs in the film, and wondering why the movie didn’t actually introduce us to the band, they just played that one song at a show and never showed up again. Years later I noticed that none of the punks I grew up with knew who they were even though I hey had all seen Sid and Nancy, and wondered how such an awesome band could be so overlooked even though they had an awesome song in a movie everyone had seen. Then even more years later I realized that it’s because they were a female fronted band and all the punks I knew were sexist and didn’t wanna hear a girl singing about those subjects. But you know what they say: “Some ppl think little girls should be seen and not heard...”
Sid was all about the image. Poly went beyond that, and was actually talented. Couldn't agree with you more about her and X-Ray Spex being overlooked. I personally rate them up there as one of the most important bands in the punk movement.
i feel like x ray spex hits so different when ur a biracial disabled theydy tho 😭 its not just that it was a young lady up on stage singing unapologetic anti consumer bops. she was a mirror for so so much more than just "women in punk". RIP poly 🖤🖤🖤
One of the first gigs I ever went to was Xray Spex 14 May 1978 at the Roundhouse. I had literally just turned 15. They were supported by the original incarnation of Adam and Ants. Like Poly Styrene I was also a young, mixed-race kid from South London and as said in this video it was hard growing up in London at that time mixed-race. That gig was a scary experience, as was getting back to South London from Camden late at night, on your own, as a 15 year old mixed-race Punk in those days!
RIP Poly. She was always ahead of the pack. A couple of my favorite Punk songs with killer female vocals are: Penetration (Pauline Murray) "Come into the open" , and the Avengers (Penelope Houston) (I had a huge crush on her back then) "American in me" or "Fuck You". And X-Ray Spex (Poly Styrene) of course, "Let's submerge", "Warrior in Woolworths", and "Germ-free adolescents" are 3 of the coolest early punk songs. There are a bunch of others, but those are 3 of my absolute favorites. Another great video, keep it up. Peace.
I've been waiting so long for someone to make a video like this about X-Ray Spex and I'm so happy to see this has introduced some people to them! They're imo, the best punk band of the "originals" and their influence is unmatched, but they never seem to get the credit they deserve and it's criminal. One of my favorite girl-punk anthems is No.1 Must Have by Sleater-Kinney, it's not just a banger but the lyrics are a call to action kind of reminiscent of Bondage. Highly recommend!
Wow, Ive had Germ Free Adolescents since it became available again on cd in the '90's. I grew up in a very restrictive Christian household and would find out about bands at school but inevitably wasnt allowed to own the music. I liked, no LOVED the Cure, I got Whitney Houston for christmas 😝. I left when I was 15, Mom realised I was gay and when I returned at 17 (1992/3) I was a fully formed little grunge monster. The world has changed so much, its crazy. I got a diagnosis of Bipolar but it seems to me its been mainly used against me, to control me, not to "help me". Poly was one of those great under-rated women who should have been more that society allowed RIP Marion 😙
Yeah this is a tough subject. In the States most people do not want to talk about it and the people that really need the help don't get it and they end up being an issue becauae they are not being taken care of, properly medicated and they end up in places where they are at a disadvantage and in a precarious situation. I deal with a few at work and I do not work anywhere near mental health, not even adjacent to it. My main question is if the US is the world's only super power then why the fuck can they not take care of the most vulnerable people in society? I already know that is because its not really a money maker like the military industrial complex. Still, most places in the UK and EU have a better standard of living and better healthcare than here.
@@gringogreen4719 , I like your style, because it seems sincere. From what I know, which isn't much more than you but similar to you, we don't, as a species, understand very much about the mind and its derangements. That said, in order to care for these folks, as we should want, is not a scintilla of the military industrial complex in cost but a mobilization and attitude of not accepting failure as the model should be. We've made great progress but at a disastrous course and cost.
@@paineoftheworld Well part of the avoidance is a "survival of the fittest" which is actually bullshit. You do better working in small groups like families and tribes. I think the biggest sticking points is that it is messy and it takes time and effort. Keep in mind there are people with mental issues where their drive and focus is applauded with recognition and money becauae their work actually pays off. Think Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. There is also the aspect where most people struggle with an issue or issues and trying to take care of someone else just reminds them of their own issues/insecurities/concerns and most people would rather not address those things or just ignore them. There are others that just have no basis of understanding because they are so vanilla that trying to comprehend something as complex is just beyond their scope of understanding. So those people can do harm when they are actually trying to help. Anyways, people are messy and punters want simple explanations so they can go back to their boring lives. Other times like at my job, this shit is beyond my pay grade and I just want to get through my day as smoothly as possible. I am also not a mental health professional.
now I'm gonna go and check out all the female bands he mentioned in the end and also x-ray specs. This channel is gold for finding new music I've never heard before
Hey, be sure to check out Kleenex (later known as Liliput, after Kleenex tissues threatened them with a lawsuit if they didn't change their name- crapitaliszt wankers!), an amazing Swiss women-only first-wave punk group - tragically, they're even MORE overlooked than X-Ray Spex, which is simply criminal. I actually love them more than the Spex, even though all I could get ahold of back then was "Ain't You", as featured on the amazing 1980 Rough Trade singles compilation album "Wanna Buy A Bridge". But all their stuff is well worth checking out, trust me! There's even a video of two of their songs on RU-vid ("Beri Beri" & "Nice"), recorded in some studio somewhere, & while it's nice to see what the gals looked like, their "performance" has to be one of the most wooden I've ever seen (oh well! LoL). (...& who nose, you may have already discovered them, as I see your comment's 2 years old! Oh well, better late than never, I spoze..! Cheers from a 2nd-wave early-80s-era Punk in Aotearoa, New Zealand 😊🖖👍✌ )
L7, Babes in Toyland, 7 Year Bitch, The Distillers, Hole, Bikini Kill, Light Asylum, Chicks on Speed, Le Tigre, Jack Off Jill, Pussy Riot, etc etc etc. So many GREAT bands!
Finally someone! I feel like Killing Joke is criminally underrated band. Such an infuential act. Nirvana, NIN, Manson, Ministry, Soungarden, Metallica...... list goes on, owe a big one to Killing Joke's unique sound. The band is still active and the latest records are monsters! Killing Joke is truly one of a kind!
When the Windsor/Detroit alternative radio station 89X first came on the air in '89 or '90, they used those opening lines to "Oh! Bondage... " as part of their station identification ad. Hell of a brand statement. ;)
I saw X-ray spex when I was a14 yr old in 1978 and it was filmed !! For the documentary (free on You Tube) called "" Who is Polly Styrene'' it came on TV 📺 when she died and I saw myself in the crowd... It was crazy! 😻 seems like yesterday ,RIP Polly, we love you sweetie xxx
Fav girl punk anthem? Gotta be "Deathwish" or "Fast and Frightening" by L7. Always loved them to be honest, probably not the most "punk approved" of the lot, but I love their stuff. And now: utterly, completely, no doubt about it unrelated, but: I hope you do something on Discharge one day. Cheers!
Why are the Ramones always left out of these retrospectives of punk? Malcolm McLaren saw the Ramones in New York and decided to create a British version. The Sex Pistols.
This is a british channel so you have to expect more of a british point of view here. But the difference between the US and britain is that punk in britain became a national large youth phenomenon and fad which included fashion already in 1977 which could even top the charts and become a national scandal in newspapers and TV which was even becoming already involved in politics and large open air concerts, while punk in the US in the 1970s was more of a secret underground thing of a few hipsters in a few cities which only influenced much more commercial and pop "new wave" acts such as The Cars or the Blondie and only in the 1980s the much larger national, but still underground and non commercial, hardcore scene
@EclecticoIconoclasta Punk was well known in the UK but still not acceptable. Many Radio One DJs refused to play punk records, and they couldn't get on TV at first. Annie Nightingale sneaked the Adverts in through a side door in the BBC studios to appear on The Old Grey Whistle Tesr. She knew they wouldn't get past the door men by the front door.
Poly and the X Ray Spex are in my opinion one of the total best girl fronted band ever. They were unique and unlike a lot of other punk bands they were their own thing which makes them truly punk rock.
X-Ray Spex is one of my favorite bands of all time. True punks doing their own thing on multiple levels without getting too preachy. If you've got the urge, c'mon let's submerge.
Man I loved X-Ray Specs. As a geordie, Pauline Murray and Penetration (still together and playing), Don't Dictate was my favourite punk anthem. They were my favourite live band as well.
Wow, didn't know about any of this! This woman is amazing...I already feel like I can relate to her a lot. I must thank you for introducing me to her and this band, I truly appreciate it. There are so many artists who don't get much exposure but are just as influential as the more notorious names
I'm a boy that loves thrash and death metal. I like Bad Brains and some other hardcore but this is my new favorite punk band by far. The vocals and the sax are beyond words they're so cool. Rock and roll Poly Styrene!! \m/
great video! Ive had oh bondage up yours in my playlist for a few years without knowing anything about the band or the origins of the song. Thank you for posting this! I personally love L7's Shitlist
I used to go to cbgbs and Max's Kansas City a few times a week back in 77 thru 79, no matter who was playing. I saw an advert saying a band from England was playing, it was X-ray Specs and they were incredible! There weren't too many bands back then with female singers, Poly was amazing!
@@feministadentata4041 X-Ray Spex are one of those bands that I've always heard of, but knew nothing about. Definitely going to check them out. Also, can we take a moment for the best stage name ever? Dinah Cancer.
This is crazy, I literally just listened to X-ray Spex about 4 hours ago. I think it was around '93 is when I listened to them last. What a fun trip down memory lane. I love Germ Free Adolescent. Genetic Engineering is awesome too
Was waiting for this entry, X-Ray Spex is one of my favorite bands. I didn’t see a mention of the Slits but they are also another amazing punk band that I love from that era
I was at a Stiff Little Fingers gig last year right before lockdown and saw Tessa from The Slits there, she kept dancing into me and standing on my shoes but it was so cool to be in her presence!
Awesome documentary. I was vaguely aware of Polly Styrene, but didn't know anything about her. So thank you for such an informative look into her life and her music.
In the spirit of Xray Spex, The Bags, "Survive" fronted by Alicia "Alice Bag" Armendariz. Sadly underrated, as are most of those first wave LA punk bands.
I somehow never put together that Essential Logic was Lora Logic post-Specs. Still remarkable that this is the group William Bennet Of Whitehouse came out of. The then upstart genres sure did establish themselves quickly in that period.
@@GGMBW That's interesting. But total night and day difference. I would say there were several years difference when each would receive their diagnosis but Poly definitely had a rougher experience since it ended her career. Adam's experience was throughout from before he was Adam Ant and even though he experienced different things at different times, he was able to keep his career going way longer than Poly had. Both had rough goes when they went in but once in, that was it for Poly's career. I know he still has plans for post Pandemic shows at this point.
The Specs CD was impossible to find in the 90s in the states. I had to special order it. You know.. people just jump on spotify these days and drag up anything and declare it a gem or whatever. I really like the sound of Bondage.. but most of the album was pretty meh for me. Its awesome that these sub currents exist and inspire people, but it doesn't really change history that much. I was a huge fan of bands like Huggy Bear and female led punk and metal. It's always been around somewhere. I didn't know she's suffered from Mental Health issues though and I didn't know she'd passed. Shame to hear it.
The X-ray Spex gig I went to at Eric's in Liverpool is in the Documentry "Who is Polly Styrene ' the camera goes strait past me, ,as it sweeps into the packed club when Polly died they showed it on TV and I saw myself i onTV as a 15 yr old Punk ,
