R.I.P. Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex

FAMED PUNK FRONTWOMAN DIES OF CANCER AT 53

Legendary X-Ray Spex frontwoman Poly Styrene died on Monday after a long battle with breast cancer that had spread to her lungs and spine. She was 53 years old.

Part of the original U.K. punk movement in the late 70s, X-Ray Spex released the album Germ Free Adolescents in 1978. The album is seen as a key moment in U.K. punk movement, alongside seminal releases from The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned, Generation X, The Slits, Siouxsie and the Banshees and others. The group broke up in 1979 and reformed at various points throughout the years.

Poly recorded a solo album in 1980, Translucence, and remained largely inactive from music after joining the Hare Krishna movement in the 80s and battling bipolar disorder.

She was in the midst of a comeback, however, with the release of her new album Generation Indigo, which was released today in the U.S. on Future Noise Music. Check out a couple of tracks from the album below, along with career highlights with X-Ray Spex.