Punk rockers pay tribute to Poly Styrene

Music stars have been paying their respects to punk icon Poly Styrene who died on Monday (April 25) after losing her battle with breast cancer.

The Slits star Viv Albertine and musician John Robb have paid tribute to Marianne Elliott-Said, aka Poly Styrene, who was frontwoman for X-ray Spex, for her talent.

Slits guitarist Albertine told the Independent: "I first met her at the Roxy. She was a bit scary, because she had this incredible confidence. Also, unlike most of us, she seemed to have proper talent and to really know what she was doing. She seemed a bit above everything else that was going on there.

"Her voice was a cut above everyone else, as was her songwriting. She was the real thing. She was very pure of thought. She didn't indulge in bad feelings. She was rather innocent, certainly very trusting.

"When people die, people often say what a special person they were. But Poly Styrene genuinely was. Even when she was very ill, in her last weeks, she glowed from the inside. She was a really great human being."

X-ray Spex Poly Styrene dies of breast cancer

Goldblade frontman Robb added: "Most punk women before her were just dolly birds. Poly changed that. She was a different type of pop star."

Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp said Poly Styrene "gave me so much ambition when I was a punk".