To coincide with the 40th anniversary of the seminal X-Ray Spex album Germfree Adolescents, a new film titled Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché is in the works. Co-written and narrated by Poly’s daughter Celeste Bell, the film is being crowdfunded via Indiegogo until May 2, with various rewards offered in return for donations, including limited edition t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, DVDs and signed books, along with unique opportunities such as Associate and Executive Producer credits.
Bi-racial, female, working class and possessing one of the most satirical perspectives in punk, X-Ray Spex founder Poly Styrene was, as Billboard proclaimed, “one of the least conventional front-persons in rock history”. Poly was responsible for some of the most original, intelligent and exciting music of the punk era and beyond, but away from the songs, the look and that warrior-cry voice, her fascinating and sometimes frightening story, incorporating struggles with misogyny, racism and mental health issues, has remained largely untold. Until now.
In this feature-length documentary, the jigsaw pieces of Poly’s life will be brought together for the first time. Original interviews, new research and previously unseen archive material are combined to present a thrilling, poetic and at times impressionistic portrait of a singer, seeker and mother. Underscored with Poly’s music from throughout her career, I Am A Cliché celebrates one of punk’s most uncompromising icons.
To support the crowdfunding campaign and find out more about the film, follow this link: igg.me/at/polystyrene
Apache Print
The Rubber Maid’s Dress
As an illustration of the exceptional quality of the rubber/latex wear available in the mid seventies incarnation of the 430 Kings Rd shop – SEX (1974-76), I have dug out some old pin-up photos showing a rubber maid’s dress that was sold there at the time.
The first photos are from an album cover for the band ‘Nutz’ & these photos show an actual dress from the shop, borrowed for this shoot, photographed by rock photographer Ross Halpin & modelled by his leg model sister, Linda.
The rubber t-shirts worn by the band are from the shop too.
The dresses were available in two different versions, red & black frill, & black & red frill. Continue reading
Something Special
There is something quite special in Worlds End right now.
Since the SS16 Man & SS16 Gold Label collections an experiment has been taking place involving using classic Worlds End shapes with different yarns & fabrics & the first batch of these designs is in the shop now.
The shapes being redone are the squiggle shirt & it’s sleeveless version.
Both of these items, plus the new matching Lotus shorts are now made with a newly developed 100% organic cotton yarn & a new & ecologically friendly dying process. All three items are Unisex.
As is pretty commonplace with new ideas, the new yarn technique was developed through an accident. Continue reading
Wimmelbuch – Where is Vivienne?
A couple of weeks ago, a friend of ours in Switzerland sent me these images from a German children’s ‘wimmelbuch’ or hidden object book she had bought & look who’s in it! Continue reading
Last Man Standing
Ever been to the zoo?
Ever seen a wildlife program?
If you have,then you might be familiar with the terms ‘Endangered Species’ & ‘Dangerous Animal’.
However I don’t suppose that you ever thought of applying these terms to human beings. Continue reading