Today has seen the release of Obsessed With You (The Early Years) an official release of X Ray Spex demo recordings which would later evolve into classic punk album ‘Germfree Adolescents’ an album that contained such hits as ‘Identity’ and ‘I am a Poseur’. To discuss more about how the release came about, and look back on the legacy of X Ray Spex, I was delighted to get to pose some questions to former members saxophonist Lora Logic and bass player Paul Dean.
How did the idea for releasing Obsessed With You [The Early Years] first come about? Why did now feel like the right time to finally share these recordings officially?
Lora: BMG own the masters for the album. We licensed the second X-Ray Spex studio album, Conscious Consumer, from them a couple of years ago and released it on vinyl for the first time. The response was amazing and it even went to Number 1 on the Official Record Store Chart. There’s still so much love for X-Ray Spex.
It was brought to our attention that there have been so many bootleg releases of this album that we thought it was worthy of an official release, which also means that the band will also see some of the returns on it too! So we approached BMG and Celeste (Poly’s daughter) who approved, worked with the same creative team as the Conscious Consumer release and voila! It was also the perfect opportunity to use the artwork concept, which is luscious!
These recordings capture X-Ray Spex at such an early, raw stage. What was it like revisiting those demos all these years later? Did anything surprise you listening back?
Paul: The speed and energy, I had forgotten how fast and exciting we were.
Lora: These early demos encapsulate a fledgling X-Ray Spex just hatching. I was surprised by the degree of unfiltered raw power and unabashed confidence emanating from these recordings. This is the band sound I remember best as I didn’t actually go on to play on the first album although I saxed on the ‘Oh Bondage, Up Yours!’ single. To my surprise, the first album sax was lifted from my original arrangements.
I love the untidy chaos which typifies the early 1977 Roxy club performances. Takes me back to being 16 again, in my first band and feeling that anything was possible.
The demos feel incredibly instinctive and urgent, almost like the band arrived fully formed. Did it feel that way at the time, or were you still discovering what X-Ray Spex could become?
Lora: Yes it’s true. The band sound seemed quite consciously complete from from the very first rehearsal. The chemistry was just there like it was meant to be. We had a couple of drummers before BP arrived on the scene but Paul and Jack were pretty much there right from the beginning, along with myself. It seemed like all the elements were there and we just needed to tighten up with time .
Paul: The recordings show the band in development we learned our craft in live performances
and loads of rehearsals and became very tight.
Poly Styrene’s vocals on these recordings feel especially raw and unfiltered. Hearing them now, what do you think made her such a unique frontperson and songwriter?
Paul: She was unique and the themes she wrote about in her lyrics are relevant today.
Lora: Poly was a natural performer, incredibly dynamic, captivating, bold, but she was also a highly sensitive, reclusive and tortured soul at times. The unique outfits which she designed with her friend Sophie, reflected the plastic consumer society which she mocked. An intelligent, intuitive observer and seeker looking for answers in her teens, Poly received a ‘Bhagavad Gita As it is’ at a rock festival. Now,
when I listen back to songs like ‘Genetic Engineering’, ‘Identity’ and ‘Oh Bondage’, I can
hear from her lyrics how these philosophical teachings deeply impacted her mind.
Songs like ‘Oh Bondage, Up Yours!’ and ‘Identity’ still feel startlingly relevant today. Why do you think X-Ray Spex’s themes have continued to connect with younger generations?
Lora: These seem to be ever relevant predicaments and themes. Some people describe Oh
Bondage from a feminist stance but Poly said herself that the song was addressing all
forms of bondage including being restricted by the temporary conditions of living in the
material world although as spirit souls we are by nature eternal.
Paul: Her lyrics were ahead of their time and different to our contemporaries who sounded
mundane and dull in comparison (many of them ).
X Ray Spex have gone on to influence so many artists, especially within riot grrrl and feminist punk. Were you aware at the time that the band was doing something genuinely groundbreaking?
Paul: It was obvious to us that band was exceptional and unlike any other ‘punk’ bands around
then.
Lora: It was incredibly exciting being in X-Ray Spex . Although we didn’t realise how much
impact the band would go on to have, we couldn’t help but feel the special power of our
live set and how transfixed the audiences were .
The demos have a slightly rougher, more chaotic energy than the finished Germ Free Adolescents recordings. Do you have a personal preference between the raw demos and the polished album versions, or do they each capture something different?
Paul: The original album was good but I prefer these raw demos as this was how we sounded
live fast energetic and fun.
Lora: I have to agree with Paul in preferring the raw demos as they bring back awesome memories and capture the early untamed magic. These demo recordings provided the blueprint for Germ Free Adolescents which was recently ranked as the 2nd greatest punk album of all time by Rolling Stone.
Lora’s saxophone became such a huge part of the X-Ray Spex sound. Did you realise at the time how unusual and important that was within punk music?
Paul: Lora’s sax together with Poly’s voice meant we stood out from the other bands, no one
else looked or sounded like X-Ray Spex.
Lora: Falcon Stuart, the band manager, definitely recognised the punk novelty of including a young girl saxophonist. I don’t think it was a necessary requirement for a punk band, it was more about the unconventional way I added it to the songs .
Looking back at the late 70s punk scene, were there other bands or artists you felt a connection or kinship with creatively?
Paul: The punk scene in my opinion was competitive rather than kinship in fact we wanted to be
the best and saw other bands as rivals.
Lora: I’d have to echo Paul’s response. There wasn’t too much camaraderie between bands but I guess that was also part of the initial punk pose ! Poly could be quite a fireball.
The themes of consumerism, identity and social pressure running through X-Ray Spex songs feel incredibly modern now, maybe even more than ever in the age of social media and AI. Does it surprise you how current the lyrics still sound?
Lora: No, I’m not surprised. Poly was a deep and intuitive thinker, especially for her age. I enjoyed our often humorous chats which were never boring. She liked to examine people and their motives and there was no shortage of punk characters to analyse.
Paul: I knew from day one how unique her lyrics were and also how funny they were too and are topical today.
The release notes mention subtle electronic influences on early versions like ‘Germ Free Adolescence’. Do you think X-Ray Spex might have evolved in an even stranger or more experimental direction if the original lineup had continued longer?
Paul: Yes we were heading in an electronic music direction almost anticipating the 1980s’.
What does it mean to you seeing younger generations continue to discover X-Ray Spex and Poly Styrene for the first time?
Lora: It’s a real thrill that decades later, young people can discover the joy of X-Ray Spex amongst the homogeneous streaming.
Paul: It’s great to see the younger generation embrace the band and music.
Are there any current artists or bands you particularly admire at the moment?
Paul: I listen to a wide range of music of all genres.
Lora: These days I’m revisiting Bob Marley and Talking Heads as I stretch out and dance around the kitchen in the mornings. For moments of peace I like to hear Kirtan artists with traditional Indian drums and harmonium like Chakrini and Bada Haridas.
You’re doing an ‘In Conversation + Signing’ at Rough Trade East for the release. What can fans expect from the event?
Lora: I hope people will enjoy meeting Paul and I who are just regular earthlings without plastic
surgery. Destiny had us plug into something extraordinary.
Paul: Looking forward to meeting everyone who can make it and get a signed album and have a
chat with me and Lora.
Finally, if somebody is hearing these recordings or even X-Ray Spex, for the very first time through Obsessed With You [The Early Years], what do you hope they take away from it?
Lora: A true punk rock experience!
Paul: If you’re listening to Spex for the first time, lucky you.
We asked Lora and Paul to select five songs from 1977. Watch and listen below and scroll down for their thoughts on the tracks.
Paul:
Paul:
David Bowie – Low – I played this over and over.
The Jam – In the City – for it’s energy and aggression.
Talking Heads – Psycho Killer – What a performance superb.
X-Ray Spex – ‘Oh Bondage, Up yours!’ -What can I say…best of the lot!!
Lora:
David Bowie ‘Heroes’ – Always in a league of his own. I loved every note he recorded
especially the first few albums up to ‘Low‘.
Patti Smith ‘Ask the Angels’ (from her album Radio Ethiopia) – For her lush vocal delivery.
Kraftwerk ’Trans Europe Express‘ – it was zany ,unlike anything else I’d heard.
‘Tapper Zukie in Dub’ – I loved reggae, Poly introduced me to Tapper Zukie.
Sex Pistols ’God Save the Queen’ – Unadulterated punk.
Obsessed With You is out now and you can buy it here
Lora and Paul are appearing at Rough Trade East this coming Sunday 24th May for a conversation and signing session- find more details and buy tickets here
X Ray Spex Socials: Facebook/Instagram
Article by Hayley Foster da Silva
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