Tom Dunne: Poly Styrene and the women who rocked the system in the punk era 

From the X-Ray Spex singer to Siouxsie and Patti Smith, the late 1970s saw a host of female musicians bring a welcome new energy to the music world 

Poly Styrene of punk band X-Ray Spex. 

‘Some people think little girls should be seen and not heard. But I think OH BONDAGE UP YOURS!’ The opening line of X-Ray Spex debut single, September 1977. It attacks capitalist materialism as a brand of servitude (naturally). The singer was Poly Styrene. She was 19 and wore braces on her teeth. I bought the single on the day of release.

Poly, real name, Marianne Elliot-Said – in modern terms you could say she’d been ‘radicalised’ at a Sex Pistols concert - was part of my introduction to punk. She shared a stage with talents such Patti Smith, Siouxsie Sioux, Pauline Black, Chrissie Hynde, Debbie Harry, Ari Up, Viv Albertine, Nina Hagan, Gaye Advert, Faye Fyfe and so many more.