X Ray Specs

On This Day 18/4/1978 X-Ray Spex

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On this day, 18 April 1978, punk band X-Ray Spex played Cardiff’s Top Rank.


The band had just released their second single, The Day The World Turned Day-Glo" / "I Am A Poseur" that peaked at no. 23 in the UK Singles Chart and a follow-up to the classic "Oh Bondage Up Yours!".

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In November 1978, the band released its debut album. With the exception of "Identity", which was partially based on Styrene witnessing Bromley Contingent member Tracie O'Keefe slash her wrists in the restroom of the Roxy, the rest of Germfree Adolescents dealt with the anti-consumerist theme. Indeed, The Guardian newspaper described the album as containing "unrivaled anti-consumerism anthems"


The first incarnation of X-Ray Spex existed from mid-1976 to 1979, during which time they released five singles—"Oh Bondage Up Yours!", "Identity", "The Day the World Turned Day-Glo", "Germfree Adolescents", and "Highly Inflammable"—and one album, Germfree Adolescents.

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One retrospective review described the singles as "not only riveting examples of high-energy punk but contained provocative, thoughtful lyrics berating the urban synthetic fashions of the 70s and urging individual expression"

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