The Slits star Viv Albertine and rocker John Robb have added their tributes to punk icon Poly Styrene, who died on Monday (25Apr11).
The former X-Ray Spex frontwoman, real name Marianne Elliott-Said, lost her battle with breast cancer earlier this week (25Apr11) and music stars have been paying their respects.
Albertine, guitarist for The Slits, has saluted Styrene for her authenticity and talent, remembering how she "glowed" even in her final days.
She tells Britain's Independent newspaper, "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."
Meanwhile, Goldblade frontman Robb adds, "Most punk women before her were just dolly birds. Poly changed that. She was a different type of pop star."
And Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp said it was Styrene who "gave me so much ambition when I was a punk".