Vi Subversa
| Vi Subversa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
20 June 1935 London, England |
| Died | 19 February 2016 (aged 80) |
| Genres | Anarcho punk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1975–2016 |
| Labels | Crass, XNTrix, Cooking Vinyl |
| Associated acts | Poison Girls, Crass |
Frances Sokolov (20 June 1935 – 19 February 2016),[1] better known by her stage name Vi Subversa, was the singer and guitarist of British anarcho-punk band Poison Girls.[2]
Subversa was born of East European Jewish parents. She spent two years in Israel in the late 1950s working in a ceramic pottery in Beersheba under Nehemia Azaz,[3] before returning to the United Kingdom. She had two children, Pete Fender (born Daniel Sansom, 1964) and Gem Stone (born Gemma Sansom, 1967), who both became members of the punk bands Fatal Microbes and Rubella Ballet.
Subversa's first public performance was at The Body Show at Sussex University in 1975. In 1979, at 44 years old and a mother of two, she released her first single with the Poison Girls.[4] Her lyrics were written from a radical feminist punk perspective.[5]
She is featured in the documentary film She's a Punk Rocker.[6]
Subversa’s last musical venture was with the cabaret trio Vi Subversa’s Naughty Thoughts, which she formed with Michael Coates and Judy Bayley. She played her final live performance with Naughty Thoughts at Brighton’s Green Door Store on 5 December 2015, with The Cravats. [7]
Subversa's son Pete Fender announced on Facebook on 19 February 2016 that she had died, following a short illness.[1]
References
- 1 2 Ged Babey (20 February 2016). "Vi Subversa: 20th June 1935 – 19th February 2016: Flesh and blood is what we are". LouderThanWar. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ↑ Raha, Maria. Cinderella's big score: women of the punk and indie underground. Seal Press, 2005.
- ↑ Grant, Brigit (July 25, 1986). "Subversive? On the contrary". Jewish Chronicle. p. 15.
- ↑ Cope, Julian. Album of the Month #96. Head Heritage. 2007.
- ↑ Leblanc, Lauraine. Pretty in Punk. Rutgers University Press. 1999.
- ↑ "She's A Punk Rocker | Raindance Film Festival 2007". Raindance.co.uk. 7 October 2007. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
- ↑ Salewicz, Chris (23 Feb 2016). "Vi Subversa: Inspirational elder stateswoman of punk who co-founded Poison Girls, denizens of its anarchist fringe". The Independent. Retrieved 23 February 2016.