Vi Subversa

Vi Subversa
Background information
Born 19 June 1935
London, England
Genres Anarcho punk
Occupation(s) Musician, singer
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 1975–present
Labels Crass, XNTrix
Associated acts Poison Girls

Frances Sokolov Sansom[1] (born 20 June 1935),[2] better known by her stage name Vi Subversa, was the singer and guitarist of British anarcho-punk band Poison Girls.[3]

Early life

She was born of East-European Jewish parents. She spent two years in Israel in the late 1950s, before returning to the United Kingdom. She had two children, Pete Fender (born Daniel Sansom, 1964) and Gem Stone (born Gemma Sansom, 1967) who were both members of the punk bands Fatal Microbes and Rubella Ballet.[4]

Poison Girls

Vi's first public singing was not with Poison Girls; it was as part of The Body Show at Sussex University in 1975.

In 1979, at 44 years old and a mother of two, Vi Subversa released the first single with the Poison Girls.[5] Her lyrics were written from a radical feminist punk perspective.[6]

She is featured in the documentary film She's a Punk Rocker.[7]

References

  1. benmychree2002 No real name given + Add Contact (2009-10-12). "Vi Subversa's 60th Birthday Bash Poster | Flickr - Photo Sharing!". Flickr. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
  2. Raha, Maria. Cinderella's big score: women of the punk and indie underground. Seal Press. 2005.
  3. Cope, Julian. Album of the Month #96. Head Heritage. 2007.
  4. Leblanc, Lauraine. Pretty in Punk. Rutgers University Press. 1999.
  5. "She's A Punk Rocker | Raindance Film Festival 2007". Raindance.co.uk. 2007-10-07. Retrieved 2011-09-27.