Jak Airport

Jak Airport (born Jack Stafford; c. 1955 – 13 August 2004)[1][2] was the guitarist of 1970s punk band X-Ray Spex and new wave band Classix Nouveaux,[1] before retiring from music and working for Vision Video and the BBC.

Jak Airport
Birth name	Jack Stafford
Born	c. 1955 Catford, London, England
Died	13 August 2004[1]
Genres	New wave, glam rock, punk rock
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1970s–1980s
Associated acts	Puncture, X-Ray Spex, Airport and Dean, Classix Nouveaux

Born and raised in Catford, London,[2][3] Jak Airport is best known and remembered for being member of punk rock band X-Ray Spex, contributing with songs like "Oh Bondage Up Yours!" and "The Day The World Turned Day-Glo".

The beginning riff of the latter song was considered a classic by the band's singer Poly Styrene.[3] He joined the band after leaving another punk group called Puncture.[4] When X-Ray Spex disbanded in 1979, he and the group's bassist Paul Dean formed Airport and Dean.

In 1979, he and fellow X-Ray Spex member, drummer BP Hurding formed, alongside singer Sal Solo, the new wave band Classix Nouveaux, but he had left the band by the end of the year. He retired from the music industry then worked at VVL London and also in the BBC's corporate and public relations department.[2]

Death

Jack Stafford died of cancer on 13 August 2004.[1][2]

References

1. Doc Rock. "2004 July to December". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
2. Jeremy Simmonds (1 May 2008). The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars (Paperback (updated) ed.). Chicago Review Press. ISBN 978-1556527548.
3. "x-ray spex official site/x-ray spex history". X-rayspex.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
4. "Puncture". Boredteenagers.co.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2014.