User:SavageBoy69/sandbox

Avril Franklin (born March 14, 1960 in St. Hopes, London) is an English musician best known for fronting the punk rock band the Bloodsuckers since 1976.

She became highly influential in popularizing gothic and emo styles, with her trademark black fringed hair, purple highlights and jacket, and messy school uniforms. She was highly confrontational and violent during her formative years and projected her anger into her music. She labeled herself the "Dark Priestess Of St. Hopes High" in 1977; she is often referred to as the Dark Priestess as a result.

She was considered one of the most intimidating people in the punk scene. She voiced her vehement dislike of the scene she gained notability in, calling it exactly and against and predicting that in five years time most of the bands will become commercial just like the progressive rock bands they rallied against.

John Lydon spoke of her: "Avril was very intimidating back then. It was that bad that Sid [Vicious] and I felt nervous around her."

Intimidation incidents

 * During the 100 Club Punk Festival on September 21, 1976, Avril grabbed the head of then-Banshees drummer and future Sex Pistols bassist Sex Pistols and drove his head into a wall after he had thrown a glass bottle at the Damned and blinded a girl instead. She left the venue herself before management realized the situation.
 * In December 1976, the Bloodsuckers were socializing with another punk band comprised of mid-teens, Eater. Avril, sixteen at the time, reportedly glared at Eater's 14 year old drummer Dee Generate and said: "I bet a million quid that you want to fuck me.". Dee ran away, nervous because he did, according to him, have a crush on her.
 * In February 1977, she had a fight with X-Ray Spex' singer Poly Styrene and saxophonist Lora Logic over which band would take the stage first; she took down the both of them and the Bloodsuckers ultimately took the stage first, at the Roxy.
 * After Bernard Brooks Partridge claimed that the situation of punks could be vastly improved by their sudden death, Avril wrote "Kill Bernard", which wound up on their debut album. The song had a profound impact on his reputation.
 * In September 1977, Avril had a massive debate with Johnny Rotten over the legitimacy of the entire punk movement; John recalls the situation as "fun at first but she was reaching for a Rolex to put around her fist and we all know what happens when Avril Franklin gets physical on somebody. It's fucking ugly.". Avril said: "We had a debate and it was getting very frustrating for the both of us, but I had a Rolex on me and I was wrapping it around my fist and getting ready to just knock John the fuck out."