Soo Catwoman obit

Fashion and punk icon dies as tributes paid to 'highly influential' figure

Model Soo Catwoman was closely associated with the Sex Pistols and once shared a flat with the punk band's bassist Sid Vicious - with chaotic results

 

She was not on the list.

Punk and fashion icon Soo Catwoman has died aged 70 after falling into a coma. The model, real name Susan Lucas, was closely associated with punk band the Sex Pistols and once shared a flat with the band's notorious bassist Sid Vicious.

Her children Shem and Dion Lucas said she "recently fell ill and was taken to hospital, and shortly after fell into a coma, which she sadly never awoke from". Her grieving family confirmed that she died on Tuesday (September 30) while she was "surrounded by her family and loved ones".

Her children added: "We are utterly devastated by her loss, it came very quickly and unexpectedly.

"She was a very kind and caring individual who helped and cared for countless people during her time on this earth, she was a champion of the underdog, and always gave to people in need whenever she could. She was also a highly influential and inspirational figure, whose image has loomed large in the public consciousness for the past 49 years.

"She pushed forward the frontiers of fashion with her handmade clothing accessories, her striking make up and of course her signature 'Soo Catwoman' hairstyle. She remains a huge inspiration in the worlds of music, art and fashion, her image is timeless and as striking today as it was in 1976."

She was portrayed by actor Jude Law's daughter Iris in celebrated director Danny Boyle's Sex Pistols drama. The 2022 TV series was based on the memoir of Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones.

In their tribute, her family said she lived in "silent dignity" and "never sought to capitalize on her fame and lived a simple life". In their tribute, they said she had chosen "to raise her children instead of seeking fame and fortune".

Her kids have launched a GoFundMe fundraiser for a memorial for friends, family and fans to visit. They said that because she "cared so much for other people" she was never focussed on "amassing personal wealth".

Their tribute read: "Due to the surprise nature of her death and lack of support available we would like to ask if anyone would like to contribute to her funeral costs and the costs associated with this, so that we can give her the dignified send off that she deserves. We would be very grateful for any and all help people wish to give."

Lucas was active in the London punk scene between 1976 and 1978, where she became a muse of photographer Bob Gruen and befriended the members of the Sex Pistols. Her distinctive, cat-influenced hairstyle is an iconic image within punk, and has led to her being featured in publications including the Guardian and News of the World. Her image has influenced other pop culture figures such as Keith Flint, and fashion designers including Junya Watanabe, Chanel, Obey and Mugler.

Lucas began developing her distinctive hairstyle in 1972, when she began to spike up the sides of her hair in reference to Bride of Frankenstein, while also having a pink-striped fringe. Displeased with always having to style this hair, in 1976 she had the middle of her head shaved in an Ealing barbershop. She used Vicks VapoRub to style this cut. This haircut led to her and Marco Pirroni being approached by a woman in summer 1976 to join Club Louise, a lesbian club on Poland Street, where she befriended the members of London's early punk scene. It was also at the club that she also met photographer Bob Gruen, for whom she soon became a muse

In the following years, Lucas became an increasingly prominent figure within the scene, being featured on the front cover of punk zines Society Today and Society Today, bands' t-shirts, record sleeves, posters, flyers and was used by some mainstream news publications as an example of punk's effect on the youth. One prominent example of this was a few weeks before the 100 Club Punk Special, when Lucas along with Simone Thomas, Debbie Wilson and Sharon Hayman were approached on Park Lane by a photographer and paid £15 to be photographed. These photos were then published in a Sunday issue of the News of the World as a part of a moral panic article claiming the four were prostitutes. She was particularly close with Sex Pistols members John Lydon and Sid Vicious, sharing a flat with Vicious during this period. Lucas was frequently pictured by Ray Stevenson posing with members of the original fans of the Sex Pistols known as the Bromley Contingent such as Siouxsie Sioux, Steven Severin and Billy Idol. While she was also associated with the Bromley Contingent by all the journalists, she later claimed not to have been a member. By 1978, following the dissolution of the Sex Pistols, she became less involved in the punk scene