Written by: Alex Green

Caroline Crawley, the haunting and honeyed vocalist of Shelleyan Orphan has died.

She was 50.

Crawley died this week after a protracted bout with an undisclosed illness.

In the early-’80s the Bournemouth-born singer teamed up with guitar player and fellow Percy Bysshe Shelley enthusiast Jemaur Tayle and formed Shelleyan Orphan. The two poetry fanatics took their name from Shelley’s “Spirit Of Solitude,” signed to Rough Trade and went on to release four albums, including 1989’s Century Flower.

Shelleyan Orphan opened for the Jesus And Mary Chain in 1984 and they opened for The Cure on their Prayer Tour in 1989.

The band’s last record was 2008’s We Have Everything We Need.

Crawley is also known for appearing on This Mortal Coil’s Blood (1991) as well as playing in the band Babacar.