X
X on the cover of their 1997 collection Beyond and Back: The X Anthology. L to R:Doe, Zoom, Cervenka, Bonebrake
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, CA, USA
Genre(s)	Punk rock, Punkabilly
Years active	1977-present
Label(s)	Slash
Associated acts	Auntie Christ The Knitters Original Sinners
Website	http://www.xtheband.com/
Members
Exene Cervenka John Doe Billy Zoom D.J. Bonebrake
Former members
Dave Alvin Tony Gilkyson

X is a noted punk rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1977. While they achieved only limited mainstream success, they were widely considered one of the most accessible and tuneful of Los Angeles' many punk bands. Their landmark 1980 record Los Angeles resonated so loudly with the artisans of the city it is named after, that the band received an Official Certificate of Recognition from the City of Los Angeles in acknowledgment of their important contributions to Los Angeles music and culture. They were hugely influential on various genres of music, including punk, hardcore, and folk. X is the name of two punk rock bands formed in the late 1970s, one from the USA and one from Australia. ... Cover of 1997 X collection Beyond and Back: The X Anthology, taken from Amazon. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... This article is about the largest city in California. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Punkabilly is a mix of punk rock from the 1970s, and rockabilly. ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Slash Records is a record label. ... Auntie Christ is a late-1990s punk rock band, containing Exene Cervenka (of the seminal band X) and Matt Freeman of the band Rancid. ... The Knitters are a Los Angeles based band that play country and folk music. ... X on the cover of their 1997 collection Beyond and Back: The X Anthology, with Exene in the center foreground Exene Cervenka (born Christine Cervenka February 1, 1956) is an American musician and actress. ... John Doe, (born John Nommensen Duchac on February 25, 1954), is the founder of the seminal L.A. punk band X. His musical compositions and performances are varied, including country and folk music. ... X on the cover of their 1997 collection Beyond and Back: The X Anthology, with Billy on the center left Billy Zoom (born Tyson Kindell on February 20, 1948), in Savanna, IL. The son of a Big Band woodwinds player, he inherited his fathers love of music. ... X on the cover of their 1997 collection Beyond and Back: The X Anthology, with DJ on the right DJ Bonebrake first surfacing as the drummer of the Eyes (also featuring Charlotte Caffey of the Go-Gos) is best known as drummer and original member of punk rock band X... Dave Alvin (born November 11, 1955, in Downey, California, USA) is a guitarist, singer and songwriter. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Nickname: Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: , State County Settled 1781 Incorporated April 4, 1850 Government  - Type Mayor-Council  - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa  - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo  - Governing body City Council Area  - City  498. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Los Angeles was the 1980 debut album by X. Produced by ex-Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek, it included a cover of the 1967 Doors song, Soul Kitchen. ...

Original members were Exene Cervenka (born Christine Cervenka, vocals), John Doe (born John Duchac, bass and vocals), Billy Zoom (born Tyson Kindell, guitar) and DJ Bonebrake (born Donald J. Bonebrake, drums). After Zoom retired from the band, Tony Gilkyson replaced him on guitar. Zoom reunited with X in 1998. The original line-up now tours sporadically. X on the cover of their 1997 collection Beyond and Back: The X Anthology, with Exene in the center foreground Exene Cervenka (born Christine Cervenka February 1, 1956) is an American musician and actress. ... John Doe, (born John Nommensen Duchac on February 25, 1954), is the founder of the seminal L.A. punk band X. His musical compositions and performances are varied, including country and folk music. ... X on the cover of their 1997 collection Beyond and Back: The X Anthology, with Billy on the center left Billy Zoom (born Tyson Kindell on February 20, 1948), in Savanna, IL. The son of a Big Band woodwinds player, he inherited his fathers love of music. ... X on the cover of their 1997 collection Beyond and Back: The X Anthology, with DJ on the right DJ Bonebrake first surfacing as the drummer of the Eyes (also featuring Charlotte Caffey of the Go-Gos) is best known as drummer and original member of punk rock band X... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ...

Their albums had a hard-driving sound that occasionally flirted with country and blues; one critic suggests that X "were not just one of the greatest punk bands, but one of the greatest live rock acts of all time."^[1] This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... “Blues music” redirects here. ...

In many ways — from songwriting to performances — X were arguably a bit more sophisticated and diverse than many of their punk peers (except Cervenka, all band members had previous musical experience before forming X.) One critic writes that X were "too self-conscious, artsy and ambitious to simply spew" in typical punk fashion.^[2] This article is about the philosophical concept of Art. ...

History

Los Angeles

X's first record deal was with pioneering indepedent label Dangerhouse, for which the band produced two singles, "Los Angeles" and "Adult Books." The Dangerhouse session version of "Los Angeles" was also featured in a Dangerhouse compilation called "Yes LA", a picture disc that featured other early-punk era LA bands like the Weirdos and Black Randy. As the band became the flag bearer for the local scene, a larger independent label, Slash, signed the band to issue its first LP. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

The result was their first LP release, the appropriately titled Los Angeles (1980) (produced by The Doors' keyboard player, Ray Manzarek), was a minor hit and well received by the underground press and mainstream media. Much of X's early material had a rockabilly edge. Doe and Cervenka co-wrote most of the group's songs, and their slightly off-kilter harmony vocals remain perhaps the group's most distinctive element. Their lyrics tended to be straight-out poetry, and comparisons to Charles Bukowski and Raymond Chandler were made from the start. Los Angeles was the 1980 debut album by X. Produced by ex-Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek, it included a cover of the 1967 Doors song, Soul Kitchen. ... This page is about the rock band. ... Raymond Daniel Manzarek or Manczarek (b. ... Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, and emerged in the early-1950s. ... Close harmony is an arrangement of the notes of chords within a narrow range, typically one octave. ... This article is about the art form. ... “Bukowski” redirects here. ... For other persons named Raymond Chandler, see Raymond Chandler (disambiguation). ...

Their follow-up effort, 1981's Wild Gift, broadened the band's profile when it was named "Record of the Year" by Rolling Stone, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and Village Voice. Their first two records were released on Slash Records and similar in style. Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Wild Gift was a 1981 album by X (US band). ... This article is about the magazine. ... The Los Angeles Times (also L.A. Times) is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California and distributed throughout the Western United States. ... The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... The Village Voice is a New York City-based weekly newspaper featuring investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts reviews and events listings for New York City. ... Slash Records is a record label. ...

X signed to Elektra in 1982 to release Under the Big Black Sun, which marked a slight departure from their trademark sound. While still fast and loud, the album's country leanings were evolving and its raw punk sound was channeling raw metal guitar power chords. The album was heavily influenced by the tragic, premature death of Exene Cervenka's elder sister Mirielle (Mary) in an automobile accident in 1980. Three songs on the album, "Riding With Mary," "Come Back To Me," and the title track all directly relate to the tragedy. A fourth, a high-speed version of Lead Belly's "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes," was indirectly attributed to Exene Cervenka's mournful state of mind years later. The stark black & white cover art and title were also a reflection of the somber mood of the band during this time. Nonetheless, this album remains Exene's favorite X album (see liner notes of the recent CD release for affirmation). Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, and today operates under Atlantic Records Group. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Under the Big Black Sun is the third album by the band X, as their major-label (Elektra Records) debut. ... Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ... In music, a power chord is a bare fifth, or a similar chord, usually played on electric guitar with distortion. ...

Unclogged

1983 saw the release of the More Fun in the New World album. X redefined their sound with this release, making it more polished and radio-ready than in previous albums, and the songwriting was more direct. Many of the band's loyal fan base from their ealiest LA area gigging days were disappointed, feeling the band had taken a more commercial approach. The overall sound of the album, particularly the vocals of singers John Doe & Exene Cervenka, however, had excelled, and the record has received critical praise from some fans and from records reviewers, particularly Rolling Stone and Playboy, who had long been stalwart supporters and fans of X and their sound. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... More Fun in the New World is an album by the band X, released in 1983 (see 1983 in music). ... This article is about the magazine. ... For other uses, see Playboy (disambiguation). ...

A side project of some of the band members was Poor Little Critter In The Road in 1985, under the name The Knitters: X minus Zoom, plus Dave Alvin (of The Blasters) and Johnny Ray Bartel (of The Red Devils) on double bass. The Knitters were devoted to folk and country music; their take of Merle Haggard's "Silver Wings" "may be the definitive version."^[3] This article is about the year. ... The Knitters are a Los Angeles based band that play country and folk music. ... Dave Alvin (born November 11, 1955, in Downey, California, USA) is a guitarist, singer and songwriter. ... The Blasters are a rock music group formed in 1979 in Downey, California by brothers Phil Alvin (vocals and guitar) and Dave Alvin (guitar), with bass guitarist John Bazz and drummer Bill Bateman. ... The Red Devils The Red Devils were a Los Angeles based band who played blues-rock music. ... Side and front views of a modern double bass with a French bow. ... Folk music can have a number of different meanings, including: Traditional music: The original meaning of the term folk music was synonymous with the term Traditional music, also often including World Music and Roots music; the term Traditional music was given its more specific meaning to distinguish it from the... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Merle Ronald Haggard (born April 6, 1937) is an American country music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ...

X The Unheard Music

Zoom left the group in 1986, the year in which the feature-length documentary film, X: The Unheard Music was released. He was briefly replaced by Alvin, then by Tony Gilkyson, formerly of the band Lone Justice, for See How We Are. The album found X even further from their punk origins, yet still maintained a punchy, energetic hard rock sound. After touring for the album, X went on an extended hiatus. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Guitarist Ryan Hedgecock and singer Maria McKee, half-sister of Loves Bryan MacLean, formed Lone Justice in 1982. ... See How We Are is an album by X, released in 1987 (see 1987 in music). ... “Hard Rock” redirects here. ...

Both Doe and Cervenka have released solo albums; Doe moved more toward roots music in his solo work. Since 1986, Doe has also maintained a busy second career as an actor, appearing in such films as Oliver Stone's Salvador, Allison Anders' Border Radio and Sugar Town, the Jerry Lee Lewis biopic Great Balls of Fire, Miguel Arteta's The Good Girl, Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights, and the independent feature Roadside Prophets, in which he starred with Beastie Boy Adam Horovitz. He was a regular cast member of the television series Roswell on WB Television Network and UPN. William Oliver Stone (born September 15, 1946), known simply as Oliver Stone, is a three-time Academy Award-winning American film director and screenwriter. ... Allison Anders (born November 16, 1954) is an American film and television director. ... Sugar Town was a 1966 song performed by American singer Nancy Sinatra, the daughter of Frank Sinatra. ... Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935), also known by the nickname The Killer, is an American rock and roll and country music singer, songwriter, and pianist. ... Great Balls of Fire is a 1957 song by written by Otis Blackwell and sung by Jerry Lee Lewis. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... The Good Girl is a film from Chuck & Buck director Miguel Arteta and Chuck & Buck writer and star Mike White, produced by Matthew Greenfield and released by 20th Century Foxs Fox Searchlight Pictures division. ... Paul Thomas Anderson (born June 26, 1970[1] in Studio City, California) is a two-time Oscar nominated American filmmaker. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... Beastie Boys is a hip hop musical group from New York City, consisting of Michael Mike D Diamond, Adam MCA Yauch, Adam Ad-Rock Horovitz and the official DJ for the group Michael Mix Master Mike Schwartz. ... Adam Keefe Horovitz, also known as King Ad-Rock or Adrock, (born October 31, 1966, in South Orange, New Jersey) is a rapper, musician, producer, and actor. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... The WB Television Network, casually referred to as The WB, or sometimes as The Frog (referring to the networks former mascot, the animated character Michigan J. Frog), is a television network in the United States, founded as a joint venture between the Warner Bros. ... UPN (which originally stood for the United Paramount Network) was a television network in over 200 markets in the United States. ...

X regrouped in the early 1990s to record and, though the band has not released an album of new material since 1993, it continues to perform live, with Zoom once again on guitar. X: The Unheard Music was released on DVD in 2005, as was the concert DVD X: Live In Los Angeles, which commemorates the 25th anniversary of the band’s landmark debut album, Los Angeles. For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Size comparison: A 12 cm Sony DVD+RW and a 19 cm Dixon Ticonderoga pencil. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In summer 2006, X toured North America on the "As The World Burns" Tour 2006 with the Rollins Band and Riverboat Gamblers. Rollins Band is a rock music group led by singer and songwriter Henry Rollins. ...

Discography

Insert for The Best: Make the Music Go Bang!

1. Los Angeles (1980)
2. Wild Gift (1981)
3. Under the Big Black Sun (1982)
4. More Fun in the New World (1983)
5. Ain't Love Grand! (1985)
6. See How We Are (1987)
7. Live at the Whisky a Go-Go (1988 - Live)
8. Hey Zeus! (1993)
9. Unclogged (1995 - Live)
10. Beyond and Back: The X Anthology (1997)
11. The Best: Make the Music Go Bang! (2004)

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Los Angeles was the 1980 debut album by X. Produced by ex-Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek, it included a cover of the 1967 Doors song, Soul Kitchen. ... Wild Gift was a 1981 album by X (US band). ... Under the Big Black Sun is the third album by the band X, as their major-label (Elektra Records) debut. ... More Fun in the New World is an album by the band X, released in 1983 (see 1983 in music). ... Aint Love Grand! is an album by X, released in 1985 (see 1985 in music). ... See How We Are is an album by X, released in 1987 (see 1987 in music). ... Live at the Whisky a Go-Go is the seventh album and first live album by the band X. // All songs written by John Doe and Exene Cervenka except as indicated. ... See How We Are is the seventh studio album by X. Its tracks, Country at War and New Life peaked at numbers 15 and 26 on the Billboard Modern Rock charts, respectively. ... Recorded live at the Noe Valley Ministries Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, California over two nights of performances, Unclogged presents acoustic arrangements of past X material, along with two new songs: Lying in the Road and The Stage. ...

Filmography

X - Live In Los Angeles

1. The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)
2. Urgh! A Music War (1981)
3. X: The Unheard Music (1986) ^[4]
4. Mayor of the Sunset Strip (2003)
5. X - Live In Los Angeles (2005)

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Decline of Western Civilization is a rockumentary film directed by Penelope Spheeris about the Los Angeles punk rock scene in 1979 and 1980. ... // January 19 - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquires beleaguered concurrent United Artists. ... Urgh! A Music War is a British film released in 1981 featuring performances of punk and New Wave music, filmed in 1980. ... // January 19 - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquires beleaguered concurrent United Artists. ... // April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Gos Belinda Carlisle Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries television journalist Maria Shriver. ... Mayor of the Sunset Strip is a 2003 documentary on the life of Rodney Bingenheimer directed by George Hickenlooper. ... The year 2003 in film involved some significant events. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2005. ...

External links

• X - the band - official website

References

1. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:nqc8b5m4tsqj
2. ^ http://trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=x
3. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:xl5j8qbtbtz4
4. ^ sundance