X Whatever Happened To the Punk Band? Los Angeles, More Fun In he New World, Wild gift

X: Whatever happened to hte punk rock group founded in LA?
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#punkrock #punk #Xband
I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos.
While Hair Metal is often synonymous with Los Angeles, the city also had a flourishing punk scene that was made up of groups including the Plugs, Alley Cats, the Screamers, the Germs and today’s topic X. While they were far from the first punk band in LA, X would go on to become one of the most resilient bands over the last 4 decades. Frontwomen Exene Cervenka would tell Loudersound “We didn’t disgrace Los Angeles, that’s for sure, We are a soundtrack to Los Angeles, and that is a big deal.”Today, let’s explore the history of X."
3 of the 4 musicians from the band would hail from Illinois & It’s purely a coincidence since they didn’t know each other as young kids. Bassist and co-vocalist John Doe would find his way to LA sometime in the 70’s via Illinois, Maryland, and New York & Doe saw LA as a place to reinvent himself. He was a fan of old cinema and the novelists that emerged from the City so it only made sense to migrate there.
Meanwhile guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Billy Zoom was living in LA starting in the 60’s and served as a session musician. He would reveal to Rolling Stone he grew. Ambivalent to the music scene revealing “all the bullshit that popped into the Seventies, all those over-produced, super-processed, over-sensitive, ‘we’re so arty’ arena bands,” He also saw the LA music scene as being dead and was hungry for something new and raw.
coincidentally enough Zoom and Doe would place ads in the local paper the Recycler the same week looking for other like minded musicians. The pair would eventually meet up and form a band.
Future X vocalist Exene Cervenka would also hail from Illinois but move to florida at the age of 13. She would tell the Oklahoma Gazette “That was the early ’60s, and girls couldn’t even play baseball,” “I lived out in the middle of nowhere in the country, so there was no chance [of starting a band. Everything was in your mind, and it was all about imagining things" Cervenka would take a liking to writing and poetry. It would be that interest that caused her to hitch a ride with only $80 in her pocket across the country to LA at the age of 20 Cervenka would take up a job at Beyond Baroque Foundation in Venice, It was at an open mic night for poets at her place of work where she met future bandmate and husband John Doe.
She would recall to Rolling Stone “I was just sitting there and he came down and sat next to me, We were talking and he said, ‘You wanna go next door to the jazz place and get a drink?’ So we did that and he told me about punk.” The pair would soon started dated Doe and started attending the band’s rehearsals bringing the song “I’m Coming Over”. Cervenka would admit that she never initially dreamed of joining a band whenshe moved out to LA.
Drummer DJ bonebreak would join round out the lineup.. By 1978 the classic lineup of X was born. LA served as the perfect backdrop for the the group with Doe telling Loudersound “Hollywood was in real decline, The Tennessee Williams in me said: ‘Yes! The perfect moment!’ Be in the heart of the beast when it’s all falling to pieces."
Fueled by alcohol, the band’s sound would rely heavily on rockabilly type guitar hooks. They would release their first single Adult Books on label Dangerouhouse & it was soon after that htey caught the attention of former Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek who read about the band in a local paper attended one of the group’s shows at the Whisky A Go Go, the old stomping ground for his band. It was during that performance the band even performed a blistering cover of the Doors song soul kitchen. Impressed, Manzarek not only wanted to produce the band, but get them signed to a major label. Ge would tell he mercury news “I saw them and I just fell in love,”They were amazing. About the fourth song into the show they’re just wailing on something.
“My wife Dorothy said to me, ‘Do you recognize that one?’ I said, ‘Honey, I don’t know any of these songs.’ She said, ‘No, no, no listen carefully.’ I said, ‘Oh my god, it’s ‘Soul Kitchen!’ They were doing ‘Soul Kitchen’ at a thousand miles per hour.”
Manzurek tried to get the band signed to the Doors old label Elektra Records, but was unsuccessful a

[@joemartinez331]

With the exception of the Ramones, X was the best American punk band of all time, in my opinion. I’ve been lucky to have seen them several times after Billy Zoom rejoined the band. Once with Ray Manzarek as special guest in San Francisco a couple of years before he passed. They deserve more recognition.

[@joemartinez331]

Mastodon1976 one of the times I saw X live, Henry Rollins opened for them. He was in complete awe of X. You’re entitled to your opinion. Even if it is wrong.

[@TheBeezusjones]

Na.. X is way better than Ramones

[@SHGant]

@@TheBeezusjones Waaaaay better.

[@Joe-wo7rg]

The CRAMPS was pretty awesome too

[@lordrathut]

@@Joe-wo7rg very

[@larrydavid6852]

X were so much more than a punk band. 'I must not think bad thoughts' is such an wonderful and intelligent song. The way in which John and Exene's voices meld together is just amazing.

[@undeadmatador]

yes! in the song 'adult books', they're voices are perfect!

[@silasmarner7586]

It's like a LOTTA bands I loved early on. I like their first single (which is amazing) but found their first album to "oh look at these darlings". But Nausea is a great song!

[@silasmarner7586]

@@undeadmatador Fantastic song. So completely original, unlike anything else.

[@roymartin500]

"I must not bad thoughts. What is this world coming 2."

[@roymartin500]

Hi! 😂busted KZbin

[@d_hurl]

My folks were John Doe & Exene's neighbors in W. Hollywood. They weren't punk rockers, but they weren't really hippies. The hippies would've called them freaks. My parents were heavy drinkers/ LSD cooked & didn't realize how they were part of the scene. They saw so many punk bands that I love but X is really the only ones they remember. My Dad died last summer & I was going thru their records & CD's; They still had all their vinyl but rebought so many good ones on CD. I found a NY Dolls CD, & a(an evening w/) Wild Man Fischer LP. RIP Dad- Mom & I are still rockin.

[@d_hurl]

​@@BrySmi Thx buddy, I appreciate it. I'll tack on a tad more for the record. John Doe was the same age as my Pops, so they actually got along well as neighbors. He was the only punk rocker I ever heard him say anything good about. X musta been in my head or something cause the other day my mom even recalled Billy Z. She was always a music fan (was pretty much her/my Godmother dragging em to shows.) I had an Aunt (RIP) who was in a few near forgotten bands- 1 was Dead Hippie (if you search scroll down a lil & you'll find vids) some real obscure LA junkie hardcore punk. :)

[@basedsouljah]

Thanks for sharing that bro and im sorry for the loss of your pops man.. So rad he lived a hell of a life

[@d_hurl]

@@basedsouljah Thanks Man, I really appreciate that. It means so much to me & you made my day. He lived an insanely awesome life. Although he was taken too soon, he remained a bada$$ till the end. If you're curious: Search, "Gang Date band camp," to listen to some demos. Our newest album is gonna be released next yr. Maybe yall will dig it; Results may vary.

[@Truckngirl]

Wow. Wild Man Fischer. He used to show up at the Masque when I was the manager (after the fire). There's a documentary about his crazy, sad life. I might have known your dad, and I'm sorry that you lost him. Best to you and your mom and I will go try to find your music.

[@d_hurl]

@@Truckngirl Thanks a lot! & WOW, that's really cool. & I don't doubt you @least saw them around- Old photographic evidence makes them seem pretty hard to miss. I'm sure you've got your own wild tales. Legend has it my Dad was a regular patron of Fischer's. Ya know, a dime a song- Merry Go, Merry Go, Merry Go round, BOO BOO BOO! That 1st album is worth it's weight in gold to me. Rock on! :)

[@LividImp]

Favorite rock band of all time is X. So nice to see them finally getting a little recognition. It is telling when you can listen to a band since the 80s and the music never gets old and never sounds dated.

[@MrDLOC11]

X were the beloved leaders of the world class los Angeles music scene, & every important band to emerge from the eighties in l.a. owes them a debt of gratitude. Musically X were considered top quality in punk, rockabilly, folk & americana. As a live act there was nobody like them. Critically The Los Angeles Times annual music critics poll picked their debut #1- Los Angeles - Best album 1980 ... #1- Wild Gift - Best Album - 1981!! ... #2- Under The Big Black Sun - 1982 album (Prince was #1 w/1999) #1- More Fun In The New World - Album of The Year 1983 !! (Outranking classic albums by Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, Michael Jackson, & The Police)... The new album Alphabetland is a return to form packed with excellent songs. One of the few acts to retain all original members after 40 years.

[@rinlo1424]

I was a 13 year old girl in Southern California the first time I heard the Los Angeles album. Now I'm a 54 year old girl in Northern California and still love X as much as I did all those years ago.

[@brandtwilk-ll8vv]

That's nice

[@asuperstraightpureblood]

There will never be a sound anywhere on any world like Doe and Exene dischord harmonies.

[@flyingburritobro68]

No mention of the 1987 album See How We Are. Different style - more straight ahead and roots rock but an excellent one!

[@panapet888]

No Zoom.

[@kpadalldotablet1009]

We were native Californians and were just 18 years old when the album "Los Angeles" hit in California. We didn't even hear it until 1981. Wow we loved it, with "Johny Hit and Run Paulene" and "Los Angeles" our favorites. We were in love with Exene Cervenka. lol What memories.

[@l.salisbury1253]

I have "Alphabetland"... best thing they've done since the early 80s!

[@brucelee4996]

Didn't even know about that album. Thanks for telling me.

[@arm5080]

Great album

[@eddiem5997]

Real nice 👌🏻

[@nankypooh655]

I saw X a month ago at a club that NEVER had a punk band perform there in their entire life. The audience was made up of old fans, and not too many new ones. For the club, it was history in the making. For the rest of us in the audience, it was a great show. After all these years, X still has the energy. 47 years later, and X still entertains.

[@bobthebear1246]

I tapped-on this video as fast as I could. I had first become aware of X as a teenager in 1983 when I first heard ads for an upcoming show in the NYC Metro Area where they were one of 2 opening bands for I-don't-remember-who. They had played them singing, "We're having MUCH MORE FUN!!" which to me sounded like a unique form of New Wave. (Little did *I* know. 😁) Anyways, I heard that ad a few times, and I thought nothing else of it for a few weeks. Then, I was watching TV with my brother when we came-upon this brand-new (and apparently unsuccessful) Rock trivia game-show called "The Poppin' Rocker" hosted by none other than Jon Bauman ("Bowzer" from Sha-Na-Na). We were watching it for a couple of minutes when the question came-up of which band has the shortest name. Someone immediately buzzed-in and said, "X!!" To which Jon gleefully exclaimed, "YES!! AND HERE THEY ARE!!" The camera immediately panned to the side-stage as the curtain came-up, and there was X, launching into "The Hungry Wolf." I and my brother (who was for the most part not a huge music fan) were basically blown-away and then we soon thereafter set-out to find that amazing song. That was the hard part, since Jon had never announced the name of the song. So first my brother bought *More Fun In The New World* and played it front-to-back (yes, including "We're Having Much More Fun"). The album was great and we each loved almost every single song on it, but the song for which we were looking wasn't there. So, then my brother bought *Wild Gift* from 2 years earlier, and it sounded *NOTHING* like the X we had recently come to know and love. (Little did *we* know. 😅) We played it front-to-back, liked almost nothing on it and of course our song wasn't there. Neither of us could believe that the band's sound had changed so much in just 2 years. We went back to the record store to look for more X, could only find *Los Angeles* from all the way back in 1980, immediately figured our song wasn't on it and didn't buy it. Disillusioned, we gave-up our search. I would typically go to the record store by myself most of the time at least once a week, and whenever I did, I kept looking for anything by X I hadn't seen before. I eventually found *Under The Big Black Sun,* instinctively knew that THIS was the right album, brought it right-away and played it as soon as I came home, and BOOM!! It turned-out that song was "The Hungry Wolf," and I and my brother were happy. We continued to follow X for a while afterwards. My brother heard their new single, a blistering - and surprisingly Metal - cover of The Troggs' "Wild Thing" and, as soon as he could, bought the 12" single for it, and of course I played the fuck out of it. Then I went-off to college, soon afterwards saw that X came-out with a new, fancy-looking album called *Ain't Love Grand,* and considered getting it sound unheard, but I decided to wait until I heard something from it. Soon after that, I did watch the video for the album's first single, "Burning House Of Love," thought it was just okay, and never bought the album. At that time, I learned that the album was written in the wake of Exene and John's recent divorce. The last thing I had heard about X was that Billy Zoom left and was immediately replaced by Dave Alvin of The Blasters. That was it. So, that's my long X story 😁 and why I was so happy that you did this video. Thank you for doing this and informing me that, after all these decades and changes, the band is BACK together again and rocking-out!! 👍🏻

[@scratch5191]

When X was doing live shows prior to recording Ain't Love Grand, the songs live were great. I cried when that record came out. Butchered but, the first Knitters record came out around that time. Both of Knitters records are sweet. Exene is a total original. Her writing speaks to me more than probably any poet has in my entire life. All are amazing musicians and John and Exene's harmonies are magical. They are important for being important. If I get dementia in my old age , I'll be singing their music. It runs in my veins. X, Cramps, Gun Club, Flesheaters, all are part of the Great American Song Book in my opinion. The band that was the soundtrack to my teens, early twenties. So many shows, so many blurry memories.

[@brucelee4996]

I saw the Cramps on Halloween 1988. Great show. I really enjoyed the Gun Club-Sex Beat. Don't get me started on X-great band.

[@scratch5191]

@@brucelee4996 where at? I'm from Boston Massachusetts and they did a annual Halloween show for years. I was living in San Francisco California in 88 and saw them at the i beam BUT, Kid Congo was gone and that guy was even better than Brian Gregory. He was like watching cigarette smoke flowing in the air and had the best sound grinding feedback like a serial killer. Watch him in the gun club in exile years. Guy is a complete original and those records from mother Juno on are gems. I just found a painting cleaning up that Exene Mc Cervenka gave me in 1990. It's on the wall in the unheard music when they shot it at their home where they wrote the first 2 records. It's fragile so I've kept it packed moving. So many blurry memories. That thing could talk, man oh man. ~PuNxxx4life~

[@HonestDogAL]

Psychobilly ! Fun shows. Remember Texacala ? & Rip. J.L. Pierce.

[@scratch5191]

@Konga 5000 I had seen a bunch of gun club shows in my days. They were always a happening in some regards. I love Kid Congo. Watching him play is like watching cigarette smoke flowing in the air with a perverse blast of Phil Specter's wall of sound. The best shows always included that god.

[@TheFutureLooksGrimm]

@@scratch5191 hey scratch I’m from the Boston area too. Hey any chance you have a copy of the Sam Black Church doc? It’s been totally unbelievable since it sold out years ago and still no reissue.

[@littlebirdling238]

When I met Exene she was very nice to me.I later sent her a chapbook of poetry/art and she responded with a lovely card...She has the most interesting hand writing.

[@DCB728]

I know what you mean re: her handwriting. I got 4 really cool postcards from X back in the early '80's-all signed with cool messages.

[@Gimmiyomoney]

As a live sound engineer I’ve mixed them a couple of times. Most recently they were opening for Blondie.

[@mikerouse1760]

David Irish was our engineer on the 2013 tour. I say that as the Tour Manager and Band Manager.

[@Gimmiyomoney]

@@mikerouse1760 I mixed them in Napa at the Uptown, and in Austin at Stubbs…

[@PhilWorley]

A very underrated band.

[@eddiem5997]

I love X and I’ve seen them a lot of times and I will see them every chance I get because they never disappoint🔥

[@mikewilson3581]

Under The Big Black Sun is one of my favorite albums. The Have Nots is a classic song. I've always loved Exene"s visual style as well.

[@yogijaya2897]

X is definitely ine of my favorite bands...up there w/ Motörhead and Steel Pulse. I admit i was starstruck when i met them in the early 90s as a teen. (I have had a career in music so ive met almost every rock & hip-hop star.) These are some 100 real people who care. Much love to X. My Goodness is my favorite song to play

[@fabreezethefaintinggoat5484]

Thank you for this, forgot how much i liked their Los Angeles album

[@caryrodda]

I love X. They are definitely in the conversation for best ever band from LA. Was lucky enough to see them play once, and saw John Doe solo another time. Great experiences.

[@Junkiescum]

Them and Fear are my favorite punk bands to come out of LA. I know X is the better band but to me they’re both so iconic and just personified the punk lifestyle. Huge influences to me

[@TheChristafershawn]

@@Junkiescum Actually both those bands were the more musically skilled bands of that scene.

[@morgellon9449]

@@Junkiescum Haha. I always thought Fear were from San Francisco because of their performance on Decline of Western Civilization. "It's nice to be down here at the beach!" "We're from Frisco!" Just looked 'em up and they're from LA.

[@brooke9297]

@@morgellon9449 haha same here!

[@Junkiescum]

@@TheChristafershawn very true, I guess I just meant X is always talked about as the stand out band of the time, they were critical darlings and everything but to me there the two stand out bands of that era. They’re equals in my eyes even tho X gets much more love

[@HonestDogAL]

favorite band of my life. Early 80’s LA, so many great shows ! I was really lucky to have experienced that place and time. The pure creativity and real camaraderie of the entire scene was amazing and inspiring. Sadly, It all fell apart by ‘85, when the hardcore changed the vibe, among other factors. I highly recommend John Doe’s 2 recent books ..... - collections of essays that tell the LA punk story. On Audible, read by the authors ! I’m still obsessed ! I still will go see John and/ or the band play - every chance I get. X Forever !

[@tfury2781]

The original lineup still plays shows today. I drummed for several So. Cal bands including The Adolescents, and shared bills with them not all that long ago.

[@lancecox8084]

Well for me X never went anywhere, I have seen them more live then any other band, at least 50 times or more, always a great live show, the Billy Zoom Benefit show at the Galaxy when he was dealing with cancer was a high point for the band, the last live show I saw before Covid shut everything down was X and The Damned at the Pacific Amphitheatre , getting a new album from X in the middle of the lockdown and a damn good one too! just highlights what a great band they are, but seeing them in the late 70s at the Starwood, Cuckoo's Nest etc. and the early Go-Go's seemingly always opening for them, hanging with X at Zero Zero after hours, EPIC Shows!

[@HonestDogAL]

Yep, me too ! Frolic room pre-show & the Zero One after ! I’m lucky I survived. Lol

[@rubygirl214]

You’re speaking my language 🖤 I’ve seen them more than any other band ever. They are the soundtrack of my life lol 😆

[@spud_grrrl]

X is one of if not my favorite punk band

[@scott12xu]

I saw X on that 40th anniversary tour in Kansas City, Missouri. They played at Knuckleheads, an outdoor venue which usually hosted R&B and blues acts. The band still have it. I was in front of Billy Zoom and he was still winking at the girls and smiling all the time even if he was being held up with a back brace. Also met John Doe (insert “Meet John Doe” film reference here) and was a very cool person. None of them are rockstars and I love that about them. Oh yeah, the first four LPs and last year’s “Alphabetland” are really good too. 😁

[@rychbiggs5492]

They didn't go anywhere, they released a new album last year. Still going strong.

[@blackpeter70]

I saw Ms. Cervenka in an episode of the 1980's version of The Twilight Zone. It was called Nightcrawlers, directed by the great William Friedkin.

[@clockwork914]

What an amazing story. Life is stranger than fiction. They should have made it bigger❗️

[@johnIZaUWL]

Blue Spark IS one of the coolest song EVER 😎🤘💜

[@ministerofdarkness]

Their first two records are pure Masterpieces. PLAY LOUD

[@DCB728]

I'd say the first four are masterpieces!

[@DCB728]

I wouldn't say better by any stretch-different yes, but not necessarily better.

[@DCB728]

@Konga 5000 Their 5th LP did not contain 4th of July. That would be their 6th LP-See how we are. So when you say their 4th LP is not very good, I think you may be referring to their 5th LP-Ain't love grand-which wasn't very good. You should check out their release from last year-Alphabetland-so good!

[@whoami7721]

"Because I Do" is my favorite.

[@GLASSB182]

I have a live video of them playing "Because I Do" two years ago on my channel

[@tomdulle1707]

Still the all time best American punk band. Exene left Cali for a few years when she married a musician from Missouri and lived in a old stone house built in the 1850's. I lived about 10 miles away at that time and few people knew she lived here and it was at that time she was first diagnosed wit MS, so she left for the West coast for treatment. I've seen X twice and The Knitters, which is X with Dave Alvin of The Blasters. I met John twice after shows and he couldn't have been kinder to their fans. I will also say an overlooked X gem is their cover of Richard and Linda Thompson's "Shoot out the lights". It's better than the original, if that's possible.

[@frankez99]

Once Ray Manzerek left they kind of plummeted. He really put his touch on the first four albums.

[@robertloughran]

No band ever like them before or since. LA's finest without a doubt. I have had the pleasure of seeing them live about 30 times in my life. Thank you X for a lifetime of wonderful music!!

[@donprescavage8107]

thank you for doing a story on x.they are a great band who i always loved.

[@billy6220]

I can't believe the radio stations wouldn't play punk music. Mind blowing.

[@brandonpage7087]

"I lived out in the middle of nowhere, so there was no chance of forming a band". Sigh, that's one of the things that dashed my rock 'n' roll, dreams, back in the day.....

[@stephenhawkingsfootballboo7885]

Those who really want it go where things are happening.

[@kenlieck7756]

@@stephenhawkingsfootballboo7885 Or make it happen where they are. For me, I'm glad there at least were resources like the Rather Ripped Records catalog, complete with recommendations. That's where my friend ordered the first X 45 "White Girl" and stuff by Gang Green, Legionnaires Disease Band etc, and I got stuff like Talking Heads' "Psycho Killer" and the Psycotic Pineapple album...

[@tinfoilmagnolia3134]

Every band from Mpls lived in the middle of nowhere. Listen to the Replacements gem Stuck In The Middle! Classic.

[@stephenhawkingsfootballboo7885]

@@tinfoilmagnolia3134 Mpls is a city of half a million surrounded by another 3,000,000 in the surrounding areas - hardly the middle of nowhere. Prince, Hüsker Dü, Soul Asylum, The Jayhawks, Babes in Toyland, Trip Shakespeare/Semisonic prove that Mpls was/is a major, thriving music scene. Now towns like Duluth (home of the great band Low), Minnetonka and Eden Prairie ARE in the middle of nowhere.

[@tinfoilmagnolia3134]

@@stephenhawkingsfootballboo7885 Population does not a scene make . I grew up in Minneapolis and I was THERE. The Mpls scene exploded with a bunch of bored kids that happened to see the Ramones open for Foreigner, went to Southwest High School, met at halfway houses and/or were just outcasts from the suburbs. Before this virtually every damned band in Mpls played lame cover tunes. All we had was stadium BS ( "St Paul Civic Center...$8.50...I BOUGHT A HEADACHE!!! "- The Replacements) I suggest you view Minnesota Hardcore 1980-85. That was the scene Loud Fast Rules ( aka Soul Asylum ) The Mats, Husker Du, Babes came out of. That scene came about very organically- NOTHING WAS HAPPENING BEFORE. Not for young people STUCK in a place with Sub-Zero temps and the first suburban shopping malls! That whole thing was just kismet- everything just fell into place. And everything falls apart.

[@loganhuffman1078]

I LOVE X AND ALL THE OTHER L.A. AND OC BANDS

[@secariusprime4217]

I remember finding out about them when I watched "The Decline of the Western Civilization" and thinking that they were very down to earth people with all of the same problems and weird non sequiturs that all of the rest of us experience. Hell, Exene Cervenka was shit faced drunk for most of the interview, ha ha! It seems their whole career went that way too. I'm still a big fan of theirs even to this day several decades later.

[@marcosmith2501]

"The Decline of the Western Civilization": Alice Bag {Gluttony} is still Punk and still going strong!

[@mathewhowell6016]

Right on. X rules!!!!

[@hybrydsanity5857]

What a nice story of coming full circle with great friends along with a significant punk rock band historically !

[@jefferysteen1041]

A great band!They put out a great live album "X-Live at the Whiskey A go-go!

[@ginom407]

One my favorite all time bands!!!!

[@davidhamersfeld4987]

Fantastic band

[@sixstringfrenzy238]

John Doe was in my favorite movie, Pure Country

[@stephenbarone4053]

Thanks for covering a great band.

[@TheRichmondRoadie]

Nothing says 80's Cali like X. Good times.

[@googlechicken]

I love X seen them many times over the years and always a fun show last time I saw them was over 10 years ago now but tomorrow night I’ll be seeing them for the fifth time and am still as excited as I was the first time. I miss the 80s punk and new wave scenes such a great time for diverse bands

[@corporalquigg7873]

Lost my phone in the pit at their 40th anniversary show in Atlanta \m/

[@erichanhauser3190]

I lost my phone in the pit of The Dead Milkmen Dave Blood memorial show.

[@corporalquigg7873]

That sounds like a dope ass show.

[@Lengsel7]

Nah, you didn't loose it...I stole it.

[@corporalquigg7873]

Lose*

[@Lengsel7]

@@corporalquigg7873 Loose.

[@noelabrera6634]

The first great LA punk band .I bought the first album and the I'm Coming Over poster from Slash Records and saw them in 1980 at the Island in Houston

[@mk2727]

Nice! Saw them 4 years ago and they were great! They even played one of my favorite songs, "Nausea". Thanks for all the great videos!

[@stellamackeyloveworks]

Yes! I call it my whiplash song, because I can't help swinging my head back and forth furiously to that one. One of my faves live:)

[@robertleeluben]

I still have the LP for Under the Big Black Sun, the songwriting is stellar.

[@rogerbranton1752]

So much has gone wrong in the music industry...a band as good as X should never had to have struggled! There was a little band out of Liverpool once who simply made great records and got the recognition they deserved. The world was spinning right on it's axis then! Heard the crap coming out of car windows lately? How can anyone dig that crud? Honestly, I'm at a loss....X are great, that's all I know.

[@bigcheese2128]

Saw them in 2018 it was a great show!

[@Jason_Maier]

General consensus is X's first four albums that were produced by Ray Manzerik (Los Angeles/Wild Gift/Under the Big Black Sun/More Fun in the New World) are their best ones. That said, their 2020 album (Alphabetland) with the original lineup is also good.

[@dominichowell6896]

I love X so much. I took my daughter to see them live in Detroit a few years ago

[@mexicore17]

Thank you for doing a segment on X.they're such a great band. Maybe do a story on The Blasters

[@thekredyard7577]

Saw em the 2017 tour. Greatest night of my life. Slam danced with 55-60 year olds! I was 23 then. Will never forget it

[@davidelliot9884]

I saw X last night in Chicago They were extremely tight on a muggy afternoon! Great show with some new tunes and a lot of classics.

[@devilsadvocacy]

They got old, like everyone else. But their live shows-I’ve seen more of theirs than any other band-still have lots of energy

[@FlyByNick]

This was a band I discovered while in college and I finally got to see them live about 8 yrs ago in Annapolis, MD. After the show I met the band and John complimented me on my mustache and Exene asked me if I had any pot. Great night!

[@djquinn11]

Well, did you???

[@brucelee4996]

Did you blaze? Nug life.

[@bobthebear1246]

You'd think they could afford their own pot.

[@soysaucefool]

I just saw them in 2019, and it was great

[@psmith6852]

I loved X back in the day !!!

[@CaseySartin]

If only I knew this when I met John Doe a few years ago.... The conversation would have been so much better than I have seen you so many years ago 😂

[@FlorencioOrtega-z9o]

They were ahead of their time. Only a few can appreciate the raw talent only they can do.

[@michaelmendelson1731]

They are going strong in 2022. Saw them last week, great show!

[@fredkrissman6527]

Saw X at an outdoor concert at CSUFullerton, in must of been 77 or so. Fantastic!

[@S.J.L]

One of the best American bands.

[@Jezballz]

Loved Billy Zoom's guitar playing.

[@Junkiescum]

Such an underrated guitarist. He was almost too good to be playing punk songs but I’m glad he did lol. His riffs are a huge influence to me and my guitar playing

[@TheFairway8]

Absolutely one of the coolest guitarists ever

[@maximusindicusoblivious180]

Being a session player and multi-instrumentalist speaks a lot to his skill sets. X was a breath of fresh air in the 80s. What I remember was when a lot of bands were spitting and snarling, Billy Zoom was on stage with the biggest grin on his face.

[@paulosicne8498]

My first X album in 1986 was More Fun In The New World. I was lucky enough to see them with all their different lineups. I saw a lot shows with Billy Zoom. In the later 80s, I saw X with Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin (when Zoom left). Then in the early 90s, I saw X at a Barbara Boxer benefit with Tony Gilkyson on guitar. All their songs are great, but I have to say the one song that has always been my absolute favorite is "We're Having Much More Fun".

[@stampscapes]

Great video! Loved X in the 80's but interest really dropped around that Ain't Love Grand and when Zoom left. Was great catching them (original 4) and the Knitters (w/Dave Alvin) concerts again back in early 2000's again after all those years. In the earlier years of Ebay, someone over at Slash was selling a lot of production art for the CD releases. I got lucky and picked up the paste up for the inner spread for the Knitters CD and the original production photos for that double CD of Los Angeles and Wild Gift. I forgot if it was a "buy it now" or auction but no one was looking for that type of thing so I was able to get them easily.

[@daskitten1]

Who else could write tunes like "The have nots" "The world's a mess" "I must not think bad thoughts" "Under a big black sun" etc etc...Their songs were like forbidden rooms with the door left open for us. X are in a category all to themselves.

[@tombumgardner8890]

Saw them in Columbus a few years back. One of my favorite concert experiences to date.

[@btipton6899]

Staches?

[@tombumgardner8890]

Yep,Skating Polly opened.

[@kevinroulette]

X is one of my favorites. Loved that you coved them . Love your channels

[@goldenagenut]

They're still together and performing! X has always rocked!

[@Nick-qf7vt]

Awesome! X is a fantastic band. There's a great CD that has the first two albums on it, which I reccomend. Does this mean you're covering more LA punk bands? PLEASE do a video about FEAR. As good as X is, FEAR is the epitome of punk.

[@pastaboy9371]

Lee is an amazing front man

[@vandalorianvandalorian4769]

My brother and I (he’s 60, I’m 58) just saw them again last week at Marymoor Park in Redman, Washington and they still ROCK! I love these guys. So glad Billy Zoom is still with them. He played great as usual!

[@SpendLoudNite]

wow! i didnt know they had a new album! Cool Wayne White cover art too! gotta go listen to it!

[@MrFatshit6]

X is so incredibly good! Their song, "White Girl" off of Wild Gift is one of my favorite songs of all time.

[@dennishough3709]

The guitar riff on that song is simply incredible!!

[@rickperrotta]

I had the good fortune to be the recording engineer for that song, as well as recording the album Los Angeles, and White Girl is my favorite song from the band. The first time I heard it I thought it was great. The chorus harmony is killer!

[@onthehill3381]

The guitar riff from White Girl was copied from The Thirteenth Floor Elevators song, Rollercoaster. They were a 60’s Texas garage band. There’s a vid here on YT. I don’t think I’ve ever heard them give credit where credit is due.

[@midohiobuckeyeaorwarrior9743]

(Cleveland Indians catcher Jake Taylor): "You're gonna bring in Vaughn (against Yankees slugger Glue Heywood)?" Lou Brown (Indians manager to Jake): "Yeah. Look, he hasn't had much luck against this guy...but I have a hunch he's due" (Crowd chants "We Want Wild Thing!") (Lou): "I'd say it's time now" (Jake): "Well, give 'em what they want! (Lou signaling to pitching coach) "Bring him in now!!" (X's cover of "Wild Thing" blares - and "Wild Thing" Ricky Vaughn comes out...while the Cleveland crowd goes WILD) Rachel Phelps (Indians owner who hates her team and wants to move it): "I hate this f***ing song" One of my all-time fave movies

[@Stanley5551234]

X is the best!

[@SpendLoudNite]

do an Alley Cats video!!! fuck it, do a DANGERHOUSE retrospect! itd be wild to see a video about Black Randy, the Eyes, Bags, or the Weirdos! how bout doing something on the SCREAMERS considering they finally have a real non bootleg record coming out soon! or the Pat Garrett, KK Barrett, John Doe record The Randoms! "Lets Get Rid of New York" is THE Los Angeles punk anthem (along with the Bags song "We Dont Need The English")

[@RiteanDan]

I saw them play the ‘77 Montreal Punk Festival back in 2017. They were the highlight of the day.

[@paulrevere2928]

I saw X on the Los Angeles tour in1987 open for Warren Zevon in South Florida at Sunrise Musical Theatre and there were 6 retired Jewish couples in their 70s-80s across the few rows up close they said they were season ticket holders who came to all the shows...

[@BobZed]

I've seen X multiple times. Always a great show. Billy Zoom is such a chill guitar player. John Doe and Exene Cervenka were great. I bought just about all of their albums.

[@laustcawz2089]

Do a search for "Alphabetland", X's newest album (last year). Also, John Doe sang with Jennifer Jason Leigh in the 1995 movie "Georgia", in which Leigh played singer Sadie Flood.

[@stellamackeyloveworks]

I liked his role in Sugar Town also. Fun movie:)

[@laustcawz2089]

@@stellamackeyloveworks Don't know that one. Will make a note of it.

[@stevensons78]

My life and this World are both better because of X Rock n Roll.......

[@712dal]

Damn, I guess several commenters here don't like punk.......

[@ElvisChrist]

Was lucky enough to see them at Riot Fest a few years back, great set!!

[@happyvalleyhappyvalley1156]

WHAT HAPPENED ? they went on to RULE the world, thats what happened.

[@GuitarlosCarlos]

X IS A GREAT GROUP RIGHT FROM THE FIRST TIME I HEARD THEM PLAY

[@The-D-Hoyt]

I saw them in concert in June of 2019 - They were solid asf.

[@denisefreitas6727]

Love them, great band! I absolutely loved the video!💖

[@marklynch5228]

Mary’s Danish inspired by X. Going to see X in Seattle December 8th

[@scratch5191]

Whatever happened to X ? Nothing really. They tour constantly and just released a new record. 40 years and still working together. The original line up too. They'll bury us all.

[@scotthart3617]

No mention of "Live at the Whiskey A Go Go", one of the greatest live albums of all time.

[@rickg8015]

John Doe was memorable in Great Balls of Fire, Roadhouse (guilty pleasure!), and the tv series Roswell.. Exene was also in an episode of the 80’s Twilight Zone.. They’re better actors than what pass for “pro actors” in Hollywood today lol..

[@bobthebear1246]

He also had a cameo in *Boogie Nights* as Julianne Moore's estranged husband taking her to task and refusing to let her see their kids because of her porn career. One of the saddest scenes in that movie.

[@stellamackeyloveworks]

And for some reason, a never discussed movie, which I thought was great "Sugar Town."

[@psalwasser]

I've got tickets to see this coming friday in mpls, mn. love this band!

[@4430salton]

They are touring right now and just saw them in July and they sound Great!!