X - Breathless (David Letterman 1983)

grrlbandgeek.blogspot.com/
X - Breathless.
L.A. band X performs "Breathless" live on the David Letterman Show.

[@eliznaomistuart]

Why does Billy Zoom stand like a statue and grin? In an interview he said he got tired of guitar players playing easy licks but grimacing and making it look like it was hard. So Billy decided that he would play really really hard licks and make it look easy. Best American rock band period.

[@jeffdarden337]

You gotta love billy zoom

[@joeshmo4929]

@@mlm7609 AAWWW HAW HAW HAW HAW !

[@joeshmo4929]

HIS TUNES AREN'T HARD BUT HE IS..............

[@jcbrann66]

X is my all time favorite band . Got to see em in Pensacola at a bar . Had an AWESOME time

[@jcbrann66]

Also David lettermen is kinda a dick

[@XLBiker13]

A truly remarkable band. That, kids, is how you play rock and roll.

[@jas_bataille]

... punk. To be fair, Billy was the guitar player for Gene Vincent, so, there's that, but X is a *punk* band, not a Rock'n'roll band. The difference isn't so much in the sound but the attitude.

[@rdrrr]

@@jas_bataille Punk was just rock 'n' roll with the bullshit taken out.

[@captainbeefheartt]

@@rdrrr No xd, you don´t know punk concept

[@markclark1429]

david letterman is the best

[@kevinblake839]

Billy Zoom is the coolest.

[@cwmiller2006]

i totally agree man...if i could play with a fraction of that coolness i'd die a happy man !

[@Zackaria_sMax]

IsBilly Zoom the host of the show? He didn't seem to know anything about the band....

[@doinkerislove]

No lie

[@MCSuperHonky]

Greatest Guitar Break in the history of TV…

[@arthurblackhistoric]

I love Billy's playing! So much better than your average punk guitarist. In his own way he's as much a punk rebel as the punks who can't play to save their lives. He's rebelling against mediocrity!! God bless you Billy, and the whole band for that matter!! 🙂

[@argusfleibeit1165]

His never-ending smile. Without it, a bit menacing. But always, when playing, the smile.

[@jamesrusso2523]

He is Chuck Berrying it

[@brianwooton1992]

He's more of a rockabilly playing punk. The smile was a message that you don't have to grimace to play great guitar.

[@modfather1965]

So was anyone on the planet cooler than Billy Zoom back in the day!? Love how he plays such intricate stuff w/o looking at his guitar--thousands of hours of practice for sure...

[@Warrogue1]

Still is today.

[@DanielNux]

What did he play that was intricate?

[@realsinisterminister]

@@DanielNux his reflection in a mirror!

[@modfather1965]

@@DanielNux Geeze... Where to start? How about just about every solo he ever plays??? Spot on great.

[@theunrealtimemm]

It helps that he had several years and quite a few bands up on his group-mates, but yes, thrilling. :)

[@MrOCT31]

No matter how you feel about Letterman at least he had them on his show!

[@davidorocks62]

Exactly...He always had great bands.

[@APTKSU]

I adore Letterman, then and now.

[@Raptorizor]

That time that Iggy played Eat Or Be Eaten ....!

[@catdanger7831]

i love Letterman and I have most of my life.

[@JohnSmith-eq2tf]

That's true

[@tankmacnamara3734]

Wish I could leave this a million likes

[@rev.comradex3013]

Saw X just a few months after this Letterman appearance in early 1984 and was just a tremendous show. Exene contributed to the delinquency of a minor when she gave me a beer off the stage when I was only 18 (Ohio drinking age was 19 for beer in '84) and I still thank her for that to this day.

[@maxvolume1131]

Awesome story of path to corruption, sir.

[@Hemlock2323]

Goddamn they're tight!!

[@The_Empire_Chronicles]

So unbelievable. Could this happen today? My era. Before everyone became fake.

[@georgec485]

This is so awesome, they don't give a single fuck. They just wanna play. Underrated band, they had a great little run in the 80s.

[@glennwarden6114]

THERE STILL RUNNING NOW IN 2024

[@timothylee6859]

Billy Zoom has to be the thy best rock'n roll guitarist ever. playing just past the beat, giving it that drive that pushes the whole tension of the song without a sweat.

[@kanasatka1]

Timothy Lee poor guy has bladder cancer.

[@timothylee6859]

kanasatka1 So sorry the hear that. I saw X in Concord CA w/Ray Manzarek(RIP), was the best show of my life. Billy Zoom just kicked ass, the worlds a mess, was incredible. Blasters opened. Hope the very best for him and his family.

[@flowerfarmerscott]

And by far the best smile in rock 'n roll, too.

[@lynettevinich861]

DaVE YOU REALLY HAVE NO ROOM TO INSULT PEEWEE really ....

[@aaronmosher139]

saw them the other night in Portland, ME...what an amazing show. Billy looks eerily the same 34 years later...same mannerisms, everything....but he's 69! Seems healthy, and was sitting on a stool most of the show. Still, those same mannerisms, the same looks, the same implacable energy, really. Watching videos of old performances now after just seeing their 62 to 69 YO selves is kinda wild.

[@edjfitz]

The best American rock band ever. OK, that's my opinion.

[@ethanhill9460]

I saw band decades ago in nyc, the hate-ridden City, and was amazed at the rockabilly punk. X -- not k -- remains one of the all time best American bands.

[@eddiem5997]

I see this band Live every chance I get and they never disappoint.

[@AA-gg3hx]

100% Eddie... As an Angelino 😎😍

[@AA-gg3hx]

100% Eddie... As an Angelino 😎😍

[@miczic]

Gonna see the with the Psychedelic Furs at Parx casino in July so looking forward to it!

[@fermisurface2616]

Do they come out in wheelchairs now? Aging rockers are depressing.

[@miczic]

@@fermisurface2616 only if your axl rose or Phil collins with a broken leg… stay home…and listen to the old lp… just cause they are older they don’t lay down and die…

[@WhoAsked4YourOpinion]

The music of *Gen X* performed by *Baby Boomers* Miss that time period. One of my first vinyl albums was an X album 🤘😎🎸

[@Jonalisa754]

😂uh no

[@michaelgraham9774]

Billy absolutely laid down the law with that solo

[@mikepollard1915]

Great clip - we saw X at the Marquee, Wardour Street, in the early 80s. We were mesmerised by Billy Zoom grinning and staring at the audience like he was deciding who to eat next! Great fun, great band.

[@quininde]

Yes Billy is a trip live. He has that big grin and he looks around making eye contact and smiling and nodding at whoever in the audience is locked in watching him play. He did it to me. LOL. I have never seen another musician do that live.

[@bluegregory6239]

Why isn't this band more famous?

[@jonathanledeux5465]

Because the cool kids missed the boat, didn't get the memo ect ..

[@siggyretburns7523]

I had the pleasure of seeing them play the whiskey a go go in the early 80s. The place was packed and they were awesome. A little less reserved as here, but then again this is national TV. Kids might be looking.

[@RataStuey]

I’ve never ever heard this band before… this is so good

[@chadalpha7983]

They are very good I recommend their first album, and the movie "Decline of Western Civilization" which features them and other LA punk bands

[@seanr8628]

Zoom's "playing along" with Dave was brilliant!

[@jas_bataille]

Before X, Billy once walked into Musicians Contact, a legendary real-life equivalent to today's Craiglist for musicians (available online still and much better...!!!) and walked out the guitarist for Gene Vincent, the genius who wrote Bebopalula. You can't really get much more legendary than this...!

[@paulbgraham4936]

Love this band. Billy Zoom is the coolest rock guitarist ever. And I've seen a ton of 'em since 1971. I'll leave it there. He was also the first musician that I can recall who took photos of the crowd after the show was over.

[@lordoberon2873]

That billy zoom is really something

[@Stiglr]

There are many guitarists who can make their guitars cry or scream; but only Billy Zoom makes his Gretsch Silver Jet "complain"....

[@jwd29485]

I saw them several times in the 80s. Billy Zoom is awesome. And he just gets on stage and plays, doesn't move, same stance all show long. If you catch his eye he'll put a pick on his forehead and then hand it to you. Back to pose. Yes, front row required.

[@craigh7607]

I only saw the once but they were at their peak -- I thin it was this same year. Zoom was all-that.

[@jayrey806]

I think he was on of the first to clean up punk guitar (Trashy but you could still hear the different strings)

[@carathebaker]

And also one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. He always has time to meet with fans, sign autographs, and pose for pictures. I have a photo posing with Billy Zoom when they played in Tucson. Then he gave me a kiss afterwards . . . SWOON!

[@Aivarthecool]

Billy Zoom! Underrated and fantastic!

[@keystonebrotherb]

The greatest live LA band of all time.

[@marcalfredo9826]

Sorry Janes Addiction was

[@adderon7476]

And still doin it

[@Dana-wq5tp]

And as usual, Billy Zoom can't stop smiling. (LOL) One of my all time favorite guitarists!

[@hungfao]

A really good band! Billy kills me. I never realized Exene was so short.

[@IamVol-uz6yb]

She isn't that short. She's a woman of average size - about 5'6. It's rather that the men in his video are all pretty tall.

[@mikechang2023]

Letterman is actually pretty tall

[@B0w.and.arr0w]

@@IamVol-uz6yb Yeah especially Billy. He’s like 6’ 3” lol

[@adderon7476]

John too. If DJ stood up you'd see the height diff

[@paulygit]

speaking as a hack guitar player... it kills me how effortless billy's playing comes off as! maybe a couple thousand more hours of practice to be an iota as good as he is!

[@yawningchasm33]

check out who is farther was that is cool shrimp

[@garyfrye5289]

Great guitar...players like Brian Setzer ,. Mark Knopler .....all great ..

[@spoilt666]

Saw them live at the Marquee once - fucking brilliant! Billy Zoom had his foot on the monitor and just machine-gunned the crowd whilst grinning!

[@marcellamurphy5759]

Interviewers always treated punkers like they were from outer space.

[@programadorpunk4141]

and we are so nice ;D

[@JohnSmith-eq2tf]

I know lol

[@graxjpg]

He’s supposed to play the straight man, it juxtaposes the bands aesthetic perfectly for the audience that would’ve been watching at the time. It helps those people get a better idea of who the band is

[@Undergroundsubs-1]

I had their very first invites to their debut album release party but i didn't go - so much going on in west Hollywood at the time- regretting this for the rest of my life- long live x my homies!!!

[@maxLeifermann]

i remember a story i heard that exene and the others from the band were sitting in a car in front of a movie theater with a marquee with all the letters on it and she said, "It would be cool if we were playing there and there was just a big black "X" up on the marquee."...

[@TimBoykinGuitar]

Total greatness. Long live X.

[@tomd4223]

GREAT BAND. Saw them at Walt Disney World in early 80's. They loved the irony of them getting booked to play there. They got yanked halfway thru there show. I guess mickey did not approve. Whitney Houston was performing at Cinderella's castle. the GOOD die young.

[@frankmorrow3701]

I saw them at Great America amusement park in Mountain View, Ca I think it was around the same time and it was the same kind of experience although they didn't get booted off stage and it was a great show! As always.

[@xanderandersen7965]

At Disney? Omg! Would have loved it

[@paulfloyd123]

🤣

[@johnkracy9190]

X...mark's the spot where american music want's to live.

[@timkettlewell4811]

Most underrated band ever

[@shannonb082905]

Exene Cervenka is adorable. I love this band. I've seen them many times live. They put on an amazing show. So much energy! Their also the nicest people. All of them. The talk to the fans after the show and sign autographs and let you take pictures

[@kylefiske2446]

They blew the roof off the place with that one.

[@OroborusFMA]

They were simply too good for mainstream music in 1983. Had they been a new band in 1993 I think things would have been a lot different.

[@MrDLOC11]

This is correct. If this punk sound would eventually become mainstream it certainly wasn't back then. And of that sound X were and are the best.

[@hotlanta35]

Being on a major TV show basically makes you are mainstream in a way.. and also punk rock was not that underground as people always say.

[@zerohours.]

punk sound was influenced by classics like this you can't just switch around the process. 90s punk was more geared towards skater punk. There is a lot of this kind of classic punk from the era of late 70s-early80s

[@simfaithguitar1]

Kiddos, this is real music by real people. 😄👍

[@amoeba1533]

Well, what would you expect? They came at a time when ohhhhhhhh Michael "King of Pop" Jackson, Madonna, Huey Lewis, Phill Collins, Def Lepard, U2, and Bon Jovi were the giants of mainstream popular music. Naturally THEY didn't stand a snowballs chance in Hell during THAT era. And, as I recollect, they actually DID attempt to get in on that "ALTERNATIVE ROCK" phase. Remember 'Hey Zeus? .. . well THAT is what that particular album was an effort at. But it pretty much FAILED. It was a self conscious bid at hoping THAT bandwagon (of bands whom they'd largely influenced ironically) and it was rejected.

[@MichaelFoxMFX]

DJ Bonebrake kicks ass! From "The Eyes" to "X" and all his other projects and bands nothing but great drumming

[@joeski734]

You are correct, sir. He made them go.

[@Mraquanetchris]

I'm torn between DJ and Clem Burke as the most underrated drummers.

[@MichaelFoxMFX]

@@Mraquanetchris Burke is and has been totally one of the best all time

[@adderon7476]

Lucky Lehrer and Robo for honorable mentions

[@MichaelFoxMFX]

@@adderon7476 Indeed a hell yes

[@stephanieoverbey4768]

Hung out with Exebe in the bathroom of the Russian Club in San Fran. she was AWESOME!

[@piobairesicago]

A great performance by the iconic L.A. punk rock band. God how the f*** was Michael Jackson at the top of the charts for years while actual rockers like this languished in obscurity? I hated that about the 80s. I couldn't turn on a radio without hearing a fucking Michael Jackson or Madonna song within the first 5 minutes for over a DECADE.

[@dougeroo1]

I remember seeing X at the Whiskey and staying for the second show ‘cause the first one was great. Long break between sets and when they came out, they had to carry Exene practically. They played slow blues, oldies, a few of their own; I’d seen them lots of times but never like this. Finally Top Jimmy came out with a beer stuck in each pocket of his Levis and closed the show with the most killer rendition of Road House Blues I’ve ever heard. Jimmy had a great voice, and sounded a lot like Morrision, but that night he was Morrision. We found out after the show that Exene’s sister had been killed in an auto accident between shows, and that explained everything. It had to be late seventies or early eighties. Those were incredible days.

[@2degucitas]

+dougeroo1 LA loved their band.

[@josephpistorio4349]

+dougeroo1 Thanks for posting this. Mary's death was the inspiration for "The UnHeard Music" album and documentary and the subject of the song "Riding Wkth Mary" More here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_%28American_band%29

[@DreamingBigRocks]

April 1977, Sunday after Easter.

[@marianne1234able]

@@josephpistorio4349 Thank you.

[@jpcworley]

I was at that show!!

[@marcellamurphy5759]

That was "punkers" and I like the way X launched quickly into the song.

[@davidgamboa918]

First time I saw x I stood in front of Billy for an hour in total awe. Coolest cat to ever hold a guitar

[@HonrbleMention]

Billy Zoom most underrated guitarist. Zooooooom...!

[@kathybunnell2859]

Went to a few of their concerts in L.A. in 1982...........great memories

[@Williecisme]

Just saw them in concert last night. We all get older but it was still fun.

[@lncognitoMode]

Billy is an inspiration. I loved the underlying autistic themes in his early work and first album. They helped me accept who I am and I'm so proud of him for paving the way for other autistic artists. Rock on Billy!

[@B0w.and.arr0w]

I feel the same way !!! I’m autistic as well, and I really look up to, and relate to Billy. I’ve always had this feeling that he probably is autistic himself because of how we speaks and acts and things, but I thought that was maybe just me looking into it too much. Apparently not. Unrelated, but one of my favorite Billy Zoom quotes is from an interview he did a couple years ago with X’s design guy, and Billy said that he got rid of all his Vespas once helmet laws were put in place, because, and I quote, “Billy Zoom doesn’t have helmet hair”. It’s amazing. He’s had the same hair since- as far back as I can find photos. I appreciate his want to keep his hair the same. And also helmet hair is just very annoying, so I totally get it.

[@misterspray7323]

Saw these guys in Philly on their "Los Angeles" tour. Man that was a lot of fun.

[@billyzoom1]

Exene was never sexier. What a band.

[@judasplow25]

I miss this david letterman before the big head.

[@kmlgraph]

This sounds like rockabilly on speed. Good stuff.

[@blukatzen]

I remember watching this on Letterman way back in the day! Nice to see it again!

[@theheartlandgroup757]

There was a one hour music video show that used to come on in the afternoons in the early 80s that I cannot remember the name of. That was the first time I heard or saw X. Billy Zoom really impressed me with his style, at the time….

[@lambcatmeans3400]

I saw at Irvine meadows in the 80s. Front row, and loving it. Mofo I was with wanted to go.😢😢

[@lambcatmeans3400]

I meant I saw them.

[@cazgerald9471]

The breathed new life into the Killer's classic

[@RonTonkinAcuraPortland]

Geezus..... Billy Zoom KILLS it!!

[@michaelleigh]

maybe the best band to come out of Los Angeles!

[@CalebTrask]

michael leigh ... that is a mighty bold statement, but I think you are probably correct.

[@MrDLOC11]

You better recognize!!!

[@EdDunkle]

Better than the Eagles, that's for damn sure.

[@cazgerald9471]

The man who produced their first four albums was in a pretty phenomenal band out of LA.

[@RiteanDan]

X is love! I finally got to see them a few years ago for the very first time at a festival in Montréal!

[@XgayforshaneX]

DAMN! Good Frickin' days! I would totally go back & do it all over!

[@bif3578]

That Bonebreak is a pretty serious drummer!

[@lncognitoMode]

Billy is an inspiration. I loved the underlying homoerotic themes in his early work and first album. They helped me accept who I am and I'm so proud of him for paving the way for other gay artists. Rock on Billy!

[@mikechang2023]

Still the best version.

[@MisterChimpy]

Kick ass! The awkward interview makes it perfect.

[@ronnyvonallmen6892]

Billy Zoom…So Underrated….

[@faeries_Wear_Boots]

wow.. this is freaking amazing.

[@TheMundusvultdecipi]

I remember when I saw Breathless for the first time I loved that flick so much, Gere playing this total stud in ridiculous clothes that happened to look good on him, his Suspicious Mind scene is brilliant, the Jerry Lee Lewis references plus the Silver Surfer...how can you not love this movie. Kaprisky is very sexy in Breathless although I wouldn't say the chemistry between her and Gere was great, but the vibe I felt between them only added to the fascination because it displayed perfectly her ambivalent feelings towards Jesse imo. Terrific score and great cinematography, the LA shots are great, you could tell that McBride put a lot of thought into each shot/framing and color (watch and re-watch the scene carefully after the cop shooting scene when the camera blends over to Gere arriving in LA early, jogging past the Glendale Federal Savings building and the camera shows him, the slow passing patrol car and these empty streets, very atmospheric, I love that scene!). Then when I finally managed to tape Breathless on VHS one night I realized how great the ending song was, I actually copied it on cassette and listened to it on my Walkman for a long time, besides other film scores, the horrible quality didn't deter me one bit, haha. So thanks a lot to the uploader for sharing this awesome version with us!

[@vincegedeon6583]

Exene is🔥 amazing performer

[@jdpowerscompany]

Everybody remembers the Sex Pistols but nobody remembers X--America's great and TRULY equal counterpart!! I saw them in a ballroom in Iowa City in College around 86 and then again in Austin in fall of 02--"Greasy, Machine Gun, Rockabilly Riffs" is what Billy Zoom called them and then he would stand there like a statue in one pose with wide eyes and smile! Tell EVERYONE YOU KNOW! I love Green Day and some other even newer young bucks carry the torch but these guys are still alive while Johnny Rotten is dead! GO SEE THEM!

[@B0w.and.arr0w]

Johnny Rotten is very much still alive 😅 He’s crazy, but he’s definitely alive lol

[@UberLummox]

Too cool for national tv.

[@ERINYES10]

Billy Zoom. The Grandmaster of making difficult playing seem mundane.

[@lucianofigueiredo7220]

Muito top

[@lucianofigueiredo7220]

Verdade😆😆😆

[@chrisgelmini3364]

Easily the best sounding song I’ve heard on television

[@closertotheheart]

Oh the days when late night hosts would really spend time and interview bands.

[@QueenofNonSequitur]

Ah, Letterman's morning show had a lot of these non mainstream bands on. Competing with soaps! Loved his a.m. show

[@paulosicne5803]

Billy Zoom is the ultimate guitar stud.

[@eddiem5997]

Legendary

[@demiglace2000]

I saw them back in the day and just recently and they are as great now as then! Keep on Keeping on X!

[@Jenna-c1r]

Still going strong. They play Portland at least once a year.

[@y2k7-9-11]

Legends...of....Los Angeles....music history....next?

[@user-mc6tr1vp2v]

great band. completely unique

[@MrMihenry123]

One of the many reasons to love David Letterman.

[@mattnemekis8114]

I love this band. I once went to a show where they opened. I watched them and didn't bother to stay for the headliner.

[@rickybrown5788]

A timeless. Blast from the past

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

X always sounded better live than on their records.

[@stardresser1]

Still f in love this band. Damn good.

[@siggylloyd3566]

David trying his best here, good god what a nerd but I love him.

[@davidobarr2317]

Billy killing it!

[@EraseAllMemory]

I remember watching this live - 40 years ago - what the h@!! ?!! Best time to be alive for sure! I miss those days! X rule forever!

[@cyndykated358]

I’m seeing them in August!

[@johndouglas6354]

So tight, awe inspiring.

[@guipolonca]

I saw that live @ São Paulo,omfg it was so good...

[@jnthxn_]

billy zoom is fuckin incredible! holy shit!

[@pt8208]

Great musicians, great people too!

[@johnvalentine8586]

God damn.

[@mileshenryreloaded14.88]

Billy Zoom and Olga are probably two of the best guitarists in punk rock

[@sometimelater]

precisely

[@melissaleabrown604]

I can’t wait to see you August 31, it’s been too long!