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| {{hatnote| This about a U.S. rock band named X. For other uses see ] or ].}} | |||
| {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2012}} | |||
| {{Infobox musical artist | |||
| | name = X | |||
| | image = X 2004.jpg | |||
| | caption = X 2004 concert photo at the ] in San Francisco, from left to right: Cervenka, Zoom, and Doe | |||
| | image_size = | |||
| | background = group_or_band | |||
| | origin = ], ], United States | |||
| | genre = ], ] | |||
| | years_active = 1977–present | |||
| | label = ], ], ], Infidelity | |||
| | associated_acts = ]<br/>]<br/>Original Sinners<br/>] | |||
| | website = {{URL|http://www.xtheband.com/}} | |||
| | current_members = ]<br />]<br />]<br />] | |||
| | past_members = ] <br />] | |||
| }} | |||
| '''X''' is an American ] band, formed in Los Angeles in 1977.<ref name="RollingStone" /> Established among the ] of American punk, the original members are vocalist ], vocalist/bassist ], guitarist ], and drummer ]. The band released seven studio albums from 1980 to 1993. After a period of inactivity during the mid to late 1990s, X reunited in the early 2000s, and currently tours.<ref name="RollingStone" /> | |||
| X achieved limited mainstream success but influenced various genres of music, including punk rock and ].<ref name="Hinson" /> In 2003, X's first two studio albums, '']'' and '']'', were ranked by ] as being among the ]. '']'' was ranked 91st on ]'s Top 100 Albums of the 1980s. The band received an Official Certificate of Recognition from the City of Los Angeles in acknowledgment of its contribution to Los Angeles music and culture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.concertwire.com/event/511469/x/ |title=X |publisher=Concertwire |accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref> | |||
| ==History== | |||
| ===1977–1979: Formation and Dangerhouse era=== | |||
| X was founded by bassist/singer John Doe and guitarist Billy Zoom. Doe brought his poetry-writing girlfriend Exene Cervenka to band practices, and she eventually joined the band as a vocalist. Drummer DJ Bonebrake was the last of the original members to join after leaving local group The Eyes. | |||
| X's first record deal was with independent label ], for which the band produced a sole single, "Adult Books" / "We're Desperate" (1978). A Dangerhouse session version of "Los Angeles" was also featured on a 1979 Dangerhouse 12" EP compilation called '']'' (a play on the now-famous ] compilation '']''), a picture disc that featured other early-punk-era LA bands like the ] and Black Randy. | |||
| ===1980–1981: ''Los Angeles'' and ''Wild Gift''=== | |||
| As the band became the flag bearer for the local scene, a larger independent label, ], signed the band to issue its first LP.<ref name="RollingStone2" /> The result was their first LP release, '']'' (1980) (produced by ]' keyboard player, ]). It was a minor hit and was well received by the underground press and mainstream media.<ref>The song list listed as one of ]</ref> Much of X's early material had a ] edge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.markprindle.com/xa.htm |title=Prindle Record Reviews – X |publisher=Markprindle.com |accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref> Doe and Cervenka co-wrote most of the group's songs, and their slightly off-kilter ] remain perhaps the group's most distinctive element. Their lyrics tended to be straight-out poetry; comparisons to ] and ] were made from the start.<ref>Robert Hillburn, Los Angeles Times, 1982</ref> | |||
| Their follow-up effort, 1981's '']'', broadened the band's profile when it was named "Record of the Year" by '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref name="VillageVoice">{{cite news | first= Rob | last= Trucks| url= http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2008/05/interview_exene.php | title= Interview: Exene Cervenka of X | publisher= The Village Voice | date= May 20, 2008}}</ref> ''Wild Gift'', like their debut album, was released on Slash records, and was similar in musical style, although ''Wild Gift'' featured shorter, faster songs; arguably their most stereotypically punk-sounding record.<ref name="RollingStone2" /> | |||
| ===1982–1984: Elektra era and The Knitters=== | |||
| X then signed to ] in 1982 to release '']'', 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 guitar ]s. The album was heavily influenced by the 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 ] and ]'s "Dancing With Tears in My Eyes", was, years later, indirectly attributed to Exene Cervenka's mournful state of mind. The stark black-and-white cover art and title were also a reflection of the somber mood of the band during this time. She has said it is her favorite X album | |||
| <blockquote> | |||
| "You know, my favorite record is Under the Big Black Sun, so everything else is kind of . . . | |||
| I'm saying if I had to sit down in a room and put on an X record—which I don't generally do—I have recently listened to some X records but I generally don't listen to myself—the record I would pick to listen to would be ''Under the Big Black Sun.''<ref name="desperate"/></blockquote> | |||
| 1983 saw the release of the '']'' album. X slightly redefined their sound with this release, making it somewhat more polished, eclectic and radio-ready than in previous albums. With the sound moving away from punk rock, the band's rockabilly influence became even more noticeable, along with some new elements: ] on the track "True Love Pt. II" and ]-influenced folk protest songs like "The New World" and "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts." The record received critical praise from '']'' and '']'', who had long been stalwart supporters and fans of X and their sound.<ref name="desperate">{{cite book |last=Jocoy |first= Jim |coauthors= Moore , Thurston |editor= |others= Cervenka, Exene|title= We're Desperate: The Punk Rock Photography of Jim Jocoy, SF/LA 1978–1980|year= 2002|url= |edition= |series= |publisher=powerHouse Books |isbn= 978-1-57687-156-0 |oclc= |id= |chapter= |chapterurl= |quote= }}</ref> | |||
| A side project of some of the band members was '']'' in 1985, under the name ]: X minus Zoom, plus ] (of ]) on guitar and Johnny Ray Bartel (of ]) on ]. The Knitters were devoted to ] and ]; their take on ]'s "Silver Wings" "may be the definitive version."<ref></ref> | |||
| ===1985–1987: Commercial era and departure of Zoom=== | |||
| ]: Live! Chestnut Cabaret, Philadelphia, PA Summer 1986 ]] | |||
| ] | |||
| Despite the overwhelmingly positive critical reception for their first four albums, the band was frustrated by its lack of wider mainstream success. Billy Zoom had also stated that he would leave the band unless its next album was more successful. The band decided to change producers in search of a more accessible sound. Their fifth record, '']'', was produced by pop-metal producer ]. It featured a drastic change in sound, especially in the polished and layered production, while the band's punk roots were little in evidence, replaced by a countrified version of hard rock. The change in production was intended to bring the band more chart success, but although it got somewhat more mainstream radio play than their earlier releases, it did not represent a commercial breakthrough. Zoom left the group shortly thereafter in 1986, the same year in which the feature-length documentary film, '']'', was released. | |||
| Zoom was initially replaced by ex-Blasters guitarist ] on guitar. The band then added a fifth member, guitarist Tony Gilkyson, formerly of the band ]. By the time the band released its sixth album, '']'', Alvin had already left the band, although he plays on the record along with Gilkyson. Like ''Ain't Love Grand'', the album's sound was fairly far removed from the band's punk origins, yet featured a punchy, energetic, hard-rocking ] sound that in many ways represented a more natural progression from their earlier sound than the previous record had. After touring for the album, X released a live record of the tour entitled '']'', and then went on an extended hiatus.<ref name="RollingStone2">{{cite book |last= George-Warren |first= Holly |author2=Romanowski, Patricia |editor= | others= Pareles, Jon |title= The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Revised and Updated for the 21st century) |publisher= Fireside |isbn= 978-0-7432-0120-9 }}</ref> | |||
| Back in 1984, X had released a cover version of "]" as a non-LP single. In 1989, the song was re-released as the lead single from the soundtrack to the hit film '']''. It later became a staple at sporting events, particularly baseball games, and was used by Japanese professional wrestler ] after he founded ] in 1989. | |||
| ===1993–1995: First reunion, ''Hey Zeus!'' and ''Unclogged''=== | |||
| X regrouped in the early 1990s to record their seventh studio album, '']''. The album marked somewhat of a retreat from the increasingly roots-rock direction that the band's past few records had gone in, instead featuring an eclectic alternative-rock sound that fit in well with the then-current musical climate. Despite this, it failed to become a hit, although two of its songs, ''Country at War'' and ''New Life'' peaked at numbers 15 and 26 on the Billboard Modern Rock charts, respectively. The band followed it with an acoustic live album '']'' in 1995. In 1994, they contributed a cover of the ] song, ''Shoot Out the Lights'' to a Thompson tribute album called ''Beat the Retreat'', which featured David Hidalgo of ] on electric guitar. On the same album, Doe sang harmony and played bass and Bonebrake played drums on ]'s cover of ''Turning of the Tide'', and Bonebrake played drums on the title track, which was performed by the British folk artist ]. | |||
| ===1997–2004: Hiatus and second reunion=== | |||
| In 1997, X released a compilation called '']'', which focused heavily on the early years with Billy Zoom and included a number of previously unreleased versions of songs that had appeared on their previous albums. At the same time, they also announced that they were disbanding. However, they did a farewell tour to promote the compilation in 1998, with Zoom returning on guitar. The original lineup also returned to the studio for the final time, with ] reprising his role as producer, to record a cover of ] '']'' for the ] for '']''. Although the band has not released any new studio material since then, they continue to perform live with Zoom on guitar. | |||
| ''X: The Unheard Music'' was released on DVD in 2005, as was the concert DVD '']'', which commemorates the 25th anniversary of the band's landmark debut album, ''Los Angeles.''<ref name="Woodstra">{{cite book |last=Woodstra |first= Chris |author2=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas |editor= Bogdanov, Vladimir |others= |title= All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul |edition= 3rd |series= |publisher= Backbeat Books |isbn= 978-0-87930-653-3 |chapter= |chapterurl= |quote= }}</ref> | |||
| ===2005–2007: Reunion of the Knitters=== | |||
| In 2005, Doe, Cervenka and Bonebrake reunited with Dave Alvin and Johnny Ray Bartel to release a second Knitters album, 20 years after the first, titled ''The Modern Sound of the Knitters''. In summer 2006, X toured North America on the "As the World Burns" tour with the ] and Riverboat Gamblers. In the spring of 2008, the band embarked on their "13X31" tour with ] and the ], with all original members. "13X31" is a reference to their 31st anniversary.<ref name="Hinson">{{cite news | first= Mark | last= Hinson| url= http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/ENT/805300308/1005 | title= Exene Cervenka and X back under the Florida sun | publisher= Tallahassee Democrat | date= May 30, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| ===2008–present: Recent activities=== | |||
| X appeared at the 2008 ] Festival. Footage of their performance is viewable on ]. X appeared at the ] on April 19, 2009 and at the ] festival in ], England from May 15–17, 2009. They were invited to perform at the latter by the festival's curators, ]. | |||
| In June 2009, the band publicly announced that Exene had been diagnosed with ].<ref>The Village Voice. . June 2, 2009.</ref> However, she told the '']'' in 2011 that the doctor who originally diagnosed the disease believes he misdiagnosed her. Exene stated that "I’ve had so many doctors tell me I have MS, then some say I don’t ... I don’t even care anymore.”<ref>The O.C. Register. . June 6, 2011.</ref> | |||
| In June 2010, X played a free show at the ] festival in Toronto, Canada, and on June 18, 2011 the band headlined the third annual Johnny Cash Music Festival in ]. | |||
| X performed at ], held at City Park in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 28–30, 2011. The band also opened for ] on their ] in November and their ] in June and July 2012.<ref name="themusicpress">{{cite web | url=http://themusicpress.org/news/pearl-jam-announce-tour-dates-for-2012/ | title=Pearl Jam announce tour dates for 2012 | date=2011-12-08 | accessdate=2011-12-15 | publisher=themusicpress}}</ref> | |||
| On September 2, 2012, X performed at the Made in America festival in Philadelphia, PA. | |||
| ==Solo material== | |||
| Over the years, both Doe and Cervenka have released solo albums, with Doe having a stronger emphasis on roots music in his solo work. While Cervenka's solo albums have also been in a more folk or country vein, she has also fronted punk bands like ] and The Original Sinners. She also has done tours featuring her poetry, sometimes along with either ] or ]. Since 1986, Doe has also maintained a busy second career as an actor, appearing in such films as ]'s ''Salvador'', ]' ''Border Radio'' and '']'', the ] biopic '']'', ]'s '']'', Craig Mazin's ''The Specials'', ]'s '']'', and the independent feature ''Roadside Prophets'', in which he starred with ] ]. He was a regular cast member of the television series '']'' on ] and ], and made a memorable appearance as an aging rock star on '']''.<ref name="Bessy">{{cite book |last= Bessy|first=Claude |author2=Morris, Chris |editor= Carillo, Sean |others=Cervenka, Exene; Doe, John |title= Forming: The Early Days of L.A. Punk |date=February 2000 |publisher= Smart Ass Press |isbn= 978-1-889195-44-5 }}</ref> | |||
| == Discography == | |||
| ===Studio albums=== | |||
| *1980 – '']'' | |||
| *1981 – '']'' | |||
| *1982 – '']'' | |||
| *1983 – '']'' | |||
| *1985 – '']'' | |||
| *1987 – '']'' | |||
| *1993 – '']'' | |||
| ===EPs=== | |||
| *2009 – '']'' | |||
| ===Live albums=== | |||
| *1988 – '']'' | |||
| *1995 – '']'' | |||
| *2005 – '']'' | |||
| ===Compilations=== | |||
| *1997 – '']'' | |||
| *2004 – '']''<ref name="RollingStone">{{cite book |last=Hoard |first=Christian |author2=Nathan Brackett |editor= | others= |title= ] |publisher= Fireside |isbn= 0-7432-0169-8 }}</ref> | |||
| == Filmography == | |||
| *1981 – '']'' | |||
| *1981 – '']'' | |||
| *1986 – '']'' | |||
| *2003 – '']'' | |||
| *2005 – '']'' | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist|colwidth=30em}} | |||
| == External links == | |||
| {{commons category|X (U.S. band)}} | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| {{X (U.S. band)}} | |||
| {{Authority control}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:X (American Band)}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 09:08, 4 July 2015
ALL Wikipedians are stupidest peopole in the universe.