X (US band)

:For the Australian band called X, see X (Australian band). For the Japanese band called X, see X Japan.

History

Their first 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. Much of X's early material had a rockabilly edge, due in part to guitarist Billy Zoom. 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.

Related Topics:
1980 - The Doors - Ray Manzarek - Rockabilly - Billy Zoom - Harmony vocals

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Their first two record were released on Slash Records; 1982's Wild Gift broadened the band's profile when it was named "Record of the Year" by Rolling Stone.

Related Topics:
Slash Records - Wild Gift - Rolling Stone

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X signed to Elektra in 1982 to release Under The Big Black Sun. 1983 saw the release of the More Fun In The New World album and the feature-length documentary, The Unheard Music.

Related Topics:
1982 - 1983

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1985 saw the release of Poor Little Critter In The Road, credited to The Knitters: X minus Zoom, plus Dave Alvin (of The Blasters) and Johhny 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."http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:xl5j8qbtbtz4

Related Topics:
The Knitters - Dave Alvin - The Blasters - Johhny Ray Bartel - The Red Devils - Double bass - Folk - Country music - Merle Haggard

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Zoom left the group in 1986. 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 far from their punk origins, but maintaining a punchy, energetic hard rock sound. After touring for the album, X went on an extended hiatus.

Related Topics:
Lone Justice - Hard rock

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Both Doe and Exene have released solo albums; Doe moved more toward country 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, 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.

Related Topics:
Oliver Stone - Allison Anders - Jerry Lee Lewis - Miguel Arteta - Paul Thomas Anderson - Beastie Boy - Adam Horovitz

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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 Billy Zoom once again on guitar. The year 2005 has seen the DVD release of the 1985 documentary The Unheard Music and the concert DVD X: Live In Los Angeles, which commemorates the 25th anniversary of the band?s landmark debut album, Los Angeles.

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