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Editor’s Note: On Wednesday, June 3, X vocalist
Exene Cervenka announced that, after months
of feeling ill, she has been diagnosed with
Multiple Sclerosis. “Although this is obviously
unfortunate news," she said in an official
statement, "I am choosing to see the positive
in it... While this diagnosis will most certainly
mean some changes for me, personally, it will
not affect my commitments to the current X
U.S. tour, nor will it affect my solo album that
is slated for release this fall on Bloodshot
Records." Flagpole admires Cervenka s un
wavering dedication in the face of adversity.
The following interview and story were written
several weeks before the announcement.
Angeles-based band X cata
pulted to fame during punk's
first wave—the frenetic four
some forming when bassist John Doe met
up with guitarist Billy Zoom. Soon, Doe's
girlfriend, Exene Cervenka—who he'd met in
a Venice Beach poetry workshop—joined in,
refusing to part with her poetry unless she,
too, could sing. Their unique harmonies and
lyrics became a defining element of the band's
sound. Drummer DJ Bonebrake, who'd been
playing in The Eyes with Charlotte Caffey of
The Go-Gos, was the last to join. In the three-
plus decades since, the band has left its mark
on rockabilly, folk, hardcore and garage-rock
scenes. It has also gained acclaim as "one of
the greatest live acts of all time."
The strength of X's live shows is a point of
pride for Bonebrake, who thinks the band is
even stronger today than in its heyday. "We're
more consistent," he says. "We rock mere, and
obviously, we're more mature. We've had a lot
of experience, and everyone puts 100 percent
into the shows because we're serious about
the music... We're not walking through it."
You might think Bonebrake would tire of
playing some of the same songs after 32 years,
but he's still having a blast. "You're standing
in the dressing room going 'God, I'm 53 years
old. I'm still playing this incredible music. I
can still do it and get a good response. There's
nothing like it.' People would die to have the
career that we've had. We haven't become
rich; we're not that famous, but to have a long
career where you're constantly working is the
greatest gift. What more could you ask for?"
When young musicians first start out,
Bonebrake says, "[Many think] Tm going to
be in the biggest band in the world. I'm going
to be rich and famous.' Well, that happens as
often as, well maybe less often than, when
people win the lottery. Most bands don't make
it, and then there are bands like X; we're
somewhere in between. I think we're the luck
iest ones because we made a living and we've
been on tour. We're working musicians." And
versatile ones at that.
Guitar Player recently recognized Billy
Zoom as one of the greatest guitarists of all
time; Zoom has recorded with several major
artists, including Gene Vincent, Etta James
and Big Joe Turner. Last year, Gretsch even
issued its very own Billy Zoom Tribute Silver
Jet Guitar. Bonebrake, Cervenka and Doe all
play in X's alt-country off-shoot The Knitters.
Doe just followed the release of two criti
cally acclaimed solo albums with an album
backed by The Sadies and has a successful side
career as an actor. Cervenka has fronted punk
bands the Original Sinners and Auntie Christ,
released several volumes of poetry and spoken
word, and regularly shows her art. Bonebrake,
a classically trained musician, plays tradi
tional jazz with the Bonebrake Syncopators,
and Afro-Cuban-inspired jazz with Orchestra
Superstring.
Playing a variety of musical genres has
certainly impacted Bonebrake's craft. "When
I was younger," he says, "I wanted to do any
thing to be the best musician I could become,
so I studied in the school programs and played
in rock bands. It gets me more work because
I'm more versatile, and I'm sure it helps me as
a musician. It's hard to qualify it—the more
you learn about something, the easier the
concepts come to you, assuming you're try
ing to learn a song. If you can hear the chord
progression, you can understand the structure
and learn it quickly... I just get bored, and I
like different styles of music. Life is long...
and music has to be fun."
This tour will provide a unique opportu
nity for the fans to actively shape each show.
"We're taking requests online from our fans,"
says Bonebrake, "and are playing some songs
we haven't played in a while... We've played
things like The Have-Nots,' 'How I Learned My
Lesson,' 'Under the Big Black Sun' and 'Burning
House of Love.'" To put in your request for the
Athens show, log on to www.xtheband.com.
So, what's next with X? The group doesn't
have plans to slow down, even when this tour
is over. Doe and Cervenka have been actively
writing, and although the group hasn't had
a chance to enter the studio yet, Bonebrake
thinks it'll be time to record later this year.
Deirdre Sayre
WHO: X, Steve Soto & the Twisted Hearts
WHERE: 40 Watt Club
WHEN: Friday, tone 12 fg]
HOW MUCH: $20 (advance)
— — ; s
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JUNE 10,2009 • FLAGPOLE.COM 17