Song:Surprise Surprise
Album:The Best: Make The Music Go Bang
X was one of the most significant punk bands especially in Los Angeles. Their albums were very successful and they were a great live band. X was formed in 1977 in Los Angeles by bassist singer John Doe (real name-John Duchac) and guitarist Billy Zoom (real name-Tyson Kindell). Doe placed an ad in the local paper The Recycler. Zoom was an experienced rockabilly musician. Doe brought his girlfriend Exene Cervenka and she was made lead singer. She and Doe wrote most of the songs. Drummer DJ Bonebrake was in the group The Eyes. After releasing one single, X signed with Slash Records with Warner Bros. distribution. The 1980 album Los Angeles was produced by The Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek. Doe and Bonebrake were also in The Flesh Eaters with The Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin. As X progressed, their albums became more polished and commercial. They also became interested in country music and formed The Knitters. That was basically X with Alvin replacing Zoom. And Zoom left X after the 1986 album Ain't Love Grand!. Alvin replaced him at first and then Lone Justice guitarist Tony Gilkyson joined X. And that's the band that's on this video performing Surprise Surprise from the 1987 album See How We Are. X toured to support that album. And after releasing a live album, they went on hiatus. This 2CD comp covers X's entire 80s run. Doe and Exene both recorded solo albums. And Doe got into acting. X reformed and released an album in 1993. They disbanded after a 1998 farewell tour. They reunited again in 2005. They have released live albums and X continues to tour. X recently posted on Instagram that they are recording new music for the first time since 1993. Here's X performing Surprise Surprise at Farm Aid July 4, 1986.
I really like their version of the song "Wild Thing". They did that one very well. Good remake.
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