X

$43,360 of $50k
Raised by 845 people in 1 day

Almost completely funded though.

Blew past $50k in one day. That's a lot of love, renews my faith in people.

God I loved to watch Billy splay his legs and wail on his guitar.

X ANNOUNCE TEMPORARY STAND-IN FOR GUITARIST BILLY ZOOM
by x
Zoom Undergoing Chemo for Cancer Will Miss Summer Dates

Texas Guitarist – JESSE DAYTON – To Sit-In for Zoom

(Los Angeles – July 10, 2015) It was announced yesterday, Billy Zoom - the legendary guitarist for the seminal punk band X will not be joining his bandmates on their July and August dates as he seeks immediate medical treatment for bladder cancer.

Texas guitar player, Jesse Dayton (Waylon Jennings, Supersuckers) will be sitting in for the iconic guitarist temporarily.

Dates beginning on July 17th in Ridgefield, CT and continuing through August 3 in NY at City Winery will feature Dayton stepping in for Billy. Remaining festival dates in August and September are yet to be determined.

As was previously announced, X, the long-time leaders of the L.A. Punk Scene, will perform at the KCRW “Sound in Focus” Annenberg Live Series on August 8th with Dwight Yoakam. The concert is free for all ages; those interested in attending need to RSVP at KCRW.com. X have also been confirmed to perform at this year’s Hopscotch festival on September 12th in Raleigh, NC as well as September 19th at the Kaaboo Festival held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, CA.

Beginning yesterday and continuing through the weekend, X bring their 4-Album Show plays to The Observatory in Orange County with Billy in his original position, trademark Cheshire grin and all.

Formed in 1977, X quickly established themselves as one of the best bands in LA's flourishing first wave punk scene. Featuring vocalist Exene Cervenka, vocalist/bassist John Doe, guitarist Billy Zoom, and drummer DJ Bonebrake, their debut 45 was released on the seminal Dangerhouse label in 1978. While these songs were later re-recorded for their second album, the versions on Adult Books / We're Desperate reveal X's raw talent for totally sincere songwriting and stripped-down rock n' roll. This past April, the band re-issued that first single, in its original 7-inch format, as limited edition colored vinyl.

The original line-up of X remains John Doe, Exene Cervenka, Billy Zoom, and D.J. Bonebrake. Jesse Dayton fills in for Billy Zoom from July 17 – August 3.

X Summer 2015 “How I Learned My Lesson Tour”

July 17 Ridgefield Playhouse Ridgefield, CT

July 18 Underground Arts Philadelphia, PA

July 19 The State Theatre Falls Church, VA

July 22 Music Box Supper Club Cleveland, OH

July 24 The Magic Bag Ferndale, MI

July 26 City Winery Chicago, IL

July 27 City Winery Chicago, IL

July 28 City Winery Chicago, IL

July 30 The Sinclair Cambridge, MA

Aug 1 City Winery New York City, NY

Aug 2 City Winery New York City, NY

Aug 3 City Winery New York City, NY

Aug 8 Annenberg Space for Photography Los Angeles, CA

(KCRW sponsored show)

Aug 28 Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI

Sep 12 Hopscotch Fest Raleigh, NC

Sep 19 KAABOO Fest Del Mar, CA

Please donate to Support “Billy Zoom’s Kick Cancer’s Butt” Fight by visiting:

http://www.gofundme.com/yx66a4

x

Statement from Billy Zoom:

My family and I are overwhelmed and deeply humbled by the outpouring of money, love, and support that we’ve received over past 24 hours. Facing months of cancer treatment is tough, but not as tough as worrying about taking care of my family through it all. We still hadn’t completely recovered financially from my last bout with cancer and I really wasn’t sure, aside from lots of prayer, how I was going to manage to keep our home and family together through this. Our twins turned nine years old last week, and I’ll be missing our entire touring season this year because of my treatments.

Our most heartfelt thanks go out to those of you who have contributed to our wellbeing so that our energies may be concentrated on beating this and reassuring our children that their daddy is going to be ok.

Again, heartfelt thanks to all of you from myself and my family.
BZ

So great to see that kind of outpouring if support

We went to the Wild Gift show on Friday night and, well DUH, it was tremendous. Hard not to focus in on Billy - the electric/acoustic format of the shows these days lets him go all-out Carl Perkins/Chet Atkins in ways he can't when they're in punk onslaught configuration. Recent all-electric shows had a weird spooky apocalypse going on - angry violent crowd at House of Blues Anaheim, Exene ranting about chemtrails in Pershing Square and just how even more desperate Los Angeles is. I got bit on the arm at that show. I've never been bit at a show before ever.

Wow, that's crazy(the biting that is; Exene's paranoid ranting is no longer unexpected, sadly).

Were you bit by Exene?

No, silly it was an audience member. Somebody who plays in La Liga, no doubt.

yikes, x crowds are energetic but i never would have banked on biting esp these days

I'll be sure to wear a long sleeve shirt and pants when I see them in Mpls!

OC Register show review, quoted and linked on xtheband.com:

X Goes Back To The Beginning At The Observatory

BY ROBERT KINSLER / CONTRIBUTING WRITER

X

With: The Blasters, Mike Watt and the Secondmen

Where: The Observatory, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana,

When: July 9

Next: X will perform its "Wild Gift" album at 8 tonight, "Under the Big Black Sun" on Saturday, and "More Fun in the New World" on Sunday.

How much: $25

Call: 714-957-0600

Online: observatoryoc.com

By the time X took the stage at The Observatory around 10 p.m. on Thursday night, the capacity crowd was already fully aware of an announcement that was issued earlier that day that guitarist Billy Zoom has been diagnosed with bladder cancer. And when the long-time Orange County resident was spotted on the stage a few minutes before showtime checking on his guitar and equipment, there was a heartfelt group chant with his name.

Expectations for the concert were obviously high, with Zoom reportedly set to perform on this night and a trio of subsequent nights at the venue with each concert featuring one of X’s seminal albums played in its entirety. Zoom will then take a break from playing to undergo chemotherapy treatments beginning next week.

Thursday's performance was divided in two parts, with the full performance of the band’s Ray Manzarek-produced 1980 debut filling the first act and ultimately serving as the strongest part of the show. Watching the lineup of singer Exene Cervenka, bassist-singer John Doe, drummer D.J. Bonebrake and the aforementioned Zoom tear through one of punk rock's most compelling and essential albums was a thrill, with Cervenka and Doe's distinctive joint harmonies effective from the moment they were heard on the opener “Your Phone's Off the Hook, But You're Not” while a good-sized number of concertgoers participated in a mosh pit to add to the spirit.

While Zoom had to understandably sit on a stool while performing the show, his guitar playing was spot-on, including on a powerful version of The Doors’ 1967 classic “Soul Kitchen” and even more forceful version of the quartet's own “Los Angeles” a few minutes later.

The fast-paced punk rock song “The World's a Mess; It's in My Kiss” ended the first half of the night, with Cervenka acknowledging the appreciative crowd and energy of the night: “Thank you all for coming.”

The band then took an eight-minute break, and that’s when concertgoers (and the band) had to deal with challenges that appeared to affect both of the amplifiers that Zoom was using. His primary amp was suddenly very muddled with no high tones, and a secondary amp would cut out here and there, obviously hampering the power and flow of songs (even seminal tracks such as “The Hungry Wolf,” “White Girl” and “Devil Doll” during the second 50-minute half where there were several long interruptions where Zoom and his guitar tech attempted to improve things).

The highlight of that troubled set was a propulsive and spirited “The New World,” on which Cervenka and Doe again blended their soaring voices, while the band's distinctive rock attack was showcased.

The large crowd remained throughout the night, supporting Zoom and one of Southern California’s most groundbreaking bands ever without complaint.

“Orange County, thank you very much,” Cervenka said with obvious appreciation before leaving the stage.

The technical glitches that marred the 90-minute X outing were thankfully nowhere to be heard during the two openers’ sets.

The Phil Alvin-led Blasters turned in a potent 50-minute set featuring their original blend of roots music, rockabilly, punk, blues rock and more. With the amazing guitarist Keith Wyatt at his side, Alvin and company performed all their best-known tunes (“American Music,” “Marie Marie” and “Border Radio”) with fire, and outdistanced those gems with a haunting “Dark Night,” with that song finding Wyatt tapping into his inner John Fogerty for an extended solo that had the crowd cheering in appreciation.

Opening the night was legendary singer-bassist Mike Watt, who led his small outfit (dubbed the Secondmen) through a 30-minute set of genre-defying rock that might best be described as progressive-punk. The well-known leader of fIREHOSE and the Minutemen impressed those who came early with material that allowed all three of the musicians to showcase virtuoso chops. Nertz to the Stooges! Would like to hear the Secondmen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekCoVrItLy0

Weird -- was listening to Wild Gift while showering this morning.

Any reports on the current line-up with Jesse Dayton filling in? I'm going to see them in Mpls on Saturday

I saw 'em in Chicago and they were awesome (but I still hate City Winery - weird place to see a show). Jesse Dayton is a great guitarist and has the chops big time - he's played off and on w/ Doe for a while. I get comments about my Support Billy Zoom shirt all the time whenever I wear it since the show. Hope he's doing better.

Cool, they place they are playing in Mpls, Mill City Nights, is also a terrible place to see a show

What did you think, chr1sb3singer? I was at the Mpls show and thought they sounded great. Was quite taken aback actually -- didn't really know what to expect.

I saw them in MPLS too. Had never been to Mill City Nights, and honestly didn't hate it. The show was surprisingly uncrowded so I could get up close, and they sounded incredibly vigorous. Jesse was as good a Billy stand-in as one could hope for. I was happy!

Outstanding interview with DJ Bonebrake on The Trap Set podcast:
http://www.thetrapset.net/dj-bonebrake-x-orchestra-superstring-bonebrake-syncopaters/

"What did you think, chr1sb3singer? I was at the Mpls show and thought they sounded great. Was quite taken aback actually -- didn't really know what to expect.

― Ys Man a.k.a. Have One on G (geoffreyess), Saturday, 5 September 2015 20:13 (1 month ago) Permalink"

Oh hey I didn't see this...I thought they were good, for whatever reason though I don't feel like the show really took off, at least to me. I don't think they played badly, everyone sounded great and was in fine form, just it seemed to be missing a little something.

It certainly wasn't bad show by any stretch, I have seen them in the past be unbelievably great so it is possible I'm setting the bar a little high.

I thought that Jesse Dayton did an amazing job filing in for Billy Zoom.

They're starting up a leg of their ongoing 40th anniversary tour this coming week. I'm seeing them on May 9th in North Carolina. Billy Zoom is back in the band. At this point I've only seen them with Jesse Dayton, and I thought that was really good, so I'm intrigued to see the original lineup.

if it's anything like last time, it'll be worth it

At one point they didn't mean much, now they mean all.

White Girl at #1 - OTM.

nice - I would have cut the covers on principle, but the covers are also great so yeah. my mom loved the Leadbelly cut when I was in high school, I think I bought all the records new starting with Big Black Sun. "Blue Spark" is a great deep cut.

They're baaaaaaack! With Billy Zoom in the fold again. I'm going tonight.

The Mpls Doghouse Crew (UMS & myself) will also be there, pumped.

It was a last minute decision, but I'm excited too!

A good show I bet

Venue was packed, so my proximity to the stage and the sound weren't as good when I saw them 2 years ago, but yeah they always bring the goods (even with Billy playing sitting down now.) I was telling my friend there aren't many punk bands from that era, with all original members, still able to make me that happy. (My hometown heroes The Hypstrz excepted.)

The night was made extra poignant as Husker Du's "Love is All Around" video was playing on the big screen as I entered, and I was reminiscing about the "savage young Du," only to find out about Grant's passing this morning.

Yeah holy shit there were a ton of people there! Which is great, but it was hard to get a good spot/sound. But so they were good! God Billy is such a great guitar player, Exene & John were ragged but right as you would expect and DJ Bonebrake was great. they had some extra help on guitar & drums so DJ moved over to the marimba few times, Billy played the sax...they played "Come Back to Me" which in the wake of Grant's passing feels especially poignant.

xp are there any other 70s punk bands with all original members? I'm struggling to think of any. I saw Cock Sparrer last week but they've had a few rhythm guitarists go through the line-up over the years, all originals apart from that.

Recording (and reissuing the "Classic 4") Again:

https://variety.com/2019/music/news/original-lineup-punk-band-x-new-record-1203109031/

I mis-scanned that as the band heading into the studio and re-recording their first four albums. But sure, I'll take a new X album, hell yes.

I'd really like to hear that live album recorded in 2011, but it doesn't even seem like you can buy it from them through Kickstarter anymore.

Exene is still a Trumpist gun nut, right?

New studio album, the first with the original lineup since 1985. It's...decent. Eleven songs in 30 minutes, live-sounding and raggedy. The vocals are a little too clean, though, lacking that unhinged white-trash howl they had on the first three albums. But, you know, they're all in their 60s (or older - Billy Zoom is 72!).

it sounds pretty solid to me. both doe and exene's voices have weakened, but doe less so than cervenka, so the ones where he sings lead feel stronger

whoa I had no idea they were doing this!

Interesting that they re-recorded "Cyrano de Berger's Back" - there's a version on the Flesh Eaters reunion album from last year, too.

IMO this record is better than "decent", edging into "very good" territory, I think I like this more than See How We Are!

it really feels like they just stepped right back in to "whatever we planned to do after More Fun In The New World", the effortlessness of their retro sound is really quite amazing

i compared it to the feeling I got from superchunk’s last one— not a restyling or reboot at all, but a band going back and doing the things they know best. and doing it very well.

holy shit i dint know zoom is 72.

zoom played with gene vincent! who died in 1971!

1it really feels like they just stepped right back in to "whatever we planned to do after More Fun In The New World",

i attribute a lot of that to billy. first album they've made with him since 1985. and first album they've made him that wasn't produced by michael wagener since 1983 :)

Listened to a bit of this when it came out and it seemed solid. Nice to hear them recorded with modern sound quality as I feel like the production on most of their previous albums doesn't measure up to their performances.

It's solid imo.

just played Water & Wine on the good old FM radio a few minutes ago, the highlight for me

still remember the excitement of discovering this band (way after their time) - was obsessed about them for months at a point in my life where I thought I just didn't get that excited about rock bands any more

good list, I reckon The Have Nots is right up there with their best tho