X (American band)

X
X 2004 concert photo at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, from left to right: Cervenka, Zoom and Doe
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres	Punk rock cowpunk rockabilly roots rock alternative rock
Years active	1977–present
Labels	Dangerhouse, Slash, Elektra, Big Life, Infidelity
Associated acts	The Eyes, the Germs, the Flesh Eaters, the Knitters, the Blasters, Lone Justice, Original Sinners, Auntie Christ, Devil's Brigade, the Bonebrake Syncopators, Orchestra Superstring
Website	www.xtheband.com
Members	John Doe Billy Zoom Exene Cervenka D. J. Bonebrake
Past members	Dave Alvin Tony Gilkyson

X is an American punk rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1977, among the first wave of American punk. The original members are vocalist Exene Cervenka, vocalist/bassist John Doe, guitarist Billy Zoom and drummer D. J. Bonebrake. 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.

X achieved limited mainstream success but influenced various genres of music, including punk rock and folk rock. In 2003, X's first two studio albums, Los Angeles and Wild Gift, were ranked by Rolling Stone as being among the 500 greatest albums of all time. Los Angeles was ranked 91st on Pitchfork'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.

X was founded by bassist/singer Doe and guitarist Zoom. Doe brought his poetry-writing girlfriend Cervenka to band practices, and she eventually joined the band as a vocalist. Drummer Bonebrake was the last of the original members to join after leaving local group the Eyes; he also filled in on drums for Germs.

X's first record deal was with independent label Dangerhouse, for which the band produced one 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 Yes L.A. (a play on the no wave compilation No New York), a six-song picture disc that also featured other early LA punk bands the Eyes, the Germs, the Bags, the Alley Cats, and Black Randy and the Metrosquad.