X ARE CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RELEASE AND RE - ISSUE OF X-ASPIRATIONS! ALSO WE ARE PROMOTING THE RELEASE OF X'S RECENTLY FILMED DVD 'X - LIVE AT THE FORUM'
THE CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE
Poster art by Bedlam & Mayhem
NEW SOUTH WALES REGIONAL TOUR
Poster art by Bedlam & Mayhem
THE GAELIC THEATRE, SYDNEY
Poster art by Bedlam & Mayhem
GOVERNOR HINDMARSH, ADELAIDE
Poster art by Bedlam & Mayhem
X and Flipper / Flipper and X
Current line up features;
Steve Lucas - guitar and lead vocals
Cathy Green - drums
Kim Volkman - bass guitar and vocals
The original X lineup performing our very first attempt at making a film clip. The song is TV Cabaret Roll. I t features Ian Krahe on guitar, Steve Cafeiro on drums and Steve Lucas taking the lead vocal. It was a blast, hope you enjoy it.
Mother (John Lennon) as performed by Me (Steve Lucas), Ian Rilen and Steve caferio. Heartfelt thanks to BSharp Productions.
And More from the album; X And More!
Me, Cathy and Ian.
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X doing Dream Baby... what were we thinking!!
X Factor that defies time
A well-loved Melbourne band is back, writes Andrew Stafford.
WHILE most bands and their fans baulk at replacing established singers and guitarists, fewer lose much sleep over changes in the engine room. Bass players, especially, are professionally anonymous.
However, when your bassist is as distinctive and charismatic as Ian Rilen — the hard-driving, harder-living force of nature behind seminal Australian band X and, previously, Rose Tattoo — performing again, at least in the eyes of more protective fans, becomes fraught with risk.
While the band's singer and guitarist Steve Lucas still mourns his friend Rilen, who died of bladder cancer about two years ago, he isn't given to wallowing. So traumatic is X's history, the list of deceased members and associates well outnumbers the living. Playing again, in Lucas' mind, was never really in question.
"If the Who can replace Keith Moon and John Entwistle, and the Rolling Stones can survive without Brian Jones," Lucas says, pausing for effect, "and if X can survive without Ian Krahe, Steve Cafiero, Peter Coutanche, Cath Synnerdahl, Bob Nimmo and Lobby Loyde, I didn't see why we couldn't do it without Ian, as long as we were reproducing the music as faithfully as possible."
Next Wednesday, Lucas and X will play their biggest and most prestigious show since Rilen's death, performing 1985 album At Home With You in its entirety, supporting the Saints, who will reprise(I'm) Stranded, as part of the Don't Look Back series, which first came to Australia last year.
With the exception of Kim Volkman, who fills Rilen's considerable shoes, this is as authentic a representation of X as is likely to be seen. Lucas and drummer Cathy Green round out the original three-piece to have played on the album, while the Hunters and Collectors' horn section, who helped give At Home With You its mix of swing and full-frontal attack, joins the band on stage.
Volkman, too, is no stranger to X music, having worked with Rilen in his final band, the Love Addicts. A finished album including some of Rilen's best work should finally receive a posthumous release this year, along with a reissue of X's classic debut X-Aspirations.
Lucas makes no bones about the fact this version of X exists mainly in tribute to past glories, but that is in effect what the band's shows had been for years anyway. Almost all of their material was written in the late '70s, enough fuel to carry them for three albums in 10 years.
"I didn't want to sit down and write a whole lot of songs and call it X, so this is more about acknowledging the efforts that these people have put in," Lucas says.
"If I don't do it, then people have no reason to re-release the stuff and it will just all fade away, and so all that death and sorrow would have been for nothing. So that's why I do it.
"It's all about the music and not about the people, and if you can keep the music going then everyone still exists in everyone's consciousness and hearts and minds, and that makes it all right."
X play with the Saints at the Forum Theatre, Flinders Street, city, next Wednesday.
It was the question on the minds of a lot of people entering Melbourne’s Forum Theatre on a warm and muggy January night. How do you continue a show when your greatest song – and arguably one of Australia’s – is the first of your set?
Such is the nature of the “Don’t Look Back” concert series, which sees a classic record played live in its entirety, that ‘(I’m) Stranded’ – track one on Side A of The Saints’ classic 1979 album of the same name – was going to be their first. But 20 seconds in, when Chris Bailey sung/slurred, “Like a snake calling on the phone”, over Ed Kuepper’s fuzzed-out guitar, it was clear this was going to be a special gig.
First up, however, was another iconic Australian rock’n’roll act, Melbourne’s X, blasting through their 1985 album At Home With You. Led by charismatic guitarist Steve Lucas, the band - Cathy Green (drums) and Kim Volkman (bass) – seemed to enjoy themselves up on the big stage playing to the faithful.
Looking like he could be a body double for Mickey Rourke in *The Wrestler’, Lucas and his aggressive guitar style led the band through hits such as ‘The Feel’, ‘TV Glue’ and ‘Degenerate Boy’. At the end of the set, Volkman and Green refused to leave the stage, forcing Lucas to return for another encore, which by the looks of it had the stage manager rather perplexed. Rock’n’roll dude.
The consensus after the Saint’s performance at the inaugural All Tomorrow’s Parties at Mt Buller earlier in the week seemed to be: Chris Bailey=smug turd, the band=still sounding great. Tonight didn’t do a whole lot to change that. The band sounded tight and Bailey, well, as a respected Melbourne musician standing next to me said, “I’d hate to be in a band with him.”
Unlike the tan leather gangster trench coat he wore at ATP that had him looking more sofa Moran than Lewis Moran, tonight Bailey sported a more tasteful black shirt with embroidered roses. He roamed the stage like it was his. Though his body and voice are still large, he’s lost some of the rebellious snarl with age, but that didn’t make songs such as ‘Erotic Neurotic’, ‘No Time’ and ‘Nights in Venice’ sound any less urgent and aggressive 30 years on.
It’s hard to believe that punk bands back in 1978 wrote ballads, but then again the Saints aren’t a typical punk band, and ‘Story of Love’ and ‘Messin’ With the Kid’ aren’t your typical ballads. Tonight ‘Messin’ With the Kid’, in particular, was stunning. And as the fourth song of the set, Kuepper seemed to have settled down after his quick-fire opening.
(I’m) Stranded is a short record, so people were expecting other songs from the band’s catalogue. ‘Swing For The Crime’, the first song of the encore, was met with an appreciative roar, and the horn-laden ‘Know Your Product’ was another crowd hit. Interestingly, some of the best crowd reaction came from non (I’m) Stranded songs.
Say what you will about egos, acrimonious break-ups and old dudes living in the past, tonight’s show was something special.
by Tim Scott
Hailing from Sydney, Australia, punk rockers X labored through a quintessential punk existence; banned from playing venues, harassed by the police, and suffering through several lineup changes -- including the untimely death of guitarist Ian Krahe -- they eventually achieved legendary status after years of performing. Formed by bassist Ian Rilen, who had left Rose Tattoo in 1977, X initially started life as Evil Rumours. Composed of vocalist Steve Lucas, guitarist Ian Krahe, and drummers Steve Cafiero and Eddie Fisher, they began playing Sydney punk rock hangouts before the unfortunate death of Krahe, who died in his sleep in May 1978. Only three demo tracks survive with Krahe's work which were later released on the 1985 Aberrant punk compilation Why March When You Can Riot? Geoff Holmes took up Krahe's duties only to be replaced by Peter Coutanche in early 1979. He left soon after, and the band, now a three-piece, released the single "I Don't Wanna Go Out" before the raw and aggressive X-Aspirations album in 1980. Coutanche rejoined the band, but by mid-1980, X had called it quits.
They reformed in mid-1983 with Rilen, Lucas, and Cafiero and released a cover of John Lennon's "Mother" in November 1984 before relocating to Melbourne where Cathy Green replaced Cafiero. In early 1985, X released their second album, At Home With You, a more polished affair than their first apocalyptic effort. The next five years saw the band's live reputation grow and they were often joined on stage by bluesman Chris Wilson. Their third single, a cover of Roy Orbison's "Dream Baby," was released in July 1987. Their third album, And More (1989), was dedicated to Steve Cafiero, who had died in December 1988. The group disbanded for a second time, but the X legend would not die and U.S. label Amphetamine Reptile released X-Aspirations to the North American market in 1993, spurring Rilen and Lucas to revive X with new drummer Stefan Berg. X continued playing on an irregular basis with Cathy Green and supported the Damned during their Australian tour in April 1997.
MESS+NOISE ICONS
Influences
Sex and drugs and rock n roll...
But not neccessarily always in that order
Sounds Like
Your worst nightmares and
...your sweetest dreams
I was presented with a copy of this "poem" that I wrote and included in an interview with some music magazine in 1991.
It was in response to something someone said sometime somewhwere. It goes like this....
"Oh don't you love the cynics, with thier cynical remarks...
And the critics' poisoned pens dipped in the inkwells up thier arse.
They said we'd never make it, they said that X wont last...
But we'll live on forever, 'Cause we're FUCKING WORKING CLASS!!"
Sadly, Kim Volkman has left the X line up... Kim Has a solo prject that started earlier this year that's gonna keep him busy, plus doing session work for people like Spence P Jones. Cath and I wish him the best of luck with all his future endeavours. The good news, my long time friend Kevin McMahon (former Bigger Than Jesus bassist) has signed on. X is still rockin' somethin shockin'
Steve Lucas
Cathy Green
Kevin (Bingo ash) McMahon
NEWS FLASH!!!!
AZTEC RECORDS is following up the re-release of X's blockbuster 'At Home With You' with a remastered and mind blowing re-release of one of Australias most influencial recordings... yes, the immortal 'X-Aspirations'. New booklet, new pics and a previously unreleased version of 'Mother' produced by Todd Hunter. UNBELEIVABLE!!! The band will be doing launches around Australia thru February and March. Stay tuned for further details.....
This is the offical X website. The Australian X, not that other mob from L.A.
This site is dedicated to X and is managed by myself, Steve Lucas.
I am the only survivor of the original 4 piece line up. Though Cathy Green and Geoff Holmes are still with us.
Do you want longer and more lasting X?
We have devoted the last 31 years to various and different ways to stimulate you aurally. Our researchers can guarantee you lasting satisfaction by following this very simple procedure. To maximise your enjoyment and enhance your climax we suggest that you have a few (quite a few) beverages to relax you, then make yourself comfortable at a suitable venue, the Ding Dong Lounge for instance. Now take a large dose of X aurally... you should begin to feel a pounding driving rhythm. Next lights should start flashing... the music gets louder, faster, faster. this is a normal reaction so dont panic, just relax and go with the flow. Soon the rythm slows a little and you find yourself getting into 'the groove'... but not for too long.
The tempo and pressure begin to increase until you feel you are about to Xplode. Xplicit images rush through your mind Xpanding your awareness, now you are in the zone and feeling what X does best. Grinding, pulsating pub rock at its most Xtreme. It builds and builds until the shuddering climatic end. More, more, more you cry. How can we say no....
After 32 years of Xperience X continues to guarantee complete satisfaction. Take X aurally every chance you get. If pain continues consult your local G.P. or pharmacist.
This bio / press release is sponsored by Lucas, Green and McMahon on behalf of better, longer lasting X
A quick slideshow thanks to Carbie and Jo Blaze.
Gongratulations to Cathy Geen, Kevin MacMahon and Kim Volkman and John Hall for helping me keep the flag waving... And to Nino, Geoff Holmes, Simon Smith, Ed Fischer, Stefan Burgh, Brett Ford,Greg Sawyer and Herbie Mayhem for being there when needed most.
R.I.P. Ian Krahe, Bob Nimmo, Steve Caferio, Peter Cataunche, Brett Ford, Cath Synnerdahl and most recently Ian Rilen and Lobby Lloyd.
"There is a land of the living and a land of the dead, and the bridge is love."
Thorton Wilder 1897 - 1975
"I support that bridge"
Steve Lucas 1957.....
X
X Live @ The Forum.... Thanks Carbie and Jo Blaze.
The mortality rate for X has been staggering, but as long as there is life in me I will do my best to keep the spirit and the music of X alive.
I miss my friends incredibly and still mourn the loss of Ian Rilen who lost his battle with cancer just last year.
Kim Volkman (former Love Addict) has taken up playing bass for X.
When available Cathy Green will sit in the drivers seat behind the drum kit, otherwise it will be left to John Hall to power it home.
There has been 2 X re-releases this year, thanks to Aztec Music. Both At Home With You and Xaspirations are available for the first time in Australia for many years.
I am also considering a limited edition E.P. of the two X singles - I dont Wanna Go Out / Waiting and Mother / Halfway Round The World.
Thank you to all that have given there love and support over the years.
Steve Lucas
This is a review from 1985 about At Home With You.
X is romance with a capital X.
This trio believes in nothing less than everything
Whether that be love, or disgust or self abuse.
There are no shades of grey or second thoughts
This is the sound of gut reactions X greatness
and they are truly a band that was born great is their capacity to present
the most prosaic of circumstances in the guise of high drama.
Much credit of course must go to the music and more especially
the way that X interacts. This is a power true the like
of which hasn’t been seen since The Who began.
There’s bass, drums and guitar, and nothing else is necessary
If only because the rawness and the intensity of the performance is so total
that there is no room for anything else.
Some people form groups to play music and some people form groups to make art
But X exists tovent the screaming noise of their collective personalities.
There is no other grroup like X, we can thank Christ for that…..
But ignore this record at your own folly!
Toby Creswell, Rolling Stone review of “At Home With You” 1985
X as we were... Cathy, Kim and Steve.
Review of X Live at The DING DONG LOUNGE Thurs 3rd of May
Perhaps it’s the light, (or lack thereof), perhaps it’s the booze, (plenty of), or perhaps it’s just wishful thinking, but everyone in the ultra packed Ding Dong Lounge looks just as good as they did in the eighties for the re-release of At Home With You. This goes double for X frontman Steve Lucas, as he mounts the stage dressed, to his eternal credit, in skin tight pants that appear to be made of plastic, and Johnny Reb motorcycle boots. He sports his tatts proudly, as he does his dyed red hair, and he carries a tray of twenty or so tequila shots, all of which he and drummer, the divine Cathy Green, will get through before the first encore.
“We’re a band called X. We’ve been around for a few decades. This is a song about punk rock,” says Lucas, just before the band launches into opening number Degenerate Boy, one of the wildest, most fun filled songs in the band’s catalogue, and, to a person, the entire audience is deviously, deliciously hooked from note one.
New bass man Kim Volkman is the perfect replacement for the sadly departed Ian Rilen, whose ghost, looking on from above, or perhaps below, would have liked what he saw. Volkman, like the rest of the band, is all age wearied integrity, intensity and backbone. He plays his bass from the bottom of his gut, with an expression somewhere between pain and pleasure telling us this means more than the world to him.
The fire is still burning brightly with X. This is no cynical money making exercise, and it’s apparent in everything about the night: from the ardour of the audience to the fact that the band played for nearly two and a half hours, from the passion and honesty of the music itself to the way Cathy Green sings along to all the songs, even though she doesn’t have to, (there’s not a mic anywhere near her).
When management turns the house lights on, Lucas is still on stage, a full five minutes after the band has stopped playing, the crowd still chanting as one for more, more, more. And I get the feeling they would have played all night if they could, or at least as long as the tequila and the fervour kept flowing. This is life affirming, beautiful stuff for an old punk like me, and I leave the venue with ears ringing and something very much like love flowing, aware that I have just had the privilege of experiencing something truly remarkable.
My oldest male friend, who is unswervingly gay, came to the show with me that night. “Even I’m in love with that drummer,” he told me.
Viva X.
XXX.
Tony McMahon
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The Saints headline at The Forum but we can guarentee X will be a fucking hard one to follow. X and The Saints... it does not get any better. Unless you throw in the Dirty Three (Which is what they've done)
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THUNDABOX RETURN TO SYDNEY FOR ONE SHOW ONLY - supported by GRIMM LOVE
- NEW ARCHETYPES & BUZZKILLER on Saturday the 25th of July @ the Town & Country Hotel, St
Peters.
Hey Steve, Don't be too pissed off w/ Virgin, looks like you got heaps of publicity out of the affair! You could always take it further and approach Branson for compo (and more media exposure)! Cheers Matty
DAVID VIRGIN Is Interviewed by Warhol Superstar Joe Dallesandro for Punk Globe Magazine June issue with David Virgin on Cover, out now!,,, Click link to read ,, http://lnk.ms/08lRg
Hello! you are one of Eighty-Two bands we very much dig on this site! (note to self: stop being sooooo fussssyy!)...get in there , cant wait for the flipper gig!
It was certainly good to see X again... for the third time this year! I had an absolute blast at the Nash on Friday! And talk about "go hard or go home"... you looked absolutely spent by the end of the show!
Lookin' forward to seeing more shows in future... hopefully sooner rather than later! And will Aztec be resissuing "And More" in future?
TOTALLY DIG YER MUSIC!!!! ThankS for the Friendship! HOPE YOU ENJOY "DOGGY STYLE"!! The Dogs from Lansing/Detroit Rock City celebrate their 40th anniversary w/t 2 Disks, 25 tribute bands, 3 unreleased historic tracks from The Dogs from 1971 & 1976, 28 page booklet, liner notes by John Sinclair (MC5) and cover artwork by Rockin' Jellybean!!
New single "Little Joe" by David Virgin, you can hear it on the profile and you can download it here and stick it on your phone or mp3 player it's FREE
