Int. w/ Exene Cervenka of X & many Fleetwood mentions

[GoldDustOrphan]

We didn't want it. We thought it was stupid. We laughed about it. We thought it was dumb. The furthest thing we wanted was a limousine to drive us around. Now I'm sure there were some people in the punk scene that did, but not the people I hung around with. We just thought that it was stupid.

About 10 years ago I saw John Doe and Exene Cervanka get out of limo on Lansdowne Street in Boston, prior to performing at Avalon. I can't stand pretentious rockers who are just too cool for school.

Coincidentally, my all-time favorite X review - "John Doe and Exene Cervanka didn't so much harmonize as sing in spite of each other."

[vivfox]

Originally Posted by GoldDustOrphan

About 10 years ago I saw John Doe and Exene Cervanka get out of limo on Lansdowne Street in Boston, prior to performing at Avalon. I can't stand pretentious rockers.

Ha Ha I could tell she was so totally jealous of Fleetwood Mac. She loved her ride with fame and she was sad when it had to end. You know she admitted when she hears FM on the radio she likes their songs. She knows that FM's music survived the test of time much more than her own, well where the public opinion is concerned anyhow.
Back then I had heard of Exene and her band X many times but never heard her music in me life.

[GoldDustOrphan]

They had one great single, Burning House of Love, and the rest was an acquired taste.

X frontman John Doe (and Exene's former husband) has found his fortune co-starring on TV shows like Roswell. He was also one of the stars of GYPSY 83.

Exene's real first name is CHRISTINE....

[TrueFaith77]

I love X -- yes, especially those first four albums AND especially especially Under the Big Black Sun!!! So moving. The most compassionate American punk band. Why else would Jonathan Demme, compassionate filmmaker, utilize them ("Blue Spark" I think) to introduce American evil in Something Wild? So much greatness. So it's a shame that Exene still has hate for Fleetwood Mac, since I rather connect the two bands (personally). A friend of mine interviewed X back in their hey-day circa 1983 and he said to Exene that he considers X to be special because they had amassed a catalogue of GREAT love songs. She seemed surprised. And he said that X was like Fleetwood Mac. And she made an ugly face. It's sad. Don't she know she's a Sister of the Moon?

[GoldDustOrphan]

Exene made an ugly face...
That's redundant.

[TrueFaith77]

Originally Posted by GoldDustOrphan

Exene made an ugly face...
That's redundant.

*snap!*

[GoldDustOrphan]

Oddly, X is performing tonight in Boston, where I live. They're on a reunion tour.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by GoldDustOrphan

They had one great single, Burning House of Love, and the rest was an acquired taste.

X frontman John Doe (and Exene's former husband) has found his fortune co-starring on TV shows like Roswell. He was also one of the stars of GYPSY 83.

Exene's real first name is CHRISTINE....

Okay, I LOVE X and have long said "If Fleetwood Mac swallowed The Sex Pistols you'd get X." Their album, Under the Big Black Sun, is a classic--and there's as much a nod to Buckingham-Nicks harmonizing there as anything else. I simply do not believe Exene when she says she doesn't have any Mac vinyl, though I suppose much of Mac's influence on her and John Doe was subconscious.

I DO believe her when she says she thinks that California excess was stupid. They certainly believed that at the time (late 70s, early 80s), though now they're not averse to a little pampering.

[GarboSpeaks!]

I saw them late last year. I was very impressed. Exene had walked right in front of me befor the show, and smiled very sweetly. Humbly, as though she was happy for the fact people were lining up early for the show. As often as I enjoy meeting people, she didn't strike me as approachable. Not in a negative manor, just shy almost.
Sad to hear the things she says about FM, but they were the "rebellious" genre, so it makes sense. I've always wanted to ask Siouxsie what she thinks of Stevie, but don't dare. I guess any chance of "X" covering Landslide @ the next show is out of the question?

[LukeA]

Got dragged to the show here in Portland a month or so ago- enjoyed it quite a bit.

[TrueFaith77]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

Okay, I LOVE X and have long said "If Fleetwood Mac swallowed The Sex Pistols you'd get X." Their album, Under the Big Black Sun, is a classic--and there's as much a nod to Buckingham-Nicks harmonizing there as anything else. I simply do not believe Exene when she says she doesn't have any Mac vinyl, though I suppose much of Mac's influence on her and John Doe was subconscious.

I DO believe her when she says she thinks that California excess was stupid. They certainly believed that at the time (late 70s, early 80s), though now they're not averse to a little pampering.

Beautifully put!

[David]

You guys are all very intersting & I love you all very much.

Don't you think there's a squiky influence on X from the whole Johnny & June Carter Cash thingie-majingie-bob?

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by GoldDustOrphan

About 10 years ago I saw John Doe and Exene Cervanka get out of limo on Lansdowne Street in Boston, prior to performing at Avalon.

What hypocrites! I wish the interviewer had been able to throw that fact in their faces.

Michele