Punk icons X celebrated today’s 40th anniversary of their landmark debut Los Angeles by surprise-releasing Alphabetland, the band’s first album in 27 years and the first recorded by its original lineup — Exene Cervenka, John Doe, Billy Zoom and D.J. Bonebrake — in 35 years. Hear the album right here.
For this week’s installment of “120 Minutes” Rewind, we present this 1989 clip of host Dave Kendall interviewing Exene Cervenka at the CMJ Festival in New York City about her then-new solo debut, Old Wives’ Tales, the single “Leave Heaven Alone” and the status of her band X, which, at the time, was on something of a hiatus.
Los Angeles punk legends X will celebrate their 40th anniversary as a band with an impressive 32-date U.S. tour this spring and summer that will bring the group’s original lineup — Exene Cervenka, John Doe, D.J. Bonebrake and Billy Zoon — to cities coast to coast.
This week’s new releases include the new EP from Dalis Car, the 5CD ‘Arkeology’ box set from World Party, a reissue of The Human League’s ‘Dare,’ the second album from Black Francis’ Grand Duchy project, an acoustic set from X’s John Doe and Exene Cervenka and a 2CD archival live set from Joe Jackson.
This week’s roundup of Slicing Up Eyeballs headlines includes news about The Cult, Billy Bragg, Ultravox, The Wedding Present, Duran Duran, Peter Gabriel, Morrissey, John Doe and Exene Cervenka, and Fad Gadget — plus a new Auto Reverse mixtape.
X co-founders John Doe and Exene Cervenka next week will officially release a formerly tour-only CD called ‘Singing and Playing’ that features seven acoustic tracks recorded in 2010 plus a live version of the band’s classic “See How We Are” the duo recorded last year (that track also appears as one of the new studio cuts).
X are set to re-release their 1986 concert film ‘The Unheard Music’ — which they’ve been screening at shows recently prior to playing their Los Angeles album in full — this December on both DVD and, for the first time, Blu-ray in special “Silver Anniversary” editions stocked with extras.
Q&A: Daniel Ash on Love and Rockets’ reunion, his new band — and figuring out how to play “So Alive” 
Q&A: Chris Frantz talks Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club and new book ‘Remain in Love’ 
Q&A: Steve Wynn on The Dream Syndicate’s first new album in nearly 30 years 
Q&A: Bauhaus’ David J on his ‘accidental’ concept album ‘Not Long For This World’ 
Q&A: Peter Murphy on ‘Ninth,’ Bauhaus’ break-up, reuniting Dalis Car 
Q&A: Joey Santiago on Pixies’ ‘Doolittle’ tour, possible ‘Surfer Rosa’ shows, new album talk 
Q&A: Prefab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon on new album, changing the world with music 
Q&A: Peter Hook talks ‘Unknown Pleasures’ tour, re-recording Joy Division 