X - Live on David Letterman

[rippersk8er]

John travolta on bass

[shileno8]

these guys will open for pearl jam's gig next wednesday in chile!!

can't wait!

[MuzzyWarrior]

im goin to see them saturday

[dickfartist]

@MuzzyWarrior same here. voodoo?

[orangeguy1985]

1987 saw X open for Warren Zevon in Providence. To this day, one of the best shows I ever saw.

[oldpunkster]

I LOVE Billy Zoom!!!

[Raven99664]

wow this sux

[jukaswo]

@Raven99664 How old are you? 

[slimdickey9]

@Raven99664 like yo mamas gaping ahole!

[jerrycornwell]

Zoom is huge, actually taller than Letterman

[jfisher4]

@jerrycornwell how do their heights compare to conan o'brien? lol

[jerrycornwell]

@jfisher4 yeah, x, play Conan!!!!!

[metalgodify]

Honestly who found out about this band from Tony Hawk Underground 2. HAHA

[eliezerberry]

Saw X in 1983 at the Roxy. What a fucking band. Exene dominating at her mike stand all night, just stealing the stage song after song. John Doe kicking ass, so intense, banging out the beats on his bass and taking total charge on his vocals. DJ just whaling away on his drums. And Billy Zoom - just calm, smiling away, such a cool cat - meanwhile throwing down some of the most kick-ass licks ever. We're in the front moshing it, girls grabbing guys, guys grabbing girls - what a night

[mrwibbles1]

Too bad we don't get to see X any more.

[70Krazy]

Are you shitting me? Exene was punk, she defined it... Every girl that wanted to be hard-core in the 80's looked up to this bitch!

[Dimonogop]

Gaga trolling?

It's so.. yesterday.

[joynthis]

If you like Gaga, you don't like this, so just stop looking. Now. Go fix your makeup or something. Yes, I'm talking to you, pal.

[KronosTheDeejay]

You know you win at life when you write paragraph-long diatribes on YouTube calling people 'fag' and 'moron' while arguing semantics and spelling errors. Wow.

[johnchang7]

One of the best bands to ever play music!

[Deetroiter]

Shocked that Dave didn't say "tonight we have a terrific rock n roll band..." lol

[jsniccu]

X drummer DJ Bonebrake recalls his band's misfortune caused by the infamous Los Angeles punk riot of 1979. Read more at The Worst Gig (WorstGig.com).

[takingbacksados]

I wonder if X refused to have the house band play with them. Letterman's NBC show always did that for some weird reason.

[jonnyboyW20]

who cares if lady gaga is an innovator or not, her music plain and simply sucks ass, she is an attention seeker not a musician

[pierreerichexum]

@jonnyboyW20 who cares period, if you don't like don't mention her and listen to what you like

[railbirdsteve]

ohhh-my god! -my famly seen this on tv, daddy was gone me my sisser mary&, my bro and ma they didnt wonder afterwords why I was into punk-this was my mom fav band , the hothouse & were desperte was our songs till went in the marines . the corps had alot of punk fans too!

[jaibobro]

wow she got chubb

[Skulldini]

@1RealityBroadcasting THAT sounds more like The Cramps than X here.

[bdfilms01]

pretty tame performance in comparison to what they could really do. long live rockabilly

[bdfilms01]

pretty tame performance in comparison to what they could really do.

[swampgravy]

Great observation about Zoom and Les Paul. Thanks, hugemangus.

[railbirdsteve]

wouldnt you smile too, if your the best at what you do? wouldnt you smile when your in one of the most impressive bands to come out of punk-new wave?

[MostricBass]

@railbirdsteve sure why not :)

[hugemangus]

Billy Zoom reminds me most of Les Paul, to wit: his demeanor, his ease of playing the most difficult fingerings, and his non-chalance, most of which is just about the same thing. I've always thought that they were too POP to be PUNK, but that's OK with me because I have problems with people carrying an agenda. The punk scene was always about having FUN ! ! !

[yugitso]

Billy Zoom = Chuck Berry on speed

[larrythedolphin]

Saw them at the Whiskey a GoGo in Hollywood in 1980. What a great time to live in L.A.

[wengrrrl1]

you have no idea. i got to tech for X at the CAt in S- Cruz multiple times. grew up in LA on them in fact. best f'in band ever. and Joh Doe...MMMMMMM amazing renaissance man. he could sing the f'in phonebook to me.

[iago68]

john doe is the shit, defined

[ChopBoy09]

I saw John Doe with Dave Alvin, Country Dick Montana and Mojo Nixon when they formed The Pleasure Barons. Actually, I think John Doe was a tag-along, but he kicked ass. One of the best shows I have ever seen.

[katen999randy]

Billy fucking Zoom baby

[beinmytrailer]

i read that the reason billy zoom smiles thru all those rippin solos is coz he was sick of seeing other guitarists(clears throat GE smith) make straining faces while they play easy shit.

[gonzo1965]

Fuuckin greatest LA band! U rock X, long live and keep playing... fuccck everyone else!!!

[livelyarts49]

CUTE

[DanaVanHeerden]

I'll be at their show in San Diego this friday,yeahhhhhh!

[auggdogrules]

billy zoom shreds it

[Hodag71]

Drummer DJ Bonebrake will be playing with John Doe at MeadowGrass Music Festival north of Colorado Springs on Memorial Day Weekend. 3 days, 18 bands, 1 big tent.

[Jmitchpen1013]

That's some mighty fine rock & roll there. Long live X.

[bo12hughes]

THIS IS THE BEST VID I HAVE EVER SEEN ON YOUTUBE! ITS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE X PERFORM. PERFECT!

[bo12hughes]

This is the greatest thing I've seen on YouTube EVER! And I'm a YouTube junky. I haven't seen or heard of them in years. GOD THEY KICKED ASS!

[89fenderp]

You don't get any cooler than Billy Zoom.

[dharmaseed]

Wow, a punk band with harmonies? And a bass groove? And an incredibly cool guitar player? I'm sorry I didn't listen to X sooner.

[jackal59]

@dharmaseed And some great songwriting:

"I'll see you and I'll raise you off the floor

I'll floor you and we'll dance without a band

I just heard a sad song hang another man

He hung me with the endless rope"

[jeffdeanable]

They're super tight here....cool. Not an easy thing, maybe easy, I don't know...nat'l TV, they delivered.

[AwesumLittleRedTruck]

Songs? 

[Skulldini]

norah, mariah, licia, and caca huh ? ... well, for my part, I will just leave ALL of THEM alike! Give me Exene here !

[ztztzyzy]

@Skulldini no, not caca....exene, yes and you remember the late (r.i.p) wendy o. williams?

[Skulldini]

@ztztzyzy Hell yeah, I'll take a Wendy Williams too.

[Skulldini]

@ztztzyzy Oh, and by the way, if you got that same message in your inbox about a godzillion fucking times then do pardon it. You see, this U Tube kept fucking up, for some unfathomable reason, when I kept trying to post it !

[ztztzyzy]

@Skulldini i know, happens to me too.......grrrr

[huskerspew]

No one's cooler than Billy Zoom.

[MelvinWren]

lol i imagine letterman dancing to this.

[WormTyrant]

They are one of the all time greatest punk rock bands ever, God I love these people

[SuperJojokelly]

That hit the spot. They were the best 80's punk band.

[sfaster]

@SuperJojokelly Not quite, The Clash. But X was surely top 3.................

[ztztzyzy]

@sfaster not quite, black flag, the bags, circle jerks, fear, etc, but sure x and the clash....

[sfaster]

@ztztzyzy Lets not forget D.O.A. from Vancouver. Shithead Joey is a great songwriter...........

[ztztzyzy]

@sfaster i don't forget, "fucked up ronnie" is a great song i would play to piss off my u.s. history teacher, lol hey, how about the 222's, 39 steps, another joe, the black haloes, choke, the daggers, the dik van dykes, the flatliners, the forgotten rebels, the gruesomes, the skitzos, etc....jus a "few more" canadian punks lol

[sfaster]

@ztztzyzy Forgot about some of these bands. Slamming Canada! Best show I ever did in Oakland:

Dead Kennedys, Million Dead Cops, Bad Religion, 7 Seconds and Crucifix, Got a black eye from Jello's

boot. Was proud of it except I had to work. The DKs had intense power on stage...............

[JuanCarlosOrtegaJr]

You guys were and still are awesome!

[LizTheRealtor]

I saw X at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo....aaaaagh those were the days. Danced til we couldn't breathe. so fun to be in the mosh pit.....had to remember to keep your mouth shut, i mean literally, or you could crack a toothe.

[mrbobloblaw666]

X.

Just Nobody Cooler, Perfect!

John Doe, Way Fuckin Cool.

Billy Zoom, Mr. Cool.

Exene, So So Cool.

DJ, Drumming God Cool.

X

Should be in the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame, Now!

[mrnoiz23]

This is actually pretty selfconciously lame.

[TheNorb82]

Why is people talking about Lady Gaga on this video?? I don't understand.

[fireman640]

@0ukami - Me too!!!

[flipwiggins]

Yes, I believe that is absolutely correct. Good call!

[snoo229]

lady gags on cock

[fredxmertz]

Lady Gaga is really innovated....

X is a really great band. This video is fun, they look like they're having a.... MORE FUN!

Thx for posting...

[0ukami]

im gonna go see them today!!

[mrfbgm123]

@0ukami Me too

[0ukami]

@mrfbgm123 They were so sick lol

[craismith]

they should replace excene with the Lady Gaga when she isnt able to perform anymore!! thumbs up if you agree!!!

just my opinion. KISSES!!

[TheSonicchick]

@craismith Lady Gag Me is a joke compared to any of the truly innovative female artists! More than opinion, FACT!!!

[TheAmazingAwesomeGuy]

@TheSonicchick not true, lady gaga is really really innovated

[slayerelmnt]

@TheSonicchick Lady Gaga writes her music and her lyrics, she can play piano very well, she can sing well and she can BELT in a ballad raw like way hat you dont hear on the radio , she can dance .Shes had 6 number 2s in two albums 4 where on her debut album,but her WHOLE second cd was a HIT even though not all of it went to 1.

These things make her a true artist,musician,and performer aswell as a record breaker.So your citieria for artist is,what?

[ztztzyzy]

@slayerelmnt and your criteria is....? lady CACA has many songs written for "her". the dancing has been seen many many times over and over again....tiresome...."she" rips off madonna, bjork, dale bozzio, among many others...."her" crap was done many times before and "she" does it ad nauseum....

[slayerelmnt]

@ztztzyzy she writes the material,piot blank. you cant fake paper work. she writes the music and lyrics.poker face was an acoustic jaz piaono song before it was remade.SHE wrote hits for OTHERS before going off on hher own. SHE . WROTE . TELEPHONE for brittany spears who didnt use it,SO SHE DID for instance.

just because you dodnt like her doesnt mean she isnt a talent.she cant ACTUALLY SING, and WELL....she can BELT with the best femal vocalist and she can play piano GREATLY and she does WRITE

[ztztzyzy]

@slayerelmnt can't fake paperwork?? the brooklyn bridge was sold on fake paperwork, land in arizona was sold on fake paperwork, piltdown man was called genuine on fake paperwork, etc. paparazzi was written by rob fusari. other writers are: kierszenbaum, thiam, kierulf, schwartz, etc. belt with the best femal (sic) vocalist? when "she" can hit 8 (yes 8) octaves like mariah, i'll believe you. great piano is played by norah jones and alicia keys, NOT "lady" caca

[slayerelmnt]

@ztztzyzy Youre just ranting about an artist you dont like,i cant fucking stand M.Carey.She doesnt write a damn thing & that glitter movie was trashbut i respect her as a performer because she is a truly talentd singer.But Gaga,whether you want to say it or not, is also a very talented singer.Just because shes not one of the only two female artist to be able to hit * octaves ,does not mean she isnt good. By that logic, I dont have any artistic talent because I cant paint aswell as Michael Angelo

[ztztzyzy]

@slayerelmnt now you're just ranting that you hate mariah. I just refuted your paperwork and "belt out" comments and you go the juvenile route. haven't you heard of the different effects used in recordings? that many "singers" over the years are simply lip syncing (like "lady" caca) on stage? to do those many dance moves and not breathe hard and sing good is not done. by that logic, i should be able to run the marathon and sing an acapella flawlessly. caca rips off, bjork, madonna, bozzio, etc

[slayerelmnt]

@ztztzyzy and youre saying someone isnt good because they cant belt 8 octaves, when the singer on this video cant do anything near that or anything near gaga. ive seen gaga more than once, ive been to industry events, and ive been to private sessions where Gaga played Demos of acoustic songs with her and a piano. she does not lype sync and shes been writing hits for OTHER FUCKING PEOPLE FOR YRS youre an idiot who wants to fight anything thats has success in the mainstream and caused a trend

[ztztzyzy]

@slayerelmnt you're still on the octave thing? you moron, we're past that. you're probably gay and wish that you could get with an hermaphrodite....you been to private sessions? prove it, you're full of dog shit. "she" did the "sunrise" morning show in australia and admitted lip syncing claiming a sore throat. uh huh, yet the interview went quite well. bjork caused the trend that caca is ripping off u moron. look at my posts about norah, mariah, alicia, etc they all have success, ya jackoff

[slayerelmnt]

@TheSonicchick youre an idiot

[ztztzyzy]

@TheSonicchick atta girl! you have open eyes. i'm trying to explain to doofus (below) that "lady" caca is a composite of bjork, maslutta, (oops, madonna even), dale bozzio, etc both musically and fashionably in what "she" does....give me norah jones, alicia keys, etc. over "lady" caca any day

[dharmaseed]

@TheSonicchick For Lady Gaga to compete, she would first have to be an 'artist'. She hasn't even got that.

[agustindram45]

@TheSonicchick i agree!!!!!! or the lead guitarist and bass player from the cramps! they are actually gigin!

[Malagard]

@TheSonicchick How is Lady Gaga not innovative???? I mean, she was supposed to follow the britney spears/christina aguilera mold and she totally broke it.

[Skulldini]

@Malagard She's not really inovative because she rips off some older artists. However, I agree that comparing her to Exene is a mistake. Bowie and Dale Bozio ( of Missing Persons ) would be more fitting compaisons for her.

[Ibber]

@Malagard Mold? Excuse me? Lady Gaga was not some Disney kid. What Lady Gaga does is entertain. She is a genuine performer.

What X does is poetry with music. A different style than the Doors, but the influence is definitely there. However, I don't consider Lady Gaga or X to be innovative. Unfortunately, the last real innovative things, during the punk era, I heard were "The Passenger" and "Ghetto Defendant".

[wipers86]

@TheSonicchick lady gaga is just a copy cat have a look at Dale Bozzio from the band missing persons and you'll see she's just ripped her look off and check out missing persons spring session M album cover and check lady gaga's cherrytree sessions cover and you'll see she ripped the album cover off to

[zelyaxxx1]

@craismith thats we all know your not into punx .... your a punk who loves lady gaga go on then why you on here?

[zelyaxxx1]

@craismith Lady Gaga sucks she is so produced!

[kinksboss1]

@craismith

you must be quite the gayboy with that comment

[DeltaWave72]

eXcellent!



[DeltaWave72]

eXcellent!

[Gothi30]

X is so awsome. Exene is such a good singer.

[hellonyhello]

wow when the old timers b4 fm radio rock (not talking about crap like journey,rush and van halen) and the new wavers and early punkers cant rock any more, whats gonna happen to rock and roll. the young seem incapable of doing it. Nothing of the last 20 years can compare with X

[Skulldini]

@RollingStoned1233 It was the damndest thing, but she could look either really cute ( here for example ) OR quite hideous ( Decline of a Western Civilization,.. but she was an alchoholic in that ).

[robbiejojo]

what year was this bullshit?

[INITIALSJE]

@robbiejojo by "bullshit", I assume you're speaking of one of the greatest bands ever, X, right?

[robbiejojo]

@INITIALSJE yes. now what year was this pussy ass whino shit?

[INITIALSJE]

@robbiejojo So then, why do you care what year it was if you hate it?

They were one of LA's first punk/rockabilly bands in the late seventies. I'm guessing this was '84 or so, but not a 100 percent.. Their earlier stuff is the best. I'd suggest looking them up on Wikipedia or just watch The Decline of Western Civilization, a documentary about the L.A. Punk scene.

[bicklesby1]

@robbiejojo the same year you fell off the turnip truck  robbie bloblo

[bebopredux]

7:53 to 8:08......total goosebumps. 

[microscopic]

They're better than The X and The XX. And the X men. and Malcolm X. and eggs.

[LincolnLLoyd]

Out of 330 comments - as of 10/15/10 at midnight, anyway - I'm sure someone's already - don't kill me, it's a compliment but - made the comparison to the Talkin Heads? I don't think they're anything alike, but for some reason this song is a different story.

[pitbull103]

That guitar lead is hotter than a urinary infection -- one of my all-time favorite X songs.

[cypherks]

Holy cow, Dave is holding up a piece of VINYL!

[lasquid]

You leave me breathless!

[flmnglps]

Man, I'd forgotten how awesome DJ Bonebreak is on drums!

[robgodhiggins]

why is billy zoom always smiling? he is the happiest motherfucker ive ever seen! cheers

[brewtul]

F'in inspired

[flipwiggins]

I visited L.A. back in 90 and stumbled into a club on Sunset. Lemmy from Motorhead, Ron Jeremy and Billy Zoom were all in there...(not in a band!!!) Felt like I had entered the fukin' Twilight Zone.

[BuddyPC]

@flipwiggins

Was it the Rainbow Bar?

[jeffdeanable]

@flipwiggins Wow..man, what do you say? I would be at a loss, my jaw would be on the floor. Man. T. Zone indeed.

[mondocaneman]

Theres a small interview with the band after the song is over..just to let you know people.....

[zenarcher99]

take that letterman - WHAT A BAND

[teewhy1977]

WASNT THE LEAD SINGER THE GUY>> AN ACTOR

[yesihavenocigarettes]

@teewhy1977 ...That's John Doe. He did some acting. That was after they became famous though.

[mojo75]

just discovered this band. Alot of people say "music sucks these days" and often they are right, but so does this.

[yesihavenocigarettes]

@mojo75...Most music does suck these days. X was a breath of fresh air. Billy Zoom worked with Gene Vincent, Etta James, the Blasters. John Doe in the Knitters, Flesh Eaters. You have to dig deep to find anything worth listening to. Most music that makes it to radio is payola driven. An example? Here in Canada Nickelback is huge...nuff said.

[ztztzyzy]

@yesihavenocigarettes lmao at nickelback huge in canada. there are many brits that will argue that coldplay is actually a good band! lol

[Skulldini]

@mojo75 Yeah,.. whatever fool.

[anthonyaranda]

Exene was hot back in her day... great song!

[grutsu]

great!!If you listen to the radio such tunes you might think that it is an underground tone but somewhere in the past these albums were the best in new rock music.

[beanoskint]

@ bluesbrrd.. whilst I'm a massive X fan and couldn't care any for Green Day, why does it make them look like a bunch of poseurs??? elitist snob! yeah mate, really punk rock....

[catbox]

Timeless Music.

[stellamark]

Billy Zoom, the smiling assassin.

[djuri0612]

Wow not used to seeing smart people on television these days! What does your typical talk show host do when interviewing intelligent quick witted people? They make fun of pee wee herman I guess. Hey Exene was he pissed were you guys supposed to play 'TLpt.2' so as not to scare the audience

[blope332]

Billy Zoom - pretty cool. Nice bright tone. He's great.

[godofslumber]

@blope332 Incredible tone!

[MStock57]

Pee Wee Herman? I wouldn't admit to knowing him.

[hppy6]

when was this exene looks so young and so does the other guy

[Thirdpres]

@hppy6 Around 1983. I remember seeing this on TV way back when. 8)

[naguiat1]

early days of the letterman show-he probably couldn't book any famous movie stars yet so he gave X a lot of time-ha! X is totally bad ass!

[Laminateddeffect]

X may not be for everyone; but for those who discovered them & fell in love with them......you guys stumbled upon something that is TRUE music. They're my diamond in the rough.....

[yesihavenocigarettes]

Awkward with the Letterman and the talking and stuff. X was great though .

[gmartinz01]

Not the best song on that album, though

[thebarkingwater]

This is what the 80's produced people. Do you think music is orignal nowdays?

[MrMedusaLvamp]

I miss listening to this record so much...Great driving music! Love to see them live again...I live 4 X !!!!!

[aupsychobilly]

Fuck Yeah!!!

[missionpants]

Don't even REFERENCE Green Ghey with X! Scrote bag...

[smokingfast]

Wow they fuckin rip it up

[Lasershark1]

Did you know John Doe was in Road House? Weird...

[yesihavenocigarettes]

Gold, I tells ya, GOLD! ...Looked for this song forever, only now just stumbled on it. Thanks man....PS- Saw a pic of Exzine? lately? Time has not been kind.

[aupsychobilly]

@yesihavenocigarettes yeah affirmative...i see them once a year...time is not kind to her.

[yesihavenocigarettes]

@aupsychobilly I'm jealous. ..PS- have you seen lindalouwho2 @ any of those events? Check her pic billy. ..heart.

[aupsychobilly]

@yesihavenocigarettes Nope I haven't see her before...she appears to be from Florida and I am SoCal...and yeah..she is hot. Lindalouwho2 is correct Exene has MS...but she was having issues long before that diagnosis...

[lindalouwho2]

@yesihavenocigarettes She has MS

[yesihavenocigarettes]

@lindalouwho2

Miss linda, you sure are purdy. I am smitten with your avatar. ..Come here often? Didn't know one of my hero's has MS. Best wishes to Xene.

[mrhipsterdoofus]

This'll be called folk music a hundred years from now.

[jcrush13]

Simply brilliant...! Americana at its best...! Happy 4th of July everyone.....!

[velocipus]

@bluesbrrd... that is because they are

[TedSmegma]

Billy Zoom the coolest dude on the planet. Check out the cheesy smile and wide stance. Plus he can play the guitar like a motherfucker

[mosihasteen]

@TedSmegma Amen!

[DaArbiter]

Lol I love the awkward of the interview

[quintincollins]

Now THAT is rock and roll. Billy Zoom! When this aired, "Motley Crue" and similar cr@p was what passed for rock and roll.

[franticone]

just saw them in Toronto a couple days ago...fucking awesome..

they played a bunch from the first couple albums....their hair was a bit greyer but they killed it...

the audience was full of young punks going mental...

good to see...

[SLAPnPOP726]

gonna see them on saturday at the Queen Mary, so fucking stoked for it.

[beaglehowl]

makes life worth living.

[BostonFastJack]

F-ing A.

Great stuff.

[adictpunk88]

back when she was worth a fuck