Generation X (band)

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Generation X
General information
origin London , England
Genre (s) Punk , rock 'n' roll , pop
founding 1976
resolution 1981
Founding members
Billy Idol
Bob Andrews (until 1979)
John Towe (until 1976)
Tony James
Last occupation
singing
 Billy Idol
guitar
 Steve Jones (from 1981)
guitar
 John McGeoch (from 1981)
Drums
 Terry Chimes (from 1979)
bass
 Tony James
former members
Drums
 Mark Laff (1976-1979)
guitar
 James Stephenson (1979-1981)

Generation X is the name of a British punk band that was formed by Billy Idol in 1976 , made their debut that same year, released their first single in 1977 and released their first album in 1978. In 1981 she broke up before her third album was released.

Band history

In August 1976, Gene October was looking for musicians for a band with an ad in Melody Maker . William Broad, who later became famous as Billy Idol , Tony James and John Towe came forward. They formed a band called Chelsea . After three months and as many concerts the group separated again. While October was looking for new members, Broad, James and Towe formed Generation X with guitarist Bob Andrews , in which Billy Idol tried his hand at singing.

In December they made their debut at the Roxy Club in London. Shortly thereafter, John Towe was replaced by Mark Laff.

In July 1977, Generation X signed a contract with Chrysalis and their first single Your Generation was released. It was followed by the singles Wild Youth (1977) and Ready Steady Go (1978). In 1978 the two albums Generation X and Valley of the Dolls were released . The single King Rocker reached number 11 in the British charts .

It was followed by the change of name to Gen X . There was a fight in the band and Laff and Andrews were replaced by Terry Chimes and Chelsea member James Stephenson. Guitarists were Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols and John McGeoch of Magazine . When the third album was released in 1981, the band no longer existed.

Billy Idol was launched in the US a very successful solo career, Tony James formed the band Sigue Sigue Sputnik and later, together with Mick Jones , the Carbon / Silicon . Terry Chimes replaced The Clash's drummer .

style

Generation X are considered to be one of the first punk bands, but later tended towards melodic rock 'n' roll and pop .

effect

The British punk band Penetration played in 1977 as the opening act for Generation X. These appearances give them a certain degree of acquaintance beyond the scene.

In 2001 Billy Idol performed again Generation X classics like Kiss Me Deadly , Untouchables and Ready Steady Go on VH-1 Storytellers , the counterpart to MTV Unplugged , which gave him a new upsurge in his career.

Others

British writer Hanif Kureishi processed the figure of his school friend Billy Idol and the history of the band Generation X in his novel The Buddha of Suburbia ( The Buddha of Suburbia , 1990), which was also filmed.

The generation of those born in the 1960s and 1970s was also referred to as Generation X in the 1990s, according to the book by Douglas Coupland .

Discography

Chart positions
Explanation of the data
Albums
Generation X
  UK 29 04/08/1978 (4 weeks)
Valley of the Dolls
  UK 51 02/17/1979 (5 weeks)
Singles
Your generation
  UK 36 09/17/1977 (4 weeks)
Ready steady go
  UK 47 03/11/1978 (3 weeks)
King rocker
  UK 11 01/20/1979 (9 weeks)
Valley of the Dolls
  UK 23 04/07/1979 (7 weeks)
Friday's Angel
  UK 62 06/30/1979 (2 weeks)
Dancing with Myself / Untouchables
  UK 60 October 18, 1980 (6 weeks)

Albums

  • 1978: Generation X
  • 1978: Live at Sheffield
  • 1979: Valley of the Dolls
  • 1981: Kiss Me Deadly
  • 1998: Sweet Revenge (originally recorded in 1979)

Singles

  • 1977: Your Generation
  • 1977: Wild Youth
  • 1978: Ready Steady Go
  • 1979: King Rocker
  • 1980: Dancing with Myself

EP

  • 1981: Dancing with Myself ...

swell

  1. ↑ a b UK chart history

Web links