Generation X (band)

Generation X (also known as Gen X) were an English punk rock band, formed on 21 November 1976 by Billy Idol, Tony James and John Towe.[1]

Contents
[hide]
 * 1 Career
 * 1.1 Rise to stardom
 * 1.2 Personnel changes and break-up
 * 2 Discography
 * 2.1 Studio albums
 * 2.2 Compilation albums
 * 2.3 Live albums
 * 2.4 7" singles
 * 2.5 12" singles/EPs
 * 3 See also
 * 4 References
 * 5 External links

Career[edit]
Three members of Generation X were previously in Chelsea, along with lead singer Gene October. They soon broke away from October and selected the name Generation X (after Jane Deverson's 1965 sociology book, a copy of which was owned by Idol's mother).[1] Idol switched from guitar to vocal duties, and Bob "Derwood" Andrews joined as lead guitarist after leaving the Fulham band Paradox. Generation X played their first concert on 14 December 1976 at The Roxy (becoming the first band to play at the venue).[1][5]

Towe was later replaced on drums by Mark Laff (ex-Subway Sect), to complete the 'official' line-up, before the band signed to Chrysalis Records and released their firstsingle, "Your Generation" in September, 1977.[6] They played this song on Marc Bolan's afternoon variety show, Marc, that same month. This line-up of the band would remain through their first two albums, the self-titled, Generation X (1978), followed by Valley of the Dolls (1979).[6]

Rise to stardom[edit]
Generation X were one of the first punk bands to appear on the BBC Television music programme Top of the Pops.[7] Unlike other punk bands, Generation X ignored some of the 'rules' and 'ideals' adopted by UK punk rock bands, taking inspiration from British pop of the 1960s.[8] In 1977, they covered John Lennon's "Gimme Some Truth", and in 1979 they teamed up with Ian Hunter who produced their second album, Valley of the Dolls.[7]

There were differences in the group's musical direction that they struggled to resolve.[7] They wanted to remain true to their punk roots while pursuing a heavier rocksound.[7] Internal disagreements came to a head in late 1979 during the recording of what was to have been the third Generation X album. This was released decades later as part of the Anthology boxed set under the title Sweet Revenge.

Personnel changes and break-up[edit]
In 1980, Andrews and Laff left the band (subsequently forming the post-punk band, Empire), to be replaced in Generation X by The Clash and Cowboys International's former drummer Terry Chimes, and formerChelsea guitarist James Stevenson.[6]

Generation X made a last stand, re-recording some of the Sweet Revenge material, as well as several new songs. With this final release, Kiss Me Deadly (1981), the band abbreviated its name to Gen X.[6] Kiss Me Deadly included a version of "Dancing with Myself", first recorded as part of Sweet Revenge with Andrews and Laff, and which Idol would later include on his first EP as a solo artist to kick-start his own career with ahit.

Idol went on to pursue a solo career in New York, where he became a substantial pop star.[9] James later formed Sigue Sigue Sputnik[7] and performed with bands including The Sisters of Mercy and, much later on,Carbon/Silicon. Stevenson later joined Gene Loves Jezebel, The Cult and, more latterly, The Alarm and The International Swingers.[6] Chimes rejoined The Clash.[6]

On 20 September 1993, during Billy Idol's No Religion Tour, Generation X had a one-time reunion performance at the Astoria Theatre in London.

Studio albums[edit]
[6][10]
 * 1978 – Generation X UK No. 29
 * 1979 – Valley of the Dolls UK No. 51
 * 1979 – Sweet Revenge  (Unreleased until 1998, reissued in 2003 as a second disc for the Anthology.)
 * 1981 – Kiss Me Deadly  (As "Gen X.")

Compilation albums[edit]

 * 1985 – The Best of Generation X
 * 1990 – The Idol Generation  (Australia only.)
 * 1991 – Perfect Hits 1975–81
 * 2002 – Radio 1 Sessions
 * 2003 – Anthology

Live albums[edit]

 * 1999 – Live at the Paris Theatre '78 & '81  (Reissued (and edited) in 2002 as One Hundred Punks - BBC Live In Concert.)
 * 2003 – Live at Sheffield
 * 2005 – Live

7" singles[edit]
[6] [10]
 * 1977 – "Your Generation" b/w "Day by Day" UK No. 36
 * 1977 – "Wild Youth" b/w "Wild Dub" UK
 * 1978 – "Ready Steady Go" b/w "No No No" UK No. 47
 * 1978 – "King Rocker" b/w "Gimme Some Truth" UK No. 11  (released in five various album covers.)
 * 1979 – "Valley of the Dolls" b/w "Shakin' All Over" UK No. 23
 * 1979 – "Friday's Angels" b/w "Trying for Kicks" / "This Heat" UK No. 62
 * 1980 – "Dancing with Myself" b/w "Ugly Rash"  (As "Gen X.")  UK No. 62

12" singles/EPs[edit]
[6]
 * 1980 – "Dancing with Myself" b/w "Loopy Dub" / "What Do You Want"  (As "Gen X.")  UK
 * 1981 – 4 EP  (As "Gen X.")  UK No. 60
 * "Dancing with Myself"  (12" versions have an extended cut.)
 * "Untouchables"
 * "Rock On"
 * "King Rocker"
 * 1981 – "Dancing with Myself" b/w "Hubble, Bubble, Toil and Dubble"  (As "Billy Idol and Gen X.")  US