Generation X

Generation X could have been contenders.

Tony James Punk rock seems like my childhood, the glorious naivete of rock’n’roll. Stenguns and guitars seem very idealistic when you’re twenty.  Punk: The Illustrated History Of A Music Revolution

This group are important. They are something new, young and exciting. They’re f****n great ! 
Mark P, Sniffin’ Glue 5, November 1976

The story starts way back when Tony James and Mick Jones meet at a Heavy Metal Kids concert and find they have the New York Dolls in common and want to be in a band. They form the legendary London SS and the next year is rehearsing but never playing live with a succession of try out musicians with the only constant Brian James before he decamps to form Bastard and The Damned. Unbeknownst to them the Sex Pistols were forming around the shop Sex, and the Pistols even visited the London SS’s rehearsal place.

The band break up with arguably too many chiefs and James and Idol join Chelsea in November 1976 which John Krevine of rival Kings Road Shop to Sex, Acme Attractions, was putting together around Gene October and with his accountant Andy Czezowski as manager. John Towe on drums completes the line up (later Alternative TV, The Adverts & Rage). Marco Pirrono auditioned and James and Idol auditioned separately.

It’s hard to imagine Gene singing Ready Steady Go and it didn’t last as the whole band minus him decamped on November 21st 1976 to become Generation X (named after the title of one of Billy’s mum’s books). The line up was completed when Billy saw Derwood playing in heavy rock band Paradox and after a hair cut he was in and the band complete.

From the start James and Idol saw themselves as the creative forces and the others as replaceable which while at first not too important no doubt played a part in the groups eventual demise. Image was key as well.

Wanted: Lead guitarist and drummer to join bass player and singer/guitarist influenced by Stones/New York Dolls/Mott etc. Must Have great rock’n’roll image

So ran Tony James’ ad in Melody Maker seeking musicians for the nascent London SS in 1975 and really you could say that was his statement of intent. Interestingly Bernie Rhodes began advising London SS on what do and the need for a kind of group policy on attitude and look. I say interesting because there are a number of parallels. While The Clash were spraying and stenciling urban slogans over their clothes to make them look like graffitied warriors Generation X too moved on from Acme Attractions and were making their own tshirts with slogans and images but with a more rock’n’roll theme.

Like the Clash and Sex Pistols, an integral part of Generation X was image. In fact you could say the whole essence of Generation X was image based and revolving around the fantasy of wanting to be a rock star. Perhaps this was behind a lot of the antagonism to the band. They were viewed as a bunch of pretty boys playing at being punks with little substance which is a little harsh.

Billy Idol Basically we want to be a rock’n’roll group and be able to say what we feel – not overtly political, nor a theatre/comedy group like the Dammed…just an honest rock’n’roll group which enjoys being on stage playing. Zigzag #74, July 77

“Tony James believes avidly that a rock’n’roll musician must possess an image that fits both the musician and the group he intends to join…And he recounts a tale of drummer auditioning for London SS who came all the way up from Brighton to London on the train with his kit only to be shooed away for not looking the part” NME, 8.4.78

Regardless of the above the band soon pulled together a set of songs. They were the first act to play the Roxy Club on December 21st 1976 which had been opened by Andy Czezowski and friends and they even help build the stage!

They got mixed initial press and antagonism to their more rock’n’roll image and poppy punk sound. Drummer problems forced them to have a short layoff resulting in Mark Laff from Subway Sect assuming the seat after narrowly missing out to Topper Headon for the Clash’s drummer position. It didn’t affect their gaining a record contract as punk was fully in swing however, as shortly before their first tour in May 1977 A&R men were competing for their signatures.

They signed with Chrysalis (home of Genesis, Steeleye Span and Jethro Tull and yes Blondie) in the summer of 1977. While missing the initial punk explosion, they had built up a solid set of pop punk songs that were more accessible to the general public who were warming commercially to the lighter side of punk.

At the same time they were all reasonably good looking and with a sort of unthreatening punky image boded well for the future. Billy had discovered hair gel and peroxide and an Elvis sneer and was obviously a star. Appearing in teen girls magazines like Pink and Fab 208 (as did Eater, The Clash & The Boys) may have killed their street cred but improved record sales!

Generation X may well be the “punk rock” group that many people have been waiting for; lyrics about change and revolution, but with melodies cute enough for “boy meets girl”. Tony Parsons, NME, Jan 30th 1977.

Pop may not fit the new wave image which is why Generation X are so important and impressive, They MAKE it fit and complement it in return…they’ll just as likely appear on the cover of 19 as Sniffin’ Glue…. Sniffin’ Glue, 12 Aug/Sep 77

Generation X were a revelation ! I’ve only seen them once before and I was really impressed then, but they’re even tighter now ! They looked menacing…short hair, aggressive stances, and they move so fast. Short catchy songs like ‘Ready Steady Go’, ‘Your Generation’, ‘Youth Youth Youth’ and ‘Day By Day’. One of the few groups who haven’t really sold out. Nag and Ade, New Wave fanzine 77

Unfortunately they never really lived up to this billing. The band released a string of catchy classy punky poppy charting singles and notched up a sizeable hit with ‘King Rocker’ but didn’t really make it as far as expected. Having recorded 90% of what would have been their next but never released album Sweet Revenge Derwood and Laff gave notice of leaving (some would appear on the Kiss Me Deadly album)

By the time they split for good in 1981 they were Gen X and just Idol and James and cited ‘chemical imbalance’. Doing the Kiss Me Deadly album they joined up with Cook and Jones from the Sex Pistols which worked but was shelved because of the contractual nightmare and also Jones’ drug addiction. Steve New from the Rich Kids, who did all the Dancing With Myself guitars (playing Derwood’s lick) was a contender for permanent guitarist but again his drug addiction ruled him out. In fact the whole album was recorded in a methadone haze. James Stevenson ex of Chelsea was brought in for live gigs and Terry Chimes on drums.

At the end of Gen X Bill Aucoin, Kisses manager, was brought in because he had television nous. He wanted them to relocate and James didn’t want to but Billy did and his punky mix of Elvis and Sid Vicious coincided with MTV and the rest is history for him.

Opinion is divided over them and a lot of people hated them and thought them posers but you can’t argue with their records. When they were good they were shit hot.

In 2023 Generation X James, Idol, Cook and Jones are playing gigs of Gen X and Pistols material.