generationx

The History of

GENERATION X

The Beginnings :

After becoming very idle with his University career which only lasted a year, Billy returned to London from Sussex leaving his english studies in the shadows. He began to mix it up with a group of like-minded teens who became known as the "Bromley Contingent ". This was described as the first cult following of the Sex Pistols, which quickly became an entourage to the band, as well as the fashion movement for what would be known as Punk. The Bromley Contingent would create just as much of a stir at the Pistols shows as the band would, dictating the cloths and rituals of Punk life. It was in a Soho pub at this time that Billy would team up with Tony James and Gene October to form Chelsea.

The Birth of an IDOL
It was at this time that William Broad became Bill Idol. A man with the destiny to change and overthrow the music establishment. Chelsea ended in a short time which prompted Idol and James to form their own band which was to have a more fitting name for the times that were changing, Thus the Punk world was introduced to Generation X.

"When I was starting out - wanting to get a band together- it was all just rock'n roll. It must have been someone in some paper who termed it "Punk Rock". But punk was just rock 'n' roll - just like music. And all we can do, is play the music we want to play" . BILLY IDOL

On December 14th 1976, Generation X played at the first gig held at the Roxy Club in Covent Garden, which was to become a Punk mecca. Just after Christmas , John Towe , the original drummer was invited to leave the group and Mark Laft from Subway Set was invited to join. This was the strong point in completion of the band, proving the worth of Generation X to follow a number of sold out shows around the English Punk venues.

Chrysalis records won the race to sign the band and it was reported to be the biggest advance of this type to be given to a punk band. The first album was simply to be entitled "Generation X", the first single "Your Generation" was produced by Phil Wainman, and entered the charts at number 38.

This was considered a sell out in the eyes of the other punk bands and Generation X were looked at as the pretty boys of punk. This was fuelled more by their appearance on Top of the Pops. Even with this beginning rise in success, the band wasn't happy with their music, sited by the band itself as lacking in musicianship to fully convey the intent of the songs.
Generation X became a constant target for criticism because of their polished punk look, with a style of music considered to be pop not punk. Generation X was falling into the moulding hands of other visionary's trying make a buck on what they thought would sell. The posing pop image was getting out of hand which made the band suffer in record sales and image. The first album quickly became forgotten, as well as the singles that were released   ( Your Generation, Wild Youth, and Ready Steady Go).

The band appeared again at the beginning of 1979 with a new album "Valley of the Dolls", and a new single "King Rocker". This venture was produced by Ian Hunter (former Mott The Hoople singer) and the album and single elevated the band to rock star status entering the charts in the top 20. Other singles released were( Fridays Angels, and Valley of the Dolls).

During this success the band toured Japan and then settled down to produce their third album.

This point in the career of the band would see many troubles emerge,
especially financial ones due to the fact that the group was still broke,
and the band was in a legal battle with their manager Stewart Joseph. This
lost time was to push Generation X backward to the point of virtually being
forgotten, Generation X at this point was no more. New leads for a manager
that would be beneficial were underway , which lead to Generation X going
to see Bill Aucoin (Former manager of KISS) for two days in New York.

Bill Aucoin pictured center left. "We went out and saw Bill, and he was the only manager who didn't ask us about money, he just said, "Why are you doing this", This was exactly the expression that we felt, because the music has to be exciting to the people in the band, never mind the outside". BILLY IDOL Negotiations continued with Bill Aucoin and Generation X continued to do a tour of British clubs, due to the fact that an album couldn't be released because of the legal battles that were still raging. Due to lack of excitement bass player Bob "Derwood" Andrews left the band, thus prompting Billy and James to ask Mark Laft to leave as well because it was felt their music was starting to take on a heavy metal feel which was not what they were about. The new members of the band saw the appearance of Jamie Stevenson, and original Clash drummer Terry Chimes which presented the new band at the Congo club. " It's like saying it's a new group but there are still seeds of the old style in it. Me and Tony are just carrying on from what we should have been doing before, so it is symbolic in a sense". BILLY IDOL

After 20 days of rehearsals , 20 songs were crafted and Generation X were back in business. It was at this point that Generation X would simply be known as GenX. "Kiss Me Deadly" was recorded and the album would see some of the most celebrated guitarists of the New Wave (Steve Jones from The Sex Pistols, John McGeoch from Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Steve New from the Rich Kids). The songs of the album spanned almost two years of writing. The single "Dancing With Myself" was released and would give a glimmer of hope for the band. The song was written from an experience while touring Japan in which James recounts "It took it's inspiration from night clubs in Japan which had mirrors everywhere and the people over there all dance with their own reflections".

Even with new life emerging the band was beginning to grow apart, the whole was lost to individualism. They toured Britain in December of 1980 amid the frustration of Idol who was seeing the band as a half ass approach to music, the band was not giving the people what they should, thus the end of Gen X came, and Billy and the band went there separate ways to see Billy fall under the arm of Bill Aucoin and the beginning of the solo career of " BILLY IDOL".

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