The blatantly image conscious group soon secured management, fired their first drummer, and auditioned over 50 drummers before settling on Mark Laff of Subway Sect. They were photogenic and signed a worldwide long term deal to Chrysalis (also home of Blondie) and had popsmith Phil Wainman, producer of The Bay City Rollers and Sweet mix their debut album. In September 1977 they became the first punk group to "sell out" and lip synch their debut single Your Generation on TV's Tops of The Pops, and also that month performed on Marc Bolan's TV show just days before the T-Rex frontman's death. Generation X also appeared in films like DOA and in Don Letts' Punk Movie.
In October of 1978, recordings for a second Generation X album produced by Ian Hunter of Mott The Hoople followed, the resulting Valley Of The Dolls hitting the streets in 1979. Guitarist Bob Dagwood Anderson eventually quit the lineup after completing a Japanese tour and the recordings for a third album in 1979.(The final Derwood lineup LP actually doesn't resurface for almost 20 years until 1998, and was finally released on an indie against Idol's wishes as Sweet Revenge).
After a troubling two year period of uncertainty due to legal and financial battles with manager Stewart Joseph, Billy Idol and Tony James re-recruited & re-christened for their re-dubbed Gen X project. Friends, foes, pros and fellow fools then convened and attempted to get another record out. Outside the core Idol/James duo, studio collaborators like ex-Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, ex-Clash drummer Terry Chimes, Chelsea guitarist James Stevenson, Steve New of Rich Kids, Danny Kustow of Tom Robinson Band, as well as John McGeogh later of Siouxsie & the Banshees.
With renewed spirit and producer Keith Forsey at the helm, Gen X would go on to release one more LP Kiss Me Deadly in 1981. After neither the album nor the singles "Dancing With Myself" and "Kiss Me Deadly" took the charts, the band broke up. Idol joined up with NYC based Kiss manager Bill Aucion, re-releasing "Dancing with Myself" and the rest, as they say, is history.
A one off Generation X reunion occurred in 1993 at London's Astoria. Hopes for future reunions have popped up infrequently, but, with the band members ensconced in their own projects, prospects have seemed unlikely.The group's music remains popular among punk rock, new wave, and power pop revivalists in the U.K. and elsewhere, with a cult following lasting into the new millennium.
One Hundred Punks
Generation X Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(They) flame out in the streets with flame in their eyes
Guerrilla operator ain't heard of cool
Check out any wall, one hundred punks rule
One hundred punks rule
A hundred punks run with London town
Down Wardour Street to the Soho Sound
A hundred Rumble boys and Tumble girls
Protected by steel in a private world
Tomorrow's famous faces advertise today
And the studs on their back say
One hundred punks rule
A hundred punks run the loaded gun
They look so sharp they look like one
If you ain't got the look you'll never be one
A hundred punks run with total suss
A hundred good mates you know you can trust
There's never no bother and there's no fuss
Check out any wall, one hundred punks rule
One hundred punks rule
And Jimmy's no.101 knows one day he'll be One
Watch him, watch him go!
A hundred punks run the leather army
I know whose by my side not at home with TV
Even when I'm down I hear them sing for me
Check out any wall, one hundred punks rule
One hundred punks rule
Check out any wall, one hundred punks rule
One hundred punks rule
Check out, one hundred punks rule O.K.
The lyrics to Generation X's "One Hundred Punks" describe a group of punk rebels who have "customized their gear" and "flame out in the streets with flame in their eyes." These punks are not concerned with being "cool," and they rule the city with their unique punk style. The song describes a collective punk identity in which individuals come together to form a community of like-minded individuals.
The lyrics speak to the idea of punk rock being a cultural movement that transcends individual members, and instead forms a collective identity. They are not just a group of individuals, but rather a unit, driven by the music and the culture of punk rock. This is exemplified in lines like "A hundred Rumble boys and Tumble girls / Protected by steel in a private world," which suggests that the punks create a protective bubble around themselves with their shared identity.
Overall, "One Hundred Punks" is a celebration of punk culture, and the way that it brings together people from all walks of life to form a unified group. The song suggests that even though the punks may be outsiders, they are still united in their rebellion against the mainstream, making them a powerful force to be reckoned with.
Line by Line Meaning
They customized their gear and synchronized
The punks tailored their clothing and coordinated their look
(They) flame out in the streets with flame in their eyes
The punks rebel in the outdoor public spaces with intense passion in their eyes
Guerrilla operator ain't heard of cool
The punk movement is not concerned with being fashionable or trendy
Check out any wall, one hundred punks rule
The presence and influence of the punk movement can be observed everywhere
One hundred punks run with London town
There are many punks in London, and they are an active part of the city
Down Wardour Street to the Soho Sound
The punks frequent the music venues in the Soho neighborhood
Don't sleep all week only when they fall down
The punks don't rest much, and only stop when they are completely depleted
One hundred Rumble boys and Tumble girls
Both male and female punks are equally present and active
Protected by steel in a private world
The punks have a close-knit group and heavily rely on each other for support
Tomorrow's famous faces advertise today
The punk movement has influential members who are already gaining notoriety
And the studs on their back say
The studs on their clothing or accessories serve as a symbol of their identity and values
One hundred punks run the loaded gun
The punks have a powerful, dangerous influence
They look so sharp they look like one
The punks dress and behave alike, identifying as a united group
If you ain't got the look you'll never be one
To truly be a punk, one must reflect a specific image and adhere to certain behaviors
A hundred punks run with total suss
The punks operate with a high level of intelligence and street smarts
A hundred good mates you know you can trust
The punks have strong bonds of loyalty and friendship
There's never no bother and there's no fuss
The punks typically don't cause trouble or stir up controversy
And Jimmy's no.101 knows one day he'll be One
Jimmy aspires to be a respected member of the punk movement
Watch him, watch him go!
Jimmy is actively pursuing reputation in the scene
A hundred punks run the leather army
The punks associated with leather clothing and accessories function like a rebellious military unit
I know whose by my side not at home with TV
The punks have a strong sense of camaraderie and are present for each other in times of need
Even when I'm down I hear them sing for me
The punks act as a source of support, even in difficult circumstances
Check out any wall, one hundred punks rule
The punk movement's presence cannot be ignored
One hundred punks rule
The punk movement holds a strong influence
Check out, one hundred punks rule O.K.
The punk movement is an undeniable force to be reckoned with
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BILLY IDOL, TONY JAMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind