The core members of Generation X, a seminal British punk rock band with hea… Read Full Bio ↴The core members of Generation X, a seminal British punk rock band with heavy new wave and power pop influences, were singer-songwriter Billy Idol (who has since maintained a remarkable 40+ year solo career) and bassist Tony James (later of Sigue Sigue Sputnik and for a spell Sisters of Mercy before settling in Carbon/Silicon). Generation X was formed in 1976 after guitarist Billy Idol (a.k.a William Broad) and bassist Tony James decided to go out on their own, leaving Gene October, the leader of their then band Chelsea. In December of 1976, they played the first punk gig at mecca club The Roxy in London's Covent Garden neighborhood with friends from "the Bromley contingent" Siouxsie & the Banshees, a band featuring a young Sid Vicious.

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.

Ready Steady Go
Generation X Lyrics

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Ready, Steady, Go
I'm not in love with television
I'm not in love with the radio
I'm not in love with the Kings Road
Because I'm in love with Cathy McGowan - she said

Ready steady go - all things she said
Ready steady go - wasn't it fabulous

Ready (ready) steady (steady) go

I'm not in love with Juke Box Jury
I'm not in love with thank you Jucky stars
I'm not in love with T'T'T'Twiggy
Because I'm in love with Cathy McGowan - she said

Ready steady go - all things she said
Ready steady go - wasn't it fabulous
Ready (ready) steady (steady) go

I'm still in love with the Beatles
I was in love with the Stones, no satisfaction
I was in love with Bobby Dylan
Because I'm in love with Rock'n'Roll

Ready steady go - all things she said
Ready steady go - wasn't it fabulous
Ready (ready) steady (steady) go

Ready steady go!
Go! Go! Go!
Ready steady go!
Ready steady Who

Ready steady Stone
Go! Go Go Go

Overall Meaning

In the song Ready Steady Go by Generation X, Billy Idol sings about his love for the famous British television presenter Cathy McGowan. Idol first mentions that he is not fond of television, radio, or even the King's Road, a popular shopping district in London. Despite this, he is absolutely in love with Cathy McGowan, as she apparently stated. The chorus of the song has Idol repeating "Ready Steady Go," which was also the title of a British music television show that aired from 1963-1966. He then goes on to mention that he is not in love with other popular cultural figures like Twiggy or Juke Box Jury but still remains completely smitten with McGowan.

What makes this song particularly interesting is its specific references to British pop culture of the 1960s. Cathy McGowan was a presenter on Ready Steady Go, which was a significant show in the UK's music scene during the 1960s. The song also mentions other important cultural figures of the time, such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. The choice of these particular cultural references help to establish the song's context and Billy Idol's influences. The song seems to be a love letter to the British pop culture of the 60s and its presenters, musicians, and fashion icons.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm not in love with television
Television does not generate any love in me

I'm not in love with the radio
I do not have any special love for the radio

I'm not in love with the Kings Road
There is no love for the Kings Road in me

Because I'm in love with Cathy McGowan - she said
But I am in love with Cathy McGowan and what she says

Ready steady go - all things she said
The things that Cathy McGowan said make me ready and excited to move forward

Ready steady go - wasn't it fabulous
The experience was fabulous as I was clearly READY for it

I'm not in love with Juke Box Jury
Juke Box Jury holds no place in my heart

I'm not in love with thank you Jucky stars
I do not have any particular love for the stars of Juke Box Jury

I'm not in love with T'T'T'Twiggy
I do not have any particular love for Twiggy

Because I'm in love with Cathy McGowan - she said
But I am in love with Cathy McGowan and what she says

I'm still in love with the Beatles
My love for the Beatles has not faded