There are at least 8 artists called "X".

1: X (America)

X w… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least 8 artists called "X".

1: X (America)

X were far from the first punk rock band in Los Angeles, and they weren't the first to achieve some level of nationwide recognition, but in a very real way, they were the ones who put the L.A. punk scene on the map. X were the first L.A. punk band to be taken seriously by the rock press on both coasts, and at a time when many wondered how punk could thrive in the land of all that was mellow, X played music that was as raw, passionate, and powerful as anything coming out of New York, London, or any other major city. X's melding of punk's speed and ferocity with the sounds of rockabilly, blues, country, and other roots music styles would prove to be wildly influential in the years that followed, as were the off-kilter harmonies of John Doe and Exene Cervenka. And while they never enjoyed the commercial breakthrough that many believed was their due, X were massively popular in their home town and could successfully headline large outdoor venues like the Greek Theater, proving there was an audience for punk in the City of the Angels. Their first two independently released albums -- 1980's Los Angeles and 1981's Wild Gift -- were critical favorites and sold remarkably well by small-label standards, helping establish Slash Records as a major independent label as well as defining the group's unique approach. The band moved up to a major label, Elektra Records, with their unique sound and integrity intact on 1982's superb Under the Big Black Sun. After Zoom left the band, they soldiered on with new guitarist Tony Gilkyson on 1987's underrated See How We Are, but most of their fans remained loyal to the original lineup, and they remained a popular live attraction after reuniting with Zoom in 1998. Those fans would have to wait until 2020 for a new studio album from X, when Alphabetland was released to immediate and widespread acclaim.

X was formed by bassist, vocalist, and songwriter John Doe (born John Nommensen Duchac), who moved to Los Angeles in 1976. Born and raised in Baltimore, where he'd played in a number of forgotten bar bands, Doe had discovered punk rock after hearing Patti Smith's Horses and was eager to form a band in his new home town. Through a newspaper ad, Doe met Billy Zoom (born Ty Kindell), a gifted guitarist originally from Savannah, Illinois who had been playing rockabilly, blues, and R&B in L.A. for years, and had backed Gene Vincent during the rockabilly icon's last shows. Like Doe, Zoom had discovered the Ramones and wanted to play music that was fast, loud, and honest, and they began jamming together. Shortly before meeting Zoom, Doe had met Exene Cervenka (aka Christine Cervenkova) who, like Doe, had recently arrived in Los Angeles (in her case from Tampa, Florida) and was interested in poetry. Doe and Cervenka were attending the same poetry workshop, and bonded over their shared tastes in literature. Doe and Cervenka started dating, and when he read one of her pieces and thought it had the makings of a good song, he asked her permission to sing it in the band he was forming with Zoom. Cervenka said she'd prefer to sing it herself, and before long, she was rehearsing with Doe and Zoom, with her enthusiasm compensating for her lack of musical experience. Naming themselves X, the new band went through a handful of drummers after making their debut at a house party in 1977; their original drummer was a guy named Mick Basher, and reportedly, K.K. Barrett of the Screamers and Nicky Beat of the Weirdos sat in with them on occasion, but when Doe saw the Eyes performing at The Masque, L.A.'s first punk club, he saw their drummer was just what he and Zoom had been looking for: someone whose style was smart but simple, and who hit a big snare drum really hard. That drummer was D.J. Bonebrake, and he played his first gig with X in February 1978.

It didn't take long for X to make a name for themselves on the L.A. punk scene, and later the same year, the group recorded their first single, "Adult Books" b/w "We're Desperate," released by the seminal West Coast punk label Dangerhouse Records. The single sold well, and X's song "Los Angeles" appeared on the label's sampler LP Yes L.A., but the band was unhappy with Dangerhouse's business practices, and opted to record their first full-length album for Slash Records, an offshoot of the key L.A. punk 'zine. X had also won a valuable ally in Ray Manzarek, former keyboard player with the Doors; Manzarek was impressed with X's bold music and literate songs, as well as their open admiration of his former group (they had taken to covering "Soul Kitchen" on-stage). Manzarek played keys at a few X gigs and offered to produce their first album. Recorded on a slim budget of $10,000, Los Angeles was released in April 1980, and immediately received rave reviews from punk fanzines and the big-league music press; it was an immediate success in the band's home town, and as word spread nationwide, the album sold over 50,000 copies, an impressive sum for an independent punk album. Along with steady touring, fans outside of California were seeing X thanks to the documentary The Decline of Western Civilization, which focused on the L.A. punk community and gave the group a healthy amount of admiring screen time. 1980 also marked the year Doe and Cervenka became man and wife, with their relationship informing the lyrics to many of their songs.

X's second album, Wild Gift, appeared in May 1981, a few months after the release of their single "White Girl." Also produced by Ray Manzarek, the critical reception for Wild Gift was just as enthusiastic as it was for Los Angeles; sales also matched those of the debut, and before long, X were not just L.A.'s most popular punk band, but one of the town's biggest bands period, and became the first unsigned rock band to headline L.A.'s Greek Theater. Major labels finally came calling, and X signed a deal with Elektra Records, which released Under the Big Black Sun in July 1982. Manzarek once again produced, and while the bigger recording budget resulted in a fuller sound, the group's approach was essentially the same, and while critics and fans were once again impressed with X's passionate music and street-level lyrics, radio still wasn't ready for them, and the album failed to sell significantly better than Los Angeles or Wild Gift, despite plenty of touring and occasional television appearances. The same fate befell 1983's More Fun in the New World, as the band continued to sit at the top of the heap in L.A. without making significant headway elsewhere.

In 1984, Doe, Cervenka, and Bonebrake released an album by their acoustic side project the Knitters, while X recorded a bombastic cover of the Troggs' "Wild Thing" which appeared on the soundtrack of the film Major League. The "Wild Thing" single was produced by Michael Wagener, who had worked with heavy metal bands such as Mötley Crüe and Dokken; Wagener returned to produce X's next album, 1984's Ain't Love Grand, and while one tune from the album, "Burning House of Love," earned steady MTV airplay, the album's more polished sound didn't favor the band, and both critics and fans were disappointed while radio programmers and mainstream audiences paid little attention. Disappointed with the band's failure to break through to a mass audience, Billy Zoom left X in 1985, and the divorce of Doe and Cervenka, who had wed in 1980, didn't help relations in the group. Dave Alvin, guitarist with the Blasters and a collaborator in the Knitters, was recruited to join the band, and while he was an ideal fit for X, by the time they completed the recording of 1987's See How We Are, he was offered a record deal as a solo act and opted to leave. Tony Gilkyson, formerly with Lone Justice, took part in the recording of See How We Are and became X's lead guitarist after the album was released. While the album was a strong piece of work, sales were disappointing, and after releasing Live at the Whisky A Go-Go in 1988, X quietly broke up.

After the band's breakup, Doe launched a solo career with the album Meet John Doe in 1990, and also pursued a career as an actor, appearing in a number of notable film and television projects. Exene Cervenka released her first solo LP, Old Wives' Tales, in 1989, and recorded both acoustic and rock music as a solo artist and with the bands the Original Sinners and Auntie Christ; Cervenka also wrote and published poetry, created visual art, and acted in the film Salvation, where she met actor Viggo Mortensen, whom she married in 1987 and divorced in 1997. Billy Zoom stayed out of the public eye, primarily working in his own shop fixing and modifying guitar amplifiers, while D.J. Bonebrake stayed busy working with a wide variety of musicians and playing with a pair of jazz combos, the Bonebrake Syncopators and Orchestra Superstring. In 1993, after the success of Nirvana's Nevermind had opened up radio to more adventurous sounds, X reunited with Tony Gilkyson on guitar and recorded the album Hey Zeus! Reaction to the album was polite but not enthusiastic, and after the release of 1995's Unclogged, a live album drawn from a series of acoustic shows, the group once again retired.

In 1998, to the surprise of many, the classic X lineup of Doe, Cervenka, Zoom, and Bonebrake reunited for a handful of shows in Los Angeles. The reunion shows were rapturously received by both fans and critics, and the band has staged periodic reunion tours ever since. A late-2004 stand at the Los Angeles House of Blues resulted in the live CD and DVD Live in Los Angeles, and X continue to perform despite Cervenka's announcement in 2009 that she had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

In January 2019, X announced that the original lineup had gone into the recording studio for the first time since they cut 1985's Ain't Love Grand. The band recorded five songs with producer Rob Schnapf, and the following October, the first track was released online. "Delta 88 Nightmare" was a new version of a song X had performed and demo'ed in the '80s but had never recorded in its final form. The song was also made available on a 7" vinyl single in November 2019, with "Cyrano de Berger’s Back," a tune Doe had written and recorded with the Flesh Eaters, appearing on the flipside. The group returned to the studio to cut more songs, including a handful of new compositions, and in April 2020, after X were forced to cancel touring plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they offered their fans a consolation prize in the form of Alphabetland, a ten-song album that recaptured the sound and spirit of their celebrated early recordings.

Biography by Mark Deming

There are other artists with the same name:

2: X (Australia)

The Australian band called X, formed in 1977 by Rose Tattoo bassist Ian Rilen and Steve Lucas. They initially called themselves Evil Rumours. Their debut LP Aspirations (recorded by the equally great Lobby Loyde) is a punk classic (and was later reissued in the US by the revered Amphetamine Reptile label). Search for it you will be glad you did. A couple of members passed away early in their career. Cathy Green became a permanent fixture on drums. They were being groomed for bigger things and their LP ...And More was to get a big push from the label (White) but there was "an incident" involving the label and although the album was released it was no longer a priority. Probably because of this the band has long periods of inactivity, but continue to play nearly 30 years later including May / June 2009 with legendary San Francisco punks Flipper. They have released many albums and have a great reputation for their live-shows! Sadly Ian Rilen passed away in late 2006 from cancer, but Kim Volkman has stepped up to the plate. Their 2nd LP At Home With You has been reissued on Aztec Music with a bonus live album. Their music has been covered by the New Bomb Turks and feedtime amongst others. The classic debut Aspirations has just been reissued by Aztec Music.

3: X (Japan)
Metal band from Japan, founded in 1982, X changed their name to X JAPAN in 1992-08, when HEATH joined the band. Releases until Jealousy / Say anything belong to X. Later releases belong to X JAPAN.

4. Czech punk band formed in 2003.
5. Bulgarian metal band
6. An alias of Australian DJ Deepforces
7. An alias of Terekke
8. X is Javon Johnson, an American hip-hop lyricist from Houston, TX.

Voiceless Screaming
X Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm drowning in sadness
falling far behind
I feel there is just no way out
is there anyone there? where am I?

insanity and loneliness
tear my painful heart
broken heart keeps on going to beat

but it never stops bleeding

I've been waiting for love to come
someone who wants to touch me inside
memories of my yesterdays

careless words and deeds
masquerade of love
gotta find my way outta here

I was blinded be dark desire
over time I've been through it all
I'm crying my share of tears

what can I do
will I make it through
I must be true to myself

* Voiceless screaming
calling to me inside of my heart
Voiceless screaming
now is the time I got to speak out

voice of faith, I'm starting to realize
now my eyes can see
I have gone so far
I'm feeling breath of life

and I'm looking for love to reach
someone I want to touch deep inside
light shines on my sight of doubt
don't be afraid
move forward one step
willing mind is what I have found at last

* repeat

Voiceless screaming
calling to me inside of my heart
knockin' on my soul's door
I belive in myself and trust what I do

Voiceless screaming
pain of the past still hurts me inside

knockin' on my soul's door
I climb the stairs that lead me to Heaven

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to X-Japan's song "Voiceless Screaming" depict a person who is struggling with a deep sadness that is causing them to feel like they are falling behind in life. The individual feels lost and alone, and no amount of love seems to be able to numb the pain they feel. They reminisce about past experiences and the careless words and deeds of others that have caused them to feel this way. The individual is searching for a true connection with someone who wants to understand and touch them deeply. They want to find their way out of their current state of darkness and pain, and start to realize that they need to be true to themselves and find a willing mind to move forward.

The chorus of the song, "Voiceless screaming, calling to me inside of my heart", emphasizes the emotional turmoil of the individual who is trying to find a way to make themselves heard and express their feelings. The lyrics reveal that they have been hurt in the past, but believe in themselves and what they can achieve. The bridge of the song, "I climb the stairs that lead me to Heaven", indicates a journey toward self-discovery, where the individual is learning to trust themselves and has faith in the future.

Overall, the song "Voiceless Screaming" portrays the universal experience of emotional pain and the struggle to find one's place in the world. It encourages listeners to be true to themselves and to have the courage to speak out for what they believe in.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm drowning in sadness
I am overwhelmed by sadness.

falling far behind
I am failing and unable to keep up.

I feel there is just no way out
I am trapped and can't see a way to escape.

is there anyone there? where am I?
I feel lost and alone, wondering if anyone can help me.

insanity and loneliness
My mind is in chaos and I feel isolated.

tear my painful heart
My heart is hurting and broken.

broken heart keeps on going to beat
My heart is still alive and beating, even though it's broken.

but it never stops bleeding
My pain and sorrow never go away.

I've been waiting for love to come
I am hoping for someone to love and accept me.

someone who wants to touch me inside
I am seeking someone who understands me deeply.

memories of my yesterdays
I am haunted by memories of my past.

careless words and deeds
I regret my past mistakes and hurtful actions.

masquerade of love
I have experienced love that was not genuine or true.

gotta find my way outta here
I need to escape my current situation.

I was blinded be dark desire
I was unable to see clearly because of my strong desires.

over time I've been through it all
I have experienced many difficult things in my life.

I'm crying my share of tears
I have cried a lot because of my sadness and pain.

what can I do
I am wondering what actions I can take to improve my situation.

will I make it through
I am unsure if I will be able to overcome my struggles.

I must be true to myself
I know that I need to be honest and authentic with myself.

Voiceless screaming
I am silently crying out for help.

calling to me inside of my heart
I am desperately seeking answers and guidance within myself.

now is the time I got to speak out
It is time for me to express my emotions and ask for help.

voice of faith, I'm starting to realize
I am beginning to have faith in myself and my abilities.

now my eyes can see
I am gaining clarity and understanding.

I have gone so far
I have come a long way in my journey.

I'm feeling breath of life
I am starting to feel alive and hopeful again.

and I'm looking for love to reach
I am still searching for love and connection.

light shines on my sight of doubt
I am starting to have hope and clarity in areas where I once doubted.

don't be afraid
I am trying not to let fear hold me back.

move forward one step
I am taking small steps towards progress and growth.

willing mind is what I have found at last
I have found the courage and willingness to improve my life.

knockin' on my soul's door
I am seeking spiritual guidance and connection.

I belive in myself and trust what I do
I have confidence in myself and my abilities.

pain of the past still hurts me inside
I am still impacted by my past experiences and traumas.

I climb the stairs that lead me to Heaven
I am taking steps towards finding peace and happiness.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Mikäel Schneider

8y↑48

I'm drawning in sadness
Falling far behind
I feel there is just no way out
Is there anyone there? Where am I?Insanity and loneliness
Tear my painful heart
Broken heart keeps on going to beat
But it never stops bleedingI've been waiting for love to come
Someone who wants to touch me inside
Memories of my yesterdaysCareless words and deeds
Masquerade of love
Gotta find my way outta hereI was blinded by dark desire
Over time I've been through it all
I'm crying my share of tearsWhat can I do
Will I make it through
I must be true to myselfVoiceless Screaming
Calling to me inside of my heart
Voiceless Screaming
Now is the time I got to speak outVoice of faith, I'm starting to realize
Now my eyes can see
I have gone so far
I'm feeling breath of lifeAnd I'm looking for love to reach
Someone I want to touch deep inside
Light shines on my sight of doubt
Don't be afraid
Move forward one step
Willing mind is what I have found at lastVoiceless Screaming
Calling to me inside of my heart
Voiceless Screaming
Now is the time I got to speak outVoiceless Screaming
Calling to me inside of my heart
Knockin' on my soul's door
I believe in myself and trust what I doVoiceless Screaming
Pain of the past still hurts me inside
Knockin' on my soul's door
I climb the stairs that lead me to Heaven

고요한

8y↑30

I'm drawning in sadness
나는 슬픔으로 조여진 채
Falling Far behind
깊은 아래로 떨어지고 있어요
I feel there is just no way out
나는 그곳에서 나갈 길이 없다는걸 느껴요
Is there anyone there? Where am I?
거기 누구 있어요? 내가 있는 곳은 어딘가요?

Insanity and loneliness
광기와 고독이
Tear my painful heart
나의 괴로움 마음을 찟고 있지만
Broken heart keeps on going to beat
상처입은 마음은 계속 고동치고 있어요
But it never stops bleeding
피를 멈추지 않고 흘리며

I've waiting for love to come
나는 사랑이 오기를 기다리고 있어요
Someone who wants to touch me inside
나의 깊은 곳을 어루만지기를 원하는 누군가를
Memories of my yesterdays
나의 옛기억들

Careless work and deeds
무책임한 말과 행동
Masquerade of love
가식적 사랑
Gotta find my way outta here
나는 여기서 나갈 길을 찾고 있어요

I was blinded by dark desire
나는 잘못된 욕망에 눈이 멀었지요
Over time I've been through it all
시간이 지난 후 그 모든 것이 끝났어요
I'm cryng my share of tears
난 슬픔에 울고 있어요

What can I do
나는 어떻게 해야할까요?
Will I make it through
나는 이곳을 뚫고 나갈거에요
I must be true to myself
나는 나 자신에게 진실해야만 하겠지요

Voiceless Screaming
소리없이 외치고 있어요
Calling to me inside of my heart
내 마음속 나 자신을 부르며
Voiceless Screaming
소리없이 외치고 있어요
Now is the time I got to speak out
바로 지금이 내가 외쳐야 할 시간이지요

Voice of faith, I'm starting to realize
신념의 목소리! 나는 이제 깨닫기 시작했어요
Now my eyes can see
이제 나는 볼 수 있어요
I have gone so far
나는 너무 많이 지나쳐 버렸지요
I'm feeling breath of life
나는 내 삶의 숨결을 느껴요

And I'm looking for love to reach
그리고 나는 닿을 수 있는 사랑과
Someone I want touch deep inside
나의 깊은 곳을 어루만져줄 누군가를 찾고 있어요
Light shines on my sight of doubt
나의 의심으로 가득찬 시선에 햇살이 비치고 있어요
Don't be afraid
두려워하지 말아요
Move forward one step
앞으로 한 걸음 더 나아가요
Willing mind is what I have found at last
내가 결국 찾아낸 것은 강한 의지랍니다

Voiceless Screaming
소리없이 외치고 있어요
Calling to me inside of my heart
내 마음속 나 자신을 부르며
Voiceless Screaming
소리없이 외치고 있어요
Now is the time I got to speak out
바로 지금이 내가 외쳐야 할 시간이지요

Voiceless Screaming
소리없이 외치고 있어요
Calling to me inside of my heart
내 가슴속에 나를 불러요
Knockin' on my soul's door
영혼의 문을 두드려요
I believe in myself and trust what I do
나는 내 자신과 나의 행동을 믿어요

Voiceless Screaming
소리없이 외치고 있어요
Pain of the past still hurts me inside
과거의 고통은 아직도 내 마음 깊은곳에 상처를 주지요
Knockin' on my soul's door
영혼의 문을 두드려요
I climb the stairs that lead me to heaven
나는 천국으로 통하는 계단을 올라갈거에요

Falling far behind
그 뒤로 멀리 떨어져요
I feel there is just no way out
나는 밖으로 가는 길이 없음을 느껴요
Is there anyone there?
거기 누구 없나요?

All comments from YouTube:

Hypnoctopus Contact

5y↑19

Anyone else always get chills during the vocal harmonies at 5:12? They're beautiful ghostly.

Nkosi Nathi

4y↑8

Great ballad, Toshi's voice is amazing

Mikäel Schneider

8y↑48

anon36

8y↑27

Absolutely beautiful. After discovering X Japan, I ignored Taiji because I thought he was not important due to his dismissal from the band. But now looking back at his work, I have come to appreciate Taiji and his influence in the band.

Dr. Totz

8y↑12

The first time I heard this song was on a live. And when I saw Taiji playing the guitar I also realized his influence. I was so thankful that before he passed that he played with X for a final time.

Johann Herveux

6y↑5

Sad you discovered X late but better than never, Taiji and hide were absolutely crucial to the bands structure, they qere guarantee of professionnalism, before them X had a horrible reputation and live gig was going nut all the time.