Generation X: An Urgent Avalanche

Back in 1976-77, when the first explosions of UK Punk Rock were heard, Generation X was there. The band formed in 1976 & practiced & gigged constantly, finally releasing their first album, “Generation X,” in 1978. The personnel for the record comprised Billy Idol on lead vocals, Derwood Andrews on guitar, Tony James on insistent bass, & Mark Laff on drums. They all contributed background vocals. All the songs were written by Idol & James.

The album received critical success but was criticized by many punks because of its lack of political stance. But that’s not what they were going for, said primary lyricist Tony James. Too many of the punks were negative in their musical outlook; he wanted their music to be more positive. Which is why Generation X doesn’t have the real gritty diy Punk sound. It’s more like Hard Rock Poppy Punk, if you had to give it a name. They were even the first “Punk” band to perform on the popular BBC TV show “Top of the Pops,” another reason for the gritty punks to sneer.

Well, Billy Idol & Tony James played in a band called Chelsea, in which, strangely, Idol was the lead guitarist & not the singer. But they left in 1976 & formed Generation X w/ lead guitarist Derwood Andrews, & drummer John Towe. Towe soon departed & was replaced by Mark Laff, who was kind of a wild man on the drums, like his personal idol Keith Moon. Laff held the drumsticks upside down, by the skinny end, getting more punch behind each thwack. Andrews was sort of a wild man on guitar; but he didn’t try to take over the songs. His playing was generally clean & musical, clashing & chaotic when necessary. By the way, after Gen X crashed in 1981, Tony James formed Sigue Sigue Sputnik, the successful & weird 1980s popsters.

About these songs, each is an urgent avalanche of electric guitar, bass, & drums, w/ Billy Idol’s tuneful, powerful vocals up front. He hadn’t quite developed the sneering, snarling vocal style of his later solo career—but the voice is strong & sincere, in the way that all of these songs sound sincere. They were punks, but they didn’t follow the standard punk formula, which accounts for the criticism I mentioned earlier. About the closest they come to protesting society is in “Day by Day,” when Idol sings, “I feel like a robot/ On the production line/ Ain’t got no tomorrow/ On the Circle Line." Derwood Andrews on guitar was a real standout. At the end of “Youth Youth Youth,” (a celebration of those energetic & passionate years that end all too soon) he lashes out an exciting & piercing solo that goes on for several minutes. It’s a memorable way to end the album.

About fashion, Idol, the bleached platinum blonde, wore the usual ripped T-shirt until he graduated to his glitter outfits. The other fellows generally dressed casual & fairly neat—looking like fine, scruffy, slightly mysterious lads. And no facial hair for this band.

About this record. It’s highly listenable. Even better, it’s highly listenable again & again & again. There are a few slow songs, like “Kiss Me Deadly,” which sounds darkly romantic but actually appears to be about street fighting. Anyway, give it a listen. There was a tremendous amount of musical energy in the UK in those days, & Generation X has captured some of it here.