X Day in LA. Photo by Tequila Mockingbird
Yesterday, the city of Los Angeles proclaimed October 11th as “X Day” in honor of the band’s 40th anniversary.
I first met Exene and John at a store called Raconteur on Santa Monica Blvd. It was next door to the porno theatre that still stands on the very same spot. Darby Crash introduced us. They lived down the street from the store, and they would go shopping each day with friends and fans. They liked Cowboy Shirts and Russian house dresses. I was fascinated to find people with style. The disco era was hanging around like a bad hang over…Darby and them kids had style. I would hit all the Goodwills and visit John and Exene at home in their tiny apartment. Billy Zoom would be asleep on the couch. He would smile in his sleep. I thought he was handsome and wondered what he was dreaming about. Was it today; was it the future?
We booked them on New Wave Theater, and we spent time together at the Masque, Cathay de Grande, Rajis, The Zero Gallery, and Cash Lingerie all the way to the present. Here we are, weeks after Dodger night with John Doe singing the national anthem and Exene throwing out the first ball, and they are sliding into home base with a day of their own, as proclaimed by our city.
Now, here it is, 40 years later. I know our political views are not always the same — but we will always have punk rock and I will always love X.
What a wonderful day!