Music T-Z: 'X' Trivia

1. The Australian punk rock group X was formed by, amongst others, which former bass guitarist from Rose Tattoo?

From Quiz X-Aspirations

Answer: Ian Rilen

Born in Victoria, Rilen was a feature of a number of bands that were prominent during the 1970s. These included Band of Light, the Blue Aliens and Blackfeather. In 1976 he joined the newly formed Rose Tattoo as their bass guitarist. The band soon developed a devoted following for their hard rocking sound. Rilen would write the song "Bad Boy for Love" for the band, which would become Rose Tattoo's debut single and their biggest selling song. However, Rilen left to form X, just prior to the song's release... as hard rocking as Rose Tattoo were, he wanted to go harder.

From Quiz X-Ray Spex

Answer: I Can't Do Anything

A typical Spex song, 'I Can't Do Anything' is quirky, loud, fun, and has many a memorable line.

From Quiz XTC and The Dukes of Stratosphear

Answer: 3D

'3D' was released in October 1977 originally as a 7" single (hastily recalled) then as a 12". 'Go +' was a 6 song EP issued in October 1978 with the album 'Go2'. '5 Senses' was a September 1981 EP release (which inspired Andy to write 'Senses Working Overtime'. 'Wonderland' was a single release (June 1983) from the album 'Mummer'.

From Quiz X-Aspirations

Answer: The death of guitarist Ian Krahe

The four members who were to form the band were Steve Lucas, their lead vocalist and guitarist, Ian Rilen on bass, Steve Cafiero was stationed on drums and Krahe on guitar. Krahe, who was a schoolyard friend of Steve Lucas, had a reputation for playing the guitar without a pick and would often finish a gig with bleeding fingers. Sadly, as brief as it was, this would be the only band he'd ever figure in. After a show at the Bondi Life Saving Club in June of 1977, Krahe succumbed to an overdose of heroin.

From Quiz X-Ray Spex

Answer: Lora Logic

A year or so after her departure, Lora Logic formed the band Essential Logic, as well as playing saxophone for Red Krayola, The Stranglers, and even Boy George.

From Quiz X-Aspirations

Answer: 1

Frontman Steve Lucas was the only member of the original line-up that was still alive. Guitarist Ian Krahe overdosed on heroin in 1977, went to sleep and never woke up again, drummer Steve Cafiero reacted to dye injected into his body for an x-ray and passed away in 1980 and Ian Rilen succumbed to bladder cancer in 2006. He was fifty nine at the time.

From Quiz X-Ray Spex

Answer: Marian Elliot-Said

Susan Whitby is Lora Logic's real name, Susan Ballion is Siouxsie Sioux's real name, and Paloma McLardy is the real name of The Slit's drummer, Palmolive.

From Quiz XTC and The Dukes of Stratosphear

Answer: Colin Moulding

The songwriting is shared between Colin and Andy. Though they have occasionally covered other songwriters' works e.g. "All Along the Watchtower" by Bob Dylan, they tend to stick to their own creations.

From Quiz X-Aspirations

Answer: 5 hours

"X-Aspirations", released in 1980, has been labelled as a "crucial" album in the development of the Australian rock music landscape, so much so that it was included as one of "The 100 Best Australian Albums", a 2010 publication by journalists John O'Donnell, Toby Creswell and Craig Mathieson. As to the legend regarding how long it took to record, well, that's a little hazy. Did they record it in four hours or was it five? Regardless, what does remain is that they walked into Sydney's Trafalgar Studio on a Saturday afternoon and walked out later that same afternoon with an almost complete product. Each song was recorded in a single take and the only post-production was a little bit of chorus added to "I Don't Wanna Go Out".

From Quiz X-Ray Spex

Answer: "It sucks up all the rubbish that is fed in through by ear"

With abstract but ultimately meaningful lyrics, 'Plastic Bag' is another classic Spex song, and also a personal favourite of mine.

From Quiz XTC and The Dukes of Stratosphear

Answer: Respectable Street

XTC actually re-recorded 'Respectable Street' at the behest of the BBC who didn't like some of the words, the BBC then did not play the 'clean' version of the song anyway.

From Quiz X-Aspirations

Answer: Lobby Loyde

Once described as a "sonic anarchist", Loyde has been a significant influence on an array of Australian musicians, including teaching the late Billy Thorpe how to play guitar. International acts such as Kurt Cobain and Henry Rollins have also come forward and cited Loyde as an influence in their development. Loyde adopted a significantly laid back approach when it came to producing the "X-Aspirations" (1980) album, loosening the reins on the band and allowing them to be themselves. It proved to be a master stroke. Steve Lucas would recall in his liner notes for the 2009 re-issue of the album "Loyde just said "set it up, get the sound, and record"... and he was right".

From Quiz X-Ray Spex

Answer: I Am a Cliche

A song that can only be played loud! Although the song was not released as a single, it still remains extremely popular with X-Ray Spex fans.

From Quiz XTC and The Dukes of Stratosphear

Answer: The White Horse of Uffington

The Uffington White Horse is one of many white horses carved into the English landscape (Uffington is in Oxfordshire). The other landmarks are all in Wiltshire and well worth visiting.

From Quiz XTC and The Dukes of Stratosphear

Answer: Love on a Farmboy's Wages

"Do you know what noise awakes you" is the first line of 'Beating of Hearts',"We can plant a seed" is the first line from 'Deliver Us from the Elements',"Boom goes my heart" is the first line from 'In Loving Memory of a Name'. All tracks are from XTC's 1983 album 'Mummer'.

From Quiz X-Ray Spex

Answer: The Day the World Turned Day-Glo

The whole of the album 'Germ Free Adolescents' focused on anti-consumerism and the effects of consumerism, and 'The Day the World Turned Day-Glo' is a perfect example of this.

From Quiz XTC and The Dukes of Stratosphear

Answer: catalogue nylon nightie

"It's not that you're repulsive to see In your brand new catalogue nylon nightie You're too fast for little old me Next you'll be telling me it's 1990" From XTC's 1984 album 'Big Express'. This song Andy Partridge considers is amongst his best.

From Quiz X-Aspirations

Answer: Mother

Recorded in 1970, the song appeared on the "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" album and was released as a single in the same year. Alf Lennon, John's father, left his family while John was still an infant and his mother did not live with John. Despite this, John and his mother managed to maintain a good relationship, right up until she was hit and killed by motor vehicle. X released a cover of the track as a single in 1984. It was the first release by the band since their debut "X-Aspirations" in 1980. During the period in between, the band members had gone their separate ways. Ian Rilen had formed Sardine V, while Scott Lucas busied himself playing in bands such as Harold Holt and the Sharks and The Feel. Surprisingly the single did not appear on their follow up album "At Home With You" (1985) though the b-side, "Halfway 'Round the World", did.

From Quiz XTC and The Dukes of Stratosphear

Answer: Sir John Johns

The song, an excellent pastiche of a 'Syd' Barrett, is attributed to Andy Partridge (Sir John Johns), The Red Curtain is Colin Moulding, Lord Cornelius Plum is Dave Gregory, E.I.E.I. Owen is Dave's brother Ian.

From Quiz X-Aspirations

Answer: Revolution

Whilst I am not usually a fan of lyrics based questions, this one seemed appropriate as it best summed up the band's attitude and approach to their craft. Whilst they were labelled punk, and their sound was raw and, to a large degree, primal, they saw themselves as a pure rock and roll band. They showed disdain for convention, they ignored counter-culture trends and were not concerned with what was mainstream. Their creed was to create music, the way they wanted to make it. In his liner notes to the 2009 re-release of "X-Aspirations" Lucas wrote "if ever our heads did get up in the clouds, our feet were still firmly nailed to the gutter".

From Quiz X-Ray Spex

Answer: Five

The album cover shows all five band members trapped in glass test-tubes, each in unique day-glo attire. This is the only version of the album cover, and has remained exactly the same for the CD release also.

From Quiz X-Aspirations

Answer: INXS

In his 2017 interview with Loudmag, Lucas explained that their promotional gimmick was the painting of large red Xs around Sydney. It became a trademark and one of the most recognisable symbols in the city. In the late 1970s and early 1980s INXS toured with X and they (INXS) were given the coveted "middle" spot at gigs. This meant that they played prior to the headlining X and would almost be guaranteed a full house. This worked well until Michael Hutchence started toying with his band's logo, changing the all upper case INXS to lower case letters but leaving the X in capitals. "I nearly took Michael Hutchence's head off over that" continued Lucas. "It would have been a huge stoush if Ian hadn't dragged me off". Interestingly INXS, who have maintained their logo/band name in capital letters, released their seventh studio album in 1990. It was titled "X" and the cover of the album had the bands name in black lettering, except for the X, which was a brilliant red colour.

From Quiz XTC and The Dukes of Stratosphear

Answer: 25 O'Clock

'All You Pretty Girls' was covered by Crash Test Dummies, 'Dear God' was covered by Sara MacLachlan and 'Making Plans For Nigel' was covered by The Rembrandts. 'Chalkhills' was released in 1995.

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