Metal Monthly: Exene it is a true privilege to be able to talk to one of my idols. I appreciate your time and thank you for this brief interview
Exene: Well thank you too.
Metal Monthly: Growing up in Southern California, I grew up on your Albums, and was always fascinated with your musical style and vocals, X is the band that started it all for me, and continues to drive my musical taste
Exene: That is a huge compliment and makes me very grateful that I’ve gotten to be an X !
Metal Monthly: Tell our readers what is currently going on with you and your several bands?
Exene: Well, X will be touring march, April, may and the first half of June. original sinners are gonna do something folkier this time around than the punk sound we've had. maybe something psychedelic....
Metal Monthly: Awesome, I will Catch a Show or 2. With X, The Knitters, Original Sinners you must be one of the busiest ladies in the biz. When do you find down time, and what does that involve?
Exene: I just listen to music, read and do my chores. I don't have a housekeeper! I don't have an assistant either!
Metal Monthly: Keeping it real! You also are an awesome writer and artist, I am stoked as I too have my first book coming out. Is there anything in particular you would like to plug?
Metal Monthly: Awesome I will check it. You are one of the most creative people I have ever come across, and it truly inspires me. I like to create, write, paint and express… what do you like to do?
Exene: Everything. I don't care much for acting. in fact, I hate acting. the only acting I ever did that I liked was playing a homeless family in a movie... and it was really me and my ex and our son and we all hade the flu so it was really real and surreal at the same time.
Metal Monthly: Speaking of Acting, One of my favorite DVD’s is X The Unheard music, I love the intro PLAY THIS MOVIE LOUD …. Have you done that?
Exene: I don't even remember that!
Metal Monthly: What is the funniest prank or joke you that comes to mind from your touring, whether you were the one doing the prank or on the receiving end?
Exene: Nothing comes to mind.... cause we don't really do it... oh wait a minute! we used to use those cigarette things that make the cigarettes blow up on the tour bus all the time. sometimes two or three would go off in rapid succession! then of course the knife fight... but that's not really a prank.
Metal Monthly: Nice! Here is a standard Question I ask most Bands:
If you could send one cd/album up in the space shuttle to be left on another planet, to be found by other life what cd/album would you send to represent American Music?
Exene: That is such a an impossible question to answer. I have 1700 songs on my ipod and I’m sure there's that many more I’ll add! the doors first record or the blasters first record.
Metal Monthly: 1700 wow! So What are you currently listening to on your ipod/cd player?
Exene: Well, Motorhead, Allman bros, lots of old gospel, kill bill soundtrack, love, ventures, Elmore James, dead Kennedy’s, flipper, honky, Jefferson airplane.....
Metal Monthly: Cool, So you would say most passionate fans are located in what Country?
Exene: USA
Metal Monthly: I agree…How important is the internet these days in promoting your music?
Exene: Is there any other way besides getting in a van?
Metal Monthly: Nope, Who do you see in the business today that reminds you of yourself?
Exene: Nobody but I’d love to say Amy Winehouse!
Metal Monthly: Well you just said it…when you were growing up what music did you listen to?
Exene: Lots of country like Johnny Cash, lots of Ray Charles, Supremes and then it became Dylan and The Stones and The doors.
Metal Monthly: Johnny Cash Rules! Do you also have a MySpace site?
Metal Monthly: What are your favorite songs to perform nightly?
Exene: I love playing all the X songs, I’m still really into the emotional impact they have on me when I am singing them!
Metal Monthly: That is Awesome…is there an overlooked song from the back catalog that you’d like to dust off and work into the set list?
Exene: Yeah, we just did that. we added four songs to the set... John and I are working on a few new songs and I’d rather put my energy in that direction.
Metal Monthly: Great cant wait to hear them…who is the one musician who has had the biggest influence on your playing style? Who is the one individual who has had the biggest influence on your life?
Exene: Well, singing style, no one. I can't sing like anybody else. and my guitar playing is just open chord folk style. I just do what I do.
Metal Monthly: And you do it very well! Exene, Thanks So Much for your time, is there anything else you would like to plug or add for our readers?
Exene: Just thanks for asking me, come see X play your town this spring!!!!
~Downshifter will be there!
