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The Ex

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Ex is a Dutch underground band that formed in 1979, at the height of the first punk wave, out of the squatters' movement in Amsterdam and Wormer. The first line-up consisted of singer G.W. Sok, guitarist Terrie Hessels, drummer Geurt and bassist René. The band chose its name because it was the shortest on the list and therefore quick to spray on a wall. In 1980 the first EP was released, All Corpses Smell the Same, followed by the debut album Disturbing Domestic Peace. Their lyrics dealt with politics, squatting and social injustice.

Music and breakthrough

Over the decades the band's music became more and more layered. Noise, folk, world music from among others Hungary, Turkey, Ethiopia, Congo and Eritrea, and free jazz were added. The Ex collaborated with, among others, the cellist Tom Cora on Scrabbling at the Lock (1991), with producer Steve Albini on Starters Alternators (1998) and Dizzy Spells (2001), and with Tortoise, Sonic Youth and the Instant Composers Pool Orchestra. The album Instant was an improvised double album. Katherina Bornefeld has played drums since 1984. In 2009 Sok left and was succeeded by Arnold de Boer.

Influence

The Ex gave concerts in Ethiopia and brought African bands such as Konono Nr. 1 to Europe and the United States. With more than twenty albums the group is regarded as one of the most important and most independent bands in the Netherlands, internationally praised for its social message and its rhythmic, atonal guitar playing.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to State of Shock from Scrabbling at the Lock and notice the rhythmic guitar playing and the raw vocals. Can you hear how the band mixes punk and experiment?

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: Artists