SIGNAL Tuesday. April 7. 1998 Features 25 John Doe brings his thing to The Point Interview with John Doe forever hindered by the lim­ commemorate their new Be­ Performance review ited and misleading "punk" yond And Back anthology. But The Point categorization and they never according to John Doe, the achieved mainstream suc­ original line-op's reunion and By Bill Crumpton cess. subsequent touring is only Staff Writer It is true that the band temporary. As far as he con­ started playing a darker, dis­ cerned, X is in the past now. John Doe is currently tinct form of in "I really love what X does," touring the country to sup­ their early, days. But X also said John Doe, "and I'm very port his new EP on the Kill had John and Exene's engag­ respectful and grateful for it Rock Stars label entitled For ing harmonies, their thought­ [but] the baggage got a little The Rest Of Us. His third solo ful, poetic lyrics, and strong confining for me. 1 felt when 1 project is yet another way of elements of rockabilly and was writing songs. I had to be reinforcing the fact that there country. Nevertheless, X was writing X songs. 1 just wanted is life after X. easily misunderstood and to write, you know." For almost two decades, they were too original for The band X is still offi­ John Doe sung and played their own good. This resulted cially broken up and the mem­ bass in the legendary band X in years of wallowingun com­ bers are all involved in their alongside , mercial obscurity. separate projects. Exene the band's other singer and The bright side of this formed an old-school punk creative force. X was a band predicament is that X earned rock band called Auntie Christ that emerged as the leading the respect and loyalty of a with DJ Bonebrake, X's former light in the punk scene of Los countless number of fans. drummer. John Doe has also

Special to the Signal Angeles back in the late '70s. They are also regularly cited been busy. He not only be­ At the time, they were one by many came a solo artist but a suc­ John Doe's latest CD, For the Rest of Us combines passionate as a major influence singing with impressive music. of several bands that were in­ of today's premiere rock and cessful actor as well. He has famously labeled "the next big punk bands. acted in movies such as thing." Unfortunately, X was X recently reunited to "Roadhouse" and "." Doe's new record. For The Rest Of Us, credited to "The John Doe Thing," is somewhat of a departure for him. It is far more stripped down and less et Into the polished than his two previ­ ous efforts. Essentially, this WRAsl w record is nothing more than a collection of rough demos re­ leased at the insistence of the indie label Kill Rock Stars. Despite the rough edges, •IVIedia! the songs still sparkle with Doe's impassioned singing, Review memorable melodies, and in­ triguing lyrics. His songs tow the line between the sensitive ns are now being balladry of "Let's Get Lost," the upbeat lament of "The Unhappy Song," and the des­ accepted for: perate punk complaint "Bad, Bad Feeling." Doe's new approach to­ ward recording and album General-Jr -r Manager,o 7 WRAS production is also harmoni­ ous with his new attitude to song composition. According \itor,Signal Newspaper to Doe, he is "more apt to be straightforward" in his songwriting and "even more Wor,Rampway Yearbook poetic and cryptic" in his lyr- | ics. "X was lyrically driven and riff driven," Doe said, General Manager, GS "and now I'm trying to work on more of the melody." The John Doe Thing has Editor, GSU Review Litera now taken these more "me­ lodic" songs on the road for live performance. His recent , show at the Point proved that his songs can hold up in a live If you think you are what these organizations need, go setting. Despite the poor sound and Doe's lack of gui­ tar proficiency, he quickly to the Office of Student Activities, Suite 330 Student won the crowd over with his engaging sense of humor, and Center and pick up an application TODAY! Deadline is his strong material. The backing band also provided a solid foundation Friday, April 24, 1998 at 5:00pm. There will be no underneath Doe's "cryptic" songs on life, feelings and re­ exceptions. For more information, please contact Vickie lationships. It might have not | possessed the former thrill and abandoned rush of an X Suggs at 404-463-9031 set, but The John Doe Thing effectively proved that there is life after X.