Legendary L.A. punk band X is on the short-list of the genre's seminal acts and, much like many legendary bands, there's a hidden movie a la Rock and Roll Circus in their catalog just itching to get out.
About 25 years ago, the group created a cowboy satire titled Bad Day featuring a who's who of the City of Angels' punk scene, including X frontman John Doe, Grammy winner Dave Alvin, writer Michael Blake, artist Peter Haskell — and even a then-unknown Kevin Costner! The group huddled together to shoot the silent, 20-minute tribute to old time westerns in Chatsworth, Calif., with X singer Exene Cervenka taking on photography and co-writing duties.
Well, the 1986 flick is finally available as a digital download, where viewers can pay whatever they wish to view it and a portion of the proceeds will go to help victims of the Gulf Coast oil spill. I recently put in a call to Exene to ask just why this lost classic is now being released and also got a life update from the classic vocalist.
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UsMagazine.com: Why did you decide to do a silent Western?
Exene Cervenka: I'm a huge fan of silent movies. I made a video in the early 80s that was a silent movie for an X song and I just have always gravitated towards that era.
Us: What was it like working with Kevin Costner? How was he on set back then?
EC: Kevin was just like everybody else on the set. They got there are 7 in the morning, it was pouring rain. He bought us all food because everybody was so broke, so he paid for fried chicken or whatever we ate. It rained the whole time, so everyone had to deal with being in the mud and being wet and cold the whole time, but no one complained and everyone had a really good time. Kevin's got a really good sense of humor.
Us: In addition to working with your band, X, you Tweeted recently that you just finished a new record of your own.
EC: I just finished my new record, it's called The Excitement of Maybe and [includes] 13 love songs. I have an amazing group of musicians and people on the record so I'm really happy about it; it's the best thing I've ever done, so I’m really happy.
Us: Do you have an opinion on recent punk rock talent like Courtney Love or Taylor Momsen?
EC: I don't really follow those people. I don't really have an opinion on Courtney Love at all…I think she gets plenty of press, I don't need to spend my time talking about her on my press time.
Us: Switching gears a bit, you were married and had a child from that previous relationship. Are you dating anyone now or seeing anyone special?
EC: No, I'm single. Viggo Mortensen and I were married and we have a wonderful son together, Henry, who's 22 now. And we're all very close still as a family.
Us: You were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last year, can you speak a little bit about your experience and how are you doing now? Has your life changed?
EC: It hasn't changed and I'm doing great. I've been minimally impacted and I'm really grateful for that. It has changed me quite a bit emotionally and intellectually…and I learned that people — strangers, the X fans — are truly amazing and will help you in times of need in ways I never even guessed.
Us: Lastly, going back to the movie, a portion of the proceeds are going to help the Gulf Coast. Why did you decide to do this? Do you know anyone directly affected by the disasters?
EC: I have friends in New Orleans, and they're directly affected by the disaster because they're breathing in this toxic air every day and their businesses are suffering. They have to live knowing that their way of life has been compromised maybe…well, for years. I've always done a lot of benefits for people and I like to do benefits that help people directly, I don't like to do these kind of benefits that just go into a major organization and then the money dwindles down to nothing after it gets through administration. So we chose CPR (Committee for Plaquemines Recovery) because they do directly help people, the money goes straightaway to people and thats a prerequisite for me. The Gulf situation is the most dire situations in the country right now. There's so many people that need help. We could've picked something else and it would've been just as important, but I think that right now that's the area of the country that needs the most focus and the most help.
By Ian Drew for UsMagazine.com. To read more of Ian's blog, click here, and don't forget to follow him on Twitter.
