It is with sad and heavy hearts that we pay tribute to our friend and mentor, Ray Manzarek. -X-

- Ray Manzarek is an intrical part of X’s history. The band’s debut album, Los Angeles was released on April 26, 1980 and produced by Ray.  The album includes a cover of the 1967 Doors song “Soul Kitchen” and was the bands most successful release.  It ranked # 16 for the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop Critics Poll.  Subsequently in 1989, it was ranked number 24 on Rolling Stone’s list of 100 best albums of the 80s and Pitchfork ranked it 91st on their top 100 albums of the 1980s. The title track is included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll  and again in 2003, the album was ranked number 286 on the Rolling Stone‘s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.  Ray went on to produce the next three studio albums for the band, Wild Gift in 1981 (also on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 greatest albums of all time at #334), Under the Big Black Sun in 1982 and 1983’s More Fun in the New World.

In late 2010, X celebrated the 30^th Anniversary of Los Angeles by playing the entire album, start to finish.  Ray joined the band during their two shows in San Francisco, just after Christmas.   In August of 2012, Ray again joined the band for the entire show at the famed Roxy Theatre during the Sunset Strip Music Festival, playing Los Angeles in its entirety.  In 2013, Rhino released The Doors/X Side by Side: Soul Kitchen, a split white vinyl 7″.

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“Ray led by example, from The Doors to Carmine Burana and beyond. He is and will always be a spirit being, adept at expanding perception. And once those doors of perception are opened, they never close. He taught me that we are the keys, that we can unlock all doors, everywhere, to create magic, to transform ourselves and power the world, through joy and love and imagination and art and, above all through music.“    -  Exene

“Ray was a mentor to X in our early days and a something of a father figure to Exene & me. He was brilliant & soulful. If Bob Dylan brought poetry & folk to popular music; Ray & the Doors brought the blues & poetry to rock music. The Doors are rock royalty. It has been a privilege & honor to call Ray a friend and share the stage w/ him. “   - John Doe

“Ray always believed in us.  We’ll miss him.  My heart goes out to Dorothy and Pablo.“  - Billy Zoom

“I am so sorry to hear about Ray’s passing. Not only was he an integral part of X’s history, he was a smart, funny, and kind friend. I will miss him.“   - DJ Bonebrake        

This show is long over, but not the music! We can not thank you enough for making this one very special night. The love and joy in that room was overwhelming.

The bands were ALL on their game this night. Each one enjoying the other and all playing like their lives depended on it.

Below are a few of our favorite images courtesy of our good friend Brandise Danesewich.[click an image for slide show]

Thanks again for helping us give back to you and our brother Phil Alvin.

[2013 is shaping up and we'll keep updating the show page and over on Facebook to.]

& here is the latest art from the X-35 poster series featuring some of our favorite artists. The posters are ususally sold out by the end of each X show, but they are also available from the artists directly and your support of their art is appreciated. – Cheers!  [click here for links to ALL X artists]

UPDATE X-MAS ’12 SHOWS:  12/26 Crystal Palace, Bakersfield  -  12/27 Ace of Spades, Sacramento  -  12/28 & 29 Slims, San Francisco

Thanks to everyone who came out to Irving Plaza last night 11/30. (If you missed out – come on out New York there are tickets still available for tonight…click here)

As is tradition…here come the East Coast X posters by some of our favorite X-35 Series Artists.  To see the entire X-35 Series – click here.

11.30.12 X at Irving Plaza -Artist: Jon O’Grady BCPRINTMEDIA.COM

12.1.12 X at Irving Plaza -Artist: Josh Bernstein WWW.GIGPOSTERS.COM/POSTER/157468_Reverend_Horton_Heat.html

12.4.12 X at 930 Club -Artist: Scott Walker 40OZPRESS.BIGCARTEL.COM

12.6.12 X at TLA -Artist: Jim Altieri GIGPOSTERS.COM/DESIGNER/537_Jim_Altieri.html

We’ll be there, will you? ~X~

Casbah tickets here

TOUR Notes: X will be touring the East Coast 11/30-12/8 with the Reverend Horton Heat. (NYC, Boston, DC, Baltimore, Philly, Asbury Park)   X-mas 2012 on the West Coast runs 12/15-12/29 (Phoenix, Hollywood, San Juan Capistrano, San Diego, Bako, Sacramento, & SF)  Click here for schedule

Our friend Michael Hyatt has just finished his 2013 art calendar featuring never before published photos of X and friends. You can check it out by clicking here.

“2013 Gallery 1331 Calendar of Photographs & Dates of Interest

The 2013 Gallery 1331 X Calendar of Photographs & Dates of Interest features sixteen shots of X and one of The Knitters. Dates of musical, historical and humorous importance grace every day of the year. Want to know the birthdates of John, Exene, Billy and D.J. plus that of Top Jimmy and Ray Manzarek, look no further that this 2013 calendar. Several hundred more birthdates are included by rock, blues, jazz, folk, Americana and roots country artists as well as recording dates by Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday, etc. The credits page features a complete discography of X albums and all the solo projects by each band member.” – from Micheal’s website

If you can help out the people of the east coast- please do…this entire area is still  impacted and can use your attention.

The folks over at the Wonder Bar 5th and Ocean, Asbury Park, NJ 732-502-8886 have graciously lent us a hand in giving us a place to play on Dec.7th. Help us help New Jersey ($5 from every ticket will be donated to the Monmouth County Food Bank.) We’re also working on Starland tickets being accepted at either the Wonder Bar or the philly TLA show…stay tuned and please check with the venues. (UPDATE 11/20: –  the Starland will be issuing ticket refunds – so please contact the Wonder Bar & TLA directly to go to those shows- thanks.)

Sometimes we all need a little help…there are a lot of people still reeling from the storms and could use a little help.  thanks ~X~

from the Starland via @aysialuna5

PS- Starland when you re-open – we’d love to play your 10 year anniversary.

If you missed it – you lose, but the consolation prizeS… these show posters

AND 2 reviews from our night at the Granada courtesy of the Dallas News - thanks Robert for coming out! Click here to read..  

and.. Jam Magazine Online – Thanks David! Click here to read…

Be sure not to miss the shows coming up  with Dallas’ own Reverand Horton Heat on the east coast & the Annual X-mas run on the west coast.

(To see the full X-35 Poster Series – click here.)

PS- To everyone on the East Coast, take care of each other and we’ll see you next month. ~X~

In just over 3 months – our 35th year comes to a close and a great year it’s been.

FIRST- over to Austin for Fun, Fun, Fun Fest (11/2) where we will be playing the Los Angeles album in it’s entirety and a lot more. This one has been on the books since last year and we’re happy to get back to Texas! So much so – we’re also going to stop by Granada Theater in Dallas (11/3). Next we’re doing something new!

HEY EAST COAST – Are you Ready? (11/30-12/7)

Back to the East Coast for the first annual Guitar Slingers Ball! We are sharing the bill with the amazing “Reverend Horton Heat”! and special guest from Austin, the rock duo “Not in the Face”!

You have never seen a couple of Gretsch slingers on the same bill like this! Bring a fire extinguisher this is gonna be hot!

11/30-12/1 Irving Plaza, NY- 12/2 Paradise Club, Boston – 12/4 9:30 Club, DC  12/5 Soundstage, Baltimore -12/6 TLA, Philly - 12/7 Starland, Sayreville NJ

LAST BUT NEVER LEAST!…Our 4th Annual X-mas Tour (12/15 – 12/29)

This will be the 4th time we’ve celebrated the holidays with some of our favorite people in some of our favorite places.

Please come and help us say goodbye to another year and ring in the new year with your favorite X songs and closest friends!

12/15 Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix – 12/21 The Fonda, Hollywood – 12/22 The Coach House, OC, 12/26 Crystal Palace, Bako -12/27 Ace of Spades, Sacramento – 12/28-12/29 Slims, SF.

See you soon ~X~

9.7.12 X at the Observatory -Artist: Xray GARAGELANDCLOTHING.COM/POSTERS

9.7.12 X at the Observatory -Artist: Xray GARAGELANDCLOTHING.COM/POSTERS

To check out the full X-35 Tour Poster Series – click here.

In November we have some great artists lined up.Some new and some old friends. Back on board are both Billy Perkins from the Los Angeles Tour Poster Series for Fun,Fun,Fun Fest and Lil’ Tuffy from the Los Angeles Tour Poster Series and the Xmas 2011 Poster Series.

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X at the Observatory Friday 9/7 and Saturday 9/8 - Tickets are still available – Come out!

The Observatory
3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana, CA. 714.957.0600