Drummer Mark Laff is set to return with a new band, celebrating the music of his old band GENERATION X.
Laff joined Generation X in early '77, playing on all singles and two albums, leaving as the band morphed into Gen X in early 1980. Teaming up with Generation X guitarist Derwood in Empire, he then signed to WEA with the shortlived Twenty Flight Rockers.
The drummer now returns with XGENERATIONX, who also feature ex-Westworld frontwoman Elizabeth Westwood, Steve Norman from Spandau Ballet and their punk predecessors The Makers, and bassist Michael Giaquinto, formerly of Maniac Squat and Vice Squad.
“Generation X were the rebels with guitars, the punk poets of their time," says Norman. "Teaming up with Mark, Elizabeth and Michael to push these songs into a new era is going to be something really special, especially for me as a 16-year-old kid at school and discovering punk. It was a changing point in my life and it galvanised me and my recently formed school band into action. Four years later we changed our name….to Spandau Ballet. I am so ready to turn up the volume and make some noise!”
With new material slated for release later in the year, XGENERATIONX have lined up the following dates for the autumn...
Tues 11th Nov – The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
Wed 12th Nov - Oran Mor, Glasgow
Thur 13th Nov - The Cluny, Newcastle
Fri 14th Nov - The Tunnels, Aberdeen
Sat 15th Nov - Beat Generator, Dundee
Sun 16th Nov - The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh
Tues 18th Nov – Social, Hull
Wed 19th Nov – Future Yard, Birkenhead
Thur 20th Nov - The 100 Club, London
Fri 21st Nov – Holy Diver, Stockport
Sun 23rd Nov - Colchester Arts Centre, Colchester
Pic by Rozewin Photography