Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    Banner
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Music»Music by Decade»1970s Music
    1970s Music 1980s Music Music X 4 Mins Read

    X (Australia)

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    X was one of the most notorious bands ever to emerge from the Sydney (Australia) inner-city music scene and among the leading lights of the original Sydney punk movement.

    Driven by the ferocious bass lines of Ian Rilen, the raucous bawling of lead singer Steve Lucas and a melange of screaming guitars, X played rock ‘n’ roll stripped down to the bare essentials of noise, raw power and pure energy.

    The band was constantly banned from venues, subjected to regular harassment from the local constabulary, and suffered several lineup changes – but X was persistent enough to eventually release a number of records.

    Ian Rilen had been instrumental in getting the original Rose Tattoo off the ground. He left that band mid-1977 just as they were establishing a formidable reputation as an influential streetwise hard rock band.

    Rilen unveiled X in September 1977 with Steve Lucas (vocals), Ian Krahe (guitar) and Steve Cafiero (drums), laying down a sound that was short, sharp, loud and brutally honest.

    In May 1978, Ian Krahe went to bed after a packed Bondi Lifesaver gig and never woke up, the victim of a heroin overdose, with asthma possibly a contributing factor. After his death, X recruited guitarist Geoff Holmes as his replacement.

    The band then recorded three demo tracks – Home Is Where The Floor Is, Hate City (originally written for Rose Tattoo) and TV Cabaret Roll, which later appeared on a compilation album of Sydney punk bands called Why March When You Can Riot? (1985).

    Ian Krahe (left) and Steve Lucas (right) at the Bondi Lifesaver just hours before Krahe’s death

    Peter Coutanche replaced Holmes for a while but, in 1979, Steve Lucas took up guitar (to replace Coutanche) and the band continued as a three-piece.

    This lineup recorded in late 1979 with the legendary Lobby Loyde producing, resulting in the single I Don’t Wanna Go Out and the album X-Aspirations (1980) – recorded in just five hours.

    X then brought Coutanche back into the lineup, and the band held down a residency at Sydney’s Heritage Hotel for a few months, but by mid-1980 they had called it a day.

    Ian Rilen switched to guitar and formed Sardine V with his spouse Stephanie Rilen (on vocals and keyboards), eschewing the aggressive assault of X for a more refined and melodic yet brooding approach, recalling bands like The Cure, Gang of Four and Public Image Ltd.

    In 1983, Rilen broke up Sardine V to revive X, issuing a second independent single (a cover of John Lennon‘s Mother). The group also relocated to Melbourne where Cathy Green replaced Cafiero on drums.

    X recorded its second album, At Home With You, in early 1985, once again produced by Lobby Loyde. For the next five years, X built up a reputation as one of Melbourne’s finest bands.

    Signing to the White label in 1987, the group released a version of Roy Orbison‘s Dream Baby, but fans had to wait another two years for the third album, And More (1989).

    The album was dedicated to the memory of the late Steve Cafiero, who died in December 1988 when injected with a dye prior to an X-ray for a back complaint.

    Rilen broke up X again, forming a band called Hell To Pay with Cathy Green and Spencer P Jones from The Johnnys.

    US label Amphetamine Reptile re-issued X-Aspirations on CD for the North American market and in June 1993, Rilen and Lucas reformed X once more with new drummer Stefan Berg.

    The band held a residency at the Prince of Wales Hotel in St Kilda, attracting hordes of dedicated fans, then supported The Damned on their Australian tour in April 1997.

    Rilen rejoined Rose Tattoo in 1998 for their ‘All Hell Breaks Loose’ tour with fellow Australian band, The Angels.

    Ian Rilen was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2006. He left his hospital bed to attend Rose Tattoo’s ARIA Hall of Fame induction on 16 August and he died on 30 October 2006. He was 59.

    Steve Lucas
    Vocals, guitar
    Ian Krahe 
    Guitar
    Ian Rilen
    Bass, vocals
    Steve Cafiero
    Drums
    Geoff Holmes
    Guitar
    Peter Coutanche
    Guitar
    Cathy Green
    Drums
    Stefan Berg
    Drums

    Video

    Related Posts

    • Eastern Dark, The
      Eastern Dark, The
      With sheer energy bursting out of their amplifiers, dynamic, memorable songs, and a leader with rock & roll animal good…
    • Porcelain Bus
      Porcelain Bus
      Porcelain Bus began in 1980 in Sydney (Australia) when guitarist Rob McKiernan, vocalist Ian James and bassist Paul Patrick got…
    • Affections, The
      Affections, The
      The story of Australian power pop band The Affections began in Sydney in the mid 70's when school friends Rob Smith, Rob…
    • Tall Tales and True
      Tall Tales and True
      Australian band Tall Tales and True formed as a three-piece in Sydney in 1984, building a loyal audience in the…
    • Club Ska
      Club Ska
      Formed in January 1986 by four former members of The Allniters and led by Jamaican vocalist Patou ("Pat") Powell, Club…
    • Thought Criminals, The
      Thought Criminals, The
      The Thought Criminals formed in Sydney (Australia) in late 1977. Bass player Roger Grierson set up Doublethink, a band management…
    • Johnny Chester and the Chessmen
      Johnny Chester and the Chessmen
      John Howard Chester was born on Boxing Day 1941 in North Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia. By the time he was 17,…
    • Skrewdriver
      Skrewdriver
      Skrewdriver were formed in Blackpool in 1976 by Ian Stuart Donaldson after he saw The Sex Pistols in Manchester. The band later…

    Australia
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleX (USA)
    Next Article Wreckless Eric

    Comments are closed.

    NC Radio Player
    Search the site

    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love since 1998. The site carries no advertising, and I rely on donations to help with running costs and to keep the site running for your entertainment and education.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small. 

    Thank you so much.
    Enjoy your trip in the time machine!

    You may also like

    • Young Docteurs, The
      Young Docteurs, The
      The Young Docteurs formed in Canberra (Australia) in 1978, inspired by the new music movement known as punk rock. Paul…
    • Lipstick Killers, The
      Lipstick Killers, The
      The Lipstick Killers grew out of two of the most notorious late 70s punk bands in Sydney (Australia); Psycho Surgeons…
    • Band Of Light
      Band Of Light
      Band of Light was a blues-based group formed in October 1972 in Sydney (Australia) by Phil Key, with bassist Peter…
    • Affections, The
      Affections, The
      The story of Australian power pop band The Affections began in Sydney in the mid 70's when school friends Rob Smith, Rob…


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.