X’s Billy Zoom & John Doe Rig Rundown Guitar and Bass Gear Tour
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/x
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There are plenty of mighty American rock bands, but relatively few have had as profound an impact on the international musical landscape as X. Along with other select members of punk’s original Class of 1977, including Patti Smith, Richard Hell, and Talking Heads, the Los Angeles-based outfit proved that rock ’n’ roll could be stripped to its bones and still be as literate and allusive as the best work of the songwriters who emerged during the previous decade and were swept up in the corporate-rock tidal wave that punk rebelled against. X’s first three albums–Los Angles, Wild Gift, and Under the Big Black Sun-were a beautiful and provocative foundation, and rocked like Mt. Rushmore.
Last year, X released a new album, Smoke & Fiction, and, after declaring it would be their last, embarked on what was billed as a goodbye tour, seemingly putting a bow on 47 years of their creative journey. But when PG caught up with X at Memphis’s Minglewood Hall in late fall, vocalist and bassist John Doe let us in on a secret: They are going to continue playing select dates and the occasional mini-tour, and will be part of the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas in April 12.
Not-so-secret is that they still rock like Mt. Rushmore, and that the work of all four of the founders–bassist, singer, and songwriter Doe, vocalist and songwriter Exene Cervenka, guitarist Billy Zoom, and drummer D.J. Bonebreak–remains inspired.
Onstage at Minglewood Hall, Doe talked a bit about his lead role in the film-festival-award-winning 2022 remake of the film noir classic D.O.A. But most important, he and Zoom let us in on their minimalist sonic secrets.
Shop X’s Gear:
G6122T-59 Vintage Select Chet Atkins Country Gentleman – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZyYWY
Ampeg 4×10 cab – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xLn9nx
Fender Jazz Bass – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LKDPDV
Full Rig Info: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/x
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0:00 – Wolfgang Van Halen & D’Addario
0:15 – Billy Zoom Intro
1:05 – Billy Zoom’s G6122T-59 Vintage Select Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
4:19 – Billy Zoom Interest in Guitar Repair & Amp Circuits
6:31 – Billy Zoom Reflects on X’s Historic Career
7:33 – Billy Zoom’s Effects
9:57 – Billy Zoom Build His Own Amps
14:58 – Billy Zoom’s Saxophone
15:57 – Rig Rundown & D’Addario
16:30 – John Doe on Filming D.O.A. in St Augustine, FL
20:15 – John Doe’s 1960 Fender Jazz Bass
23:22 – John Doe’s 1960s Ampeg Scroll Bass
26:06 – John Doe’s Amber Light Walter Woods Amp
27:44 – John Doe’s Genzler & Ampeg Cabinets
28:30 – John Doe on X’s “Final Tour”
31:25 – D’Addario Strings
[Brought to you by D’Addario: https://ddar.io/wykyk-rr]
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2025
#guitar #rigrundown #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #bass #bassplayer #bassist #bassguitar #punk #punkrock #music
#Billy #Zoom #John #Doe #Rig #Rundown #Guitar #Bass #Gear #Tour
Originally posted by UC5J-hZ4wNf7OlkzIn49LHoQ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZtZeqof8jk
Shop X' Gear:
G6122T-59 Vintage Select Chet Atkins Country Gentleman – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZyYWY
Ampeg 4×10 cab – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xLn9nx
Fender Jazz Bass – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/LKDPDV
❤❤❤❤❤, Thank you sincerely from "Ju Ju's Cozy Corner, My Sin, and the Get Down Lounge."
LEGENDS.
LOVE LOVE LOVE X! So glad to see this ????
✊????✊????✊????
He's def more comfortable playing sax over the guitar lol
X is transcendent. It is crazy, I bought their first record when it came out and have been a fan ever. Now the new album is blowing me away like the first one.
Ditch the tight pants!
I know everyone picks 'Los Angeles' but 'Under The Big Black Sun' is my favorite X album.
John Doe has what I'll call "punk bass wisdom" which Mike Watt possesses as well. Travel light, keep things simple, remember everyone's name, have gratitude for the past as well as for the present, and embrace technology as it solves the problems you actually struggled with.
Ampeg Scroll basses are (based on what I've heard) the standard of salsa bass players.
John Doe is the best guest you’ve ever had.
Saw their show on Dec. 28th, they sounded great. The most underrated band this country has produced. And they are all genuinely nice people.
Billy Zoom.
Nice Guy.
Punk Legend.
I’ve seen X live at least 15 times since the 80s. Billy Zoom influenced my Punk Rock writing and playing more than any guitarists.
Nice Guy. Punk Legend.
Billy Zoom is the GREATEST PUNK ROCK guitarist of ALL TIME!
I was really hoping you were gonna talk to John Doe about the upright bass. do you know how he amplifies it or if he uses any pedals etc.? Thank you.
Saw them live back in the day. Good show.
Don't sleep on the new album, it's got the classic X vibes!
I just saw Road House for the first time in decades the other day. John was the best dirtbag bartender ever in that movie. Also I love X so thank you.
I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THIS BAND. I'd lower my credit score for this group!!!! ❤❤❤
Possibly one of the greatest American bands. I don’t think that’s hyperbole..
Great interviews. I saw the last 3 X shows of 2024. They were on fire. Anyone know what that acoustic John used for "Burning House of Love" is? I'm glad to hear John say onpy 20-30 shows a year now. That's a whole lot better than them not playing again.
That is one tasty jazz bass.
Interviewer dresses like a 12 yr old but…yeah
This was really cool! X is one of my all time favorite bands. I’ve loved rockabilly since I was a little kid listening to records that my father had and then I got into punk in my teens so naturally when I first heard X I was hooked. Punk Rock with rockabilly overtones. Pure genius!
John Doe should have won a Oscar for his epic performance in the CLASSIC FILM ROADHOUSE!!! PAT THE BARTENDER ROCKS
I saw X at the Long Beach convention center, along with the Motel's. I think it was like 1982 or so New Years show. Great show, still remember it.
I have an original pressing of "Los Angeles." I assumed Billy Zoom was the gregarious one; John Doe the sullen, but in this interview it was quite the opposite. Good job on all those decades of creative work.
He lives across the street from one of my best friends in central Texas. Really cool guy. Both my friend and I are big fans. He invented in the house a bunch of times. Seen some cool gear over there.
Thank you so much for doing this Rig Rundown with Billy Zoom and John Doe! What a gift!!!! They are legends and such great players – this is so deserved!
This band should have had more mainstream success ..they all are true artists. I could listen to The Have Nots all day..one of the best songs ever written.
X
Live at Hully Gully
Back in The Day
Everyone Was at
Hully Gully
Rehearsal
X The Blasters
Los Lobos
Tex and The Horse ????
Heads
Concrete Blond
The Groovie Goolies
Death ???? Ride 69
The Mentors
The Cramps
Blood ???? on
The Saddle
Rank and File
Top Jimmy and
The Rhythm Pigs ????
B.B. Chunking
It Was a Great Time
Back When
Billy Zoom
Many an early 80s LA night slamming away while he smiled away onstage watching the mayhem.
Such a great player in the quintessential LA band
Whenever I think of his guitar I hear “Sex and Drugs In High Society “
Thanks for all the joy
John Doe starts at 16:33
Woah, never seen a Gretch with a flame top, it looks great!
X? LOL!
There is only 1 'X', and they were from Sydney, Australia!
Ian Krahe was a legend!
Predate these wannabes!
avalon one of the best sounding rooms in america
Holy smokes. Billy Zoom is my Scotty Moore.
I would guess Rick from Guitar Maniacs had Joe Riggio paint the bass, he sends a lot of vintage gear to him.
I am a Huge X fan and really enjoyed the interview of Billy & John talking shop.
X is for me at least to the Ramones as the Clash was to the Pistols. The band that took the spirit of the music and developed it beyond the constraints of the original genre. Legends and, IMHO underrated in terms of their influence. Thanks for doing this PG and thanks to the band for decades of great music and inspiration.
Been an X fan since about ‘81, Billy Zoom is a phenomenal player. Always wanted a Silver Sparkle Gretsch the Billy Zoom is way out of my price range even if you could find one. Gretsch do a player series ‘57 with de Armond pickups. The closest I’ve got so far is a De Armond M77t Champagne Sparkle with De Armond pickups, a great guitar.
Respect to the interviewer too he certainly knows his stuff too
Billy has Zoomed Out lol????
I was wondering when this would come out! I was at this show and got so excited when I saw Chris taking photos of John’s gear. Thank you for this!!!
One of my all time fave guitarists!
John Doe, as Always, The Ultimate in Cool ???? A Hero of Mine, Since 1980
Hey,I Vintage wired a Gretsch Streamliner,with Vintage PIO,White Russian Tone .022 caps,CTS 500k potts!Took me 3 hours to do this!Sounds Awesome!????Take care,love the Rig Rundown!❣For Me,as an X,Fan!Ever since on MtV of 1981????????❣
I saw two of their shows on this tour and they still sound incredible!
Classic jazz band X.
Thank you for this – one of my favorite bands of all time. Seen X live many times from the early 80s up. Amazing live band.