The Ex (band)

The Ex
The Ex in concert on 16 June 2004 in Germany. Left to right: Rozemarie Heggen, G.W. Sok, Katherina Ex, Andy Moor.
Background information
Origin	Amsterdam
Genres	Punk rock, anarcho-punk, punk jazz, post-punk
Years active	1979–present
Associated acts	Dog Faced Hermans, Zea
Website	www.theex.nl
Members	Terrie Hessels Katherina Bornefeld Andy Moor Arnold de Boer
Past members	See "Band members"

The Ex are an underground band from the Netherlands that formed in 1979 at the height of the original punk explosion. Initially known as an anarcho-punk band, they have since released over 20 full length albums of musical experiments and numerous collaborations blending punk and free jazz with styles of folk music from all over the world.

Biography

The Ex's music has undergone significant evolution over the years from their beginnings as a punk band. Founded by singer Jos Kley (better known as G.W. Sok), guitarist Terrie Hessels, drummer Geurt and bassist René, the band debuted with a song titled "Stupid Americans" on the Utreg-Punx vinyl 7" compilation released by Rock Against records in Rotterdam. The release of their first 7" All Corpses Smell the Same followed shortly after that, in 1980. Through the decades their music has gradually developed into its current form of highly intricate, experimental punk/post-punk/no wave-inspired work.

Tom Cora performing with The Ex.

Expanding beyond punk rock, The Ex have incorporated a wide array of influences, often from non-Western and non-rock sources. Some include Hungarian and Turkish folk songs, and more recently music from Ethiopia, Congo and Eritrea (the independence song of Eritrea is covered by The Ex to kick off their 2004 album Turn). Other examples of branching out stylistically include the improvised double album Instant and a release under the moniker Ex Orkest, a 20 piece big band assembled for performances at Holland Festival.

The band has collaborated with many disparate artists, including UK anarchist band Chumbawamba (sometimes using the name Antidote), the Dog Faced Hermans (one former member, Andy Moor, has played guitar in The Ex since 1990), and with the late avant-garde cellist Tom Cora in the early 1990s, resulting in the album Scrabbling at the Lock (1991) and the follow-up And the Weathermen Shrug Their Shoulders (1993). The album In the Fishtank 5 (1999) was made with Chicago's Tortoise, and on In the Fishtank 9 (2001) they collaborated with members of Sonic Youth and the Dutch improvisers ICP.

Line-up changes

Throughout the early 1980s The Ex went through many line-up changes before settling on the core quartet of G.W. Sok on vocals, Terrie on guitar, Luc on bass and Kat on drums. In the early 1990s, Andy became the band's permanent 2nd guitarist. In 2003 Luc left the band after 19 years, to be replaced by double bassist Rozemarie Heggen. In 2005 Heggen in turn left the band and Colin (formerly of the Dog Faced Hermans) served as the band's bass player for recordings and tours with Ethiopian saxophone legend Getatchew Mekuria before becoming The Ex's sound board operator. Guitarists Andy Moor and Terrie Hessels have since filled in bass parts by switching off on baritone guitar.

In 2009, after 30 years with the group, singer and co-founder G.W. Sok announced his departure from the band. Sok did so, believing he lacked sufficient enthusiasm to continue with the group, having decided to focus on writing and graphic design. He plans to continue to "participate in Ex activities, one way or another". His replacement is Arnold de Boer from the Dutch group Zea, with whom The Ex have toured and collaborated. In addition to singing, De Boer plays guitar and utilizes samples with The Ex.

Film and other projects

The Ex is the subject of a documentary, Beautiful Frenzy (2004) by Christina Hallström and Mandra U. Wabäck, and the concert film Building a Broken Mousetrap (2006), directed by Jem Cohen. In 2008 the band was also featured in the film Roll Up Your Sleeves, directed by Dylan Haskins.

In 2011 The Ex were chosen by Caribou to perform at and co-curate the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival in Minehead, England.

Band members

Present

• Terrie Hessels – guitar, baritone guitar (1979–present)
• Katherina Bornefeld – drums, vocals, percussion (1984–present)
• Andy Moor – guitar, baritone guitar (1990–present)
• Arnold de Boer – vocals, guitar, samples (2009–present)

Former

• G.W. Sok – vocals (1979–2009)
• Geurt – drums (1979–1981)
• René – bass (1979–1980)
• Bas – bass (1980–1983)
• Wim – drums (1981–1982)
• Sabien – drums (1982–1984)
• Luc – bass (1983–2002)
• Yoke – bass (1983–1985)
• John – vocals (1986–1987)
• Nicolette – guitar (1987–1989)
• Colin – bass (1993–1994, 2005)
• Han Buhrs – vocals (1995–1997)
• Han Bennink – drums (1997)
• Rozemarie Heggen – double bass (2003–2005)
• Massimo Pupillo – bass (2005)

Discography

Studio albums

• Disturbing Domestic Peace (1980)
• History Is What's Happening (1982)
• Tumult (1983)
• Blueprints for a Blackout (1984)
• Pokkeherrie (1985)
• Aural Guerrilla (1988)
• Joggers and Smoggers (1989)
• Mudbird Shivers (1995)
• Starters Alternators (1998)
• Dizzy Spells (2001)
• Turn (2004)
• Catch My Shoe (2011)

Live albums

• Too Many Cowboys (1987)
• Antidote Live in Wroclaw (1987)

Collaborations/splits

• Villa Zuid Moet Blijven (with Svatsox and De Groeten, 1981)
• The Red Dance Package (with Alerta, 1983)
• Enough Is Enough (with Awara, 1984)
• Support the Miners' Strike (with Zowiso and Morzelpronk, 1985)
• Pay No More Than 6 Fr. (with Svatsox, 1985)
• Destroy Fascism! (with Chumbawamba, 1987) (released under the pseudonym Antidote)
• Treat (with Dog Faced Hermans, 1990)
• Keep on Hoppin'/Crap Rap (with The Mekons, 1990)
• 6.2 "Ceme Ryne"/"Millitan" (with Brader, 1991)
• Scrabbling at the Lock (with Tom Cora, 1991)
• 6.4 Bimhuis 29/06/91 (with guests, 1991)
• 6.5 "This Song Is in English" (with Kamagurka and Herr Seele, 1991)
• Live at the Bimhuis (with guests, 1992)
• And the Weathermen Shrug Their Shoulders (with Tom Cora, 1993)
• Instant (with guests, 1995)
• In the Fishtank 5 (with Tortoise, 1998)
• Een Rondje Holland (as Ex Orkest, 2001)
• In the Fishtank 9 (with Sonic Youth and Instant Composers Pool, 2002)
• Moa Anbessa (with Getatchew Mekurya and guests, 2006)
• Y'Anbessaw Tezeta (with Getatchew Mekurya and Friends, 2012)

EPs and singles

• All Corpses Smell the Same (1980)
• New Horizons in Retailing (1980)
• Live-Skive (1980)
• Weapons for El Salvador (1981)
• Dignity of Labour (1983)
• Gonna Rob the Spermbank (1983)
• 1936, The Spanish Revolution (1986, UK Indie No. 6)
• "Rara Rap"/"Contempt" (1988)
• "Stonestampers Song"/"Lied Der Steinklopfer" (1990)
• Dead Fish (1990)
• 6.1 "Slimy Toad"/"Jake's Cake" (1991)
• 6.3 "Hidegen Fujnak A Szelek"/"She Said" (1991)
• 6.6 "Euroconfusion"/"Bird in the Hand" (1992)
• "Maybe I Was the Pilot"/"Our Leaky Homes" (2010)

Compilations

• Hands Up! You're Free (1988)
• Ample (cassette, 1991)
• Ample 2 (cassette, 1995)
• Singles. Period. The Vinyl Years 1980–1990 (2005)
• 30 Years of The Ex (2009)

Videos/DVDs

• Beautiful Frenzy (2004)
• Building a Broken Mousetrap (2006)

External links

• Official band website
• The Ex discography
• The Ex discography at Discogs.