Meet the Band: Elliot Barry (vocals), Chad Martin (drums), Tom Shaffner (guitars), Chris Simmons (guitars), and Jeff Zabrowski (bass)
No, They Don't Do Porn: The X-Members' name comes from all the gigging the five guys have done before teaming up.
Johnny B. Bad: Shaffner says the band sounds like "Chuck Berry, Kerry King, and the headless corpse of Kurt Cobain playing racquetball in a fallout shelter." In other words, think of a White Zombie/Melvins/ Reverend Horton Heat/Ministry supergroup.
New Kids in Town: The idea for the band has been around for some time, but Shaffner and the others didn't start writing songs until last summer. They're now working on their debut album, which should be out before the end of the year. They play their first show this week.
Fun Fact: Check out the Mushroomhead Volume 1 DVD to see Shaffner pound six beers in an hour and then puke on himself. He considers this the X-Members' moment of conception.
Why They Say They Matter: "Bands take themselves way too seriously," says Shaffner. "We're just trying to rock, do something new, and have fun. Rock & roll was never supposed to be as complicated as it's become."
Why We Say They Matter: We haven't heard much from them yet, but their pedigree — members hail from Missing, Space Goblin, Pitch Black Forecast, Keratoma, and Horror Madonna — has us thrilled. Where You Can Hear Them: thexmembers.comWhere You Can See Them:
At Peabody's on Wednesday, June 15. — Jara Anton
