Under the Big Black Sun ─ A Personal History of LA Punk

A personal history of the L.A. punk scene by the co-founder of legendary band X

John Doe has worked as a roofer, an aluminum siding mechanic, a manager of poetry readings, a musician, and an actor. He met Exene Cervenka at the Venice poetry workshop in 1976 and started working with Billy Zoom around the same time. When DJ Bonebrake joined X in mid-1977, the lineup was complete. As one of the last original punk rock bands standing, they continue to tour, most recently with Blondie and Pearl Jam in front of stadium-sized crowds and audiences born after the band’s formation. He has recorded eight solo records with numerous renowned singers and musicians and as an actor has appeared in over fifty films and television productions, includingRoad House, Great Balls of Fire, Boogie Nights, and Roswell. He currently tours as both a solo artist and with X. Doe lives north of San Francisco.

Tom DeSavia is currently head of creative services for Songs Music Publishing, representing artists from Lorde to the estate of George Gershwin. Prior to joining Songs, DeSavia was a partner for the Los Angeles-based independent publishing company Notable Music. He came to Notable from a long career at ASCAP, where he served as SVP of Membership. Earlier in his career, DeSavia spent six years in the A&R department at Elektra Entertainment where he both signed and developed talent and worked on projects with many iconic artists. He currently serves on the West Coast board of the Songwriter's Hall of Fame and previously served on the board of directors for both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). DeSavia also co-hosts the popular Live from High Fidelity podcast. A native of Southern California, where he currently lives, Tom began his career as a music journalist for the trade magazineCash Box, where he served as West Coast Editor.