john doe

John Nommensen Duchac, professionally known as John Doe, was born on February 25, 1953, in Decatur, Illinois. He co-founded the Los Angeles punk band X and remains an active member. His musical work encompasses punk rock, alternative country, folk rock, and roots rock. Alongside his band X, Doe performs with the country-folk-punk band The Knitters and has released numerous solo albums. In addition to his musical endeavors, he has an acting career with roles in television series such as “Roswell” and various films.

Doe’s journey into music began after moving to Los Angeles and meeting guitarist Billy Zoom in 1976. They formed X, where Doe, along with Exene Cervenka, co-wrote most of the band’s songs. Their debut album, “Los Angeles” (1980), and its follow-up, “Wild Gift” (1981), received critical acclaim. “Wild Gift” was named “Record of the Year” by publications including Rolling Stone and The New York Times. X signed with Elektra Records in 1982 for three subsequent albums, expanding their sound to include country leanings while maintaining their punk energy.

Over his career, Doe has continuously evolved, contributing to various projects outside of X. He wrote songs for other bands like The Flesh Eaters and co-wrote for The Blasters. His solo career, which began in 1990, includes almost a dozen albums. He has also authored two books about the LA punk rock scene, “Under the Big Black Sun” and “More Fun in the New World: The Unmaking and Legacy of L.A. Punk.” After a period of inactivity, the original lineup of X reunited in 2004 and has continued to tour and record new material, including their 2020 album “Alphabetland” and the announced final album “Smoke & Fiction” in 2024.