Since the beginning, when the band played in areas like East L.A., home of bands like the Plugz and the Brat, the band has been popular with Hispanics. Why do think that crossover audience happened? Bonebrake: You could call it a crossover audience, but really there is nothing to cross over. We live in the same city and most of us listened to the same music growing up, so it didn't seem out of the ordinary.

Cervenka: The kids and bands that came from East L.A., Boyle Heights, most of them were from middle-class families who had migrated a while back. It was a great mix of cultures, and we all respected each other. There was always a balance between guys and gals, straight, gay and those who wouldn't say. Texas, especially Austin, had a very similar vibe, as did Minneapolis, Boston and San Francisco. We all just meshed with each other.

One of the Texas band linked to X is the Big Boys, who produced an equally hybrid form of punk. This marks ten years since the death of singer Biscuit. What do you recall about the band or the spirit of Biscuit? Doe: Randy, "Biscuit," was undoubtably the most mischievous, positive, all-or-nothing person with a devilish wit and humor. It was all in his performance, writing, and visual art. Like so many, we were immediately drawn to him. He took a particular shine to Exene.

Cervenka: Biscuit was a very close friend, since the night the Big Boys opened for X at Club Foot. It was that show, or one right after, Biscuit was wearing strings of Christmas lights that were plugged in! The crowd started throwing beer to try to electrify him (well, not really, just in fun). Everyone had great senses of humor back then.

Exene, I believe "Adult Books" name-drops Tomata du Plenty of the Screamers, and other names are embedded as well. For you, was punk about evoking the very personal side of life, real people and moments, as in "Los Angeles" too, rather than generic, vague terrain? Doe: That's all we had, our bohemian life. It also owes something to John Waters, Andy Warhol, Lou Reed and the "sort of famous" celebrity that we all thought was wonderfully twisted, sarcastic and poking fun of "real" celebrity culture. If only people would be hip to that nowadays.

Cervenka: I was thinking of all the celebs and rock stars and bands now who are in their early twenties, and how different their lives and goals are. It's either wealth and fame derived from sex or nothing, it seems. Still a lot of really amazing music and people are coming up all over, and that is great to see. New bands I love: Skating Polly from Oklahoma, Petunia and the Vipers from Canada, California Feetwarmers from Los Angeles, to name three.

I believe the band played the Deaf Club in San Francisco at least once, with the Bags and Urge: do you or Exene recall the venue, which is notorious for providing an alternative to Mabuhay and linking punk and Deaf crowds? Doe: Not much memory of the shows but several Deaf Club members came to sound check, wearing very straight clothes, because they were, and as we played did a mild version of head-banging. I suppose that they felt the vibration through the floor and air.

Cervenka: The Deaf Club was fun, and it was cool to see people enjoying the music in a way that was visceral -- the vibrations through the floor, the visuals -- and knowing the Deaf people got punk and loved it too.

Lastly, the band's politics seem as poignant and relevant than ever, especially as we grapple with endless war and corporate greed. What mattered most about punk - what was said and sang, or how the bands operated and what they did? Doe: As I mentioned earlier, everyone was and is into music and scenes for different reasons, even within the same band. It's a personal choice, but then people allowed for variety. Sadly, there will never be a time when the line, "The world's a mess/ it's in my kiss" or "It was better before they voted for what's-his-name" doesn't apply. Also, the second verse of "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts" will always ring true.

Cervenka: It was all very political, and revolutionary. A friend said to me recently, punk rockers would be considered potential domestic terrorists these days by the current regime. We had freedom, and I would rather have freedom than wealth and fame.

Really, we had it all. And in many ways, hanging on so long, and still loving what we do, is the best life I could have hoped for. Texas rules; don't give up your Constitutional rights there.

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