Legendary punk musician Mark Laff is set to make an electrifying comeback in 2025 with his new project, XGENERATIONX, featuring Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet), Elizabeth Westwood (Westworld) and Michael Giaquinto (Vice Squad), performing the songs of Generation X that he played such a key role in creating with Billy Idol.
Mark Laff’s return to the live music scene has been highly anticipated by punk rock fans across the globe.
Generation X was an English punk rock band formed in London in 1976. They were the musical starting point of the career of their frontman Billy Idol and issued six singles that made the UK singles chart and two albums that reached the UK Albums Chart. The band’s UK hit singles include Your Generation, Ready Steady Go, King Rocker and Valley of the Dolls.
Mark Laff started his music career as the drummer for the cult band Subway Sect on the notorious Clash White Riot Tour before joining Generation X. In 2007 he reunited with the original Subway Sect lineup and recorded the songs from the tour with the album 1978 Now.
In 1980 Laff formed the post-punk band Empire. Despite little commercial success, Empire’s album Expensive Sound was highly influential. Writing in The Guardian, Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto described Empire’s one album as “awkward, unambitious and with only one album, the trio still left a huge mark, influencing the Stone Roses as well as the entire DC hardcore scene”.
In 1985 La formed Twenty Flight Rockers and signed to WEA releasing the fans favourite Tower Block Rock and Johnny 7.
Mark Laff looking forward to the tour commented:
“For those who kept the faith, I promise not to disappoint with this new exciting line up. I feel it’s important that XGENERATIONX bring new life to the iconic songs from the 1st and 2nd Generation X albums.”
In addition to Mark Laff, the new lineup includes renowned pop-rock/rockabilly star Elizabeth
Westwood on vocals. Elizabeth fronted the hit 80s band Westworld, who had success with the UK #11 single Sonic Boom Boy and a further UK hit with Ba-Na-Na-Bam-Boo. Elizabeth’s connections to Generation X include being in Westworld with guitarist Bob Andrews as well as being his partner at the time.
Later on, Elizabeth was married to James Stevenson who ultimately replaced Andrews as the guitarist Generation X’s final iteration, Gen X, in 1980/81.
XGENERATIONX is poised to capture the spirit of Generation X and its songs while pushing the boundaries of their sound in exciting new directions.
Joining Mark Laff and Elizabeth Westwood on this explosive tour is legendary multiinstrumentalist Steve Norman from Spandau Ballet. A founding member of one of the most iconic bands of the 80s, Steve is best known for his dynamic saxophone solos and charismatic stage presence. As Spandau Ballet’s guitarist on the first two albums, he helped shape the band’s distinctive New Romantic sound, which saw global hits like To Cut a Long Story Short, True, Gold, and Through the Barricades dominate the charts.
Steve’s creative energy and fearless approach to performance – in Spandau Ballet and its punk predecessor, The Makers – make him the perfect addition to the XGENERATIONX lineup. His musical versatility and edgy guitar sounds will add a fresh dimension to the band’s punk anthems.
Michael Giaquinto joins XGENERATIONX on bass. Michael began his playing career with 90s Essex nihilists, Maniac Squat and enjoyed some success with the single Fuck Off. He went on to perform in renowned punk band Vice Squad for eight years, playing bass on multiple recordings and touring extensively around Europe and the United States at festivals and clubs such as the legendary CBGBs. He then spent several years in Brazil, where he played in Marca Diabo, the resident house band at the infamous cultural centre Casa Amarela, backing performing artists of all types, from contortionists to beat poets.
Reflecting on the collaboration Steve Norman said:
“Generation X were the rebels with guitars, the punk poets of their time. Teaming up with Mark, Elizabeth and Michael to push these songs into a new era is going to be something really special, especially for me as a 16-year-old kid at school and discovering punk. It was a changing point in my life and it galvanised me and my recently formed school band into action. Four years later we changed our name….to Spandau Ballet.
I am so ready to turn up the volume and make some noise!”
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