The Ex
Punk Band from Netherlands formed in 1979
Band Members : Andy Moor, Katherina Bornefeld, Arnold de Boer, Terrie Hessels, GW Sok, Han Buhrs, Rozemarie Heggen, Wim Ter Weele, John Van De Weert, René De Groot, Bas Masbeck, Joke Laarman, Sabien Witteman, Geurt van Gisteren, Nicolette Schuurman, Jos Kley, Luc Ex, Luc Klaasen
The Ex are an underground band from the Netherlands that formed in 1979 at the height of the original punk explosion. Initially known as an anarcho-punk band, they have since released over 20 full-length albums of musical experiments and numerous collaborations blending punk and free jazz with styles of folk music from all over the world.
The Ex's music has undergone significant evolution over the years from their beginnings as a punk band. Founded by singer Jos Kley (better known as G.W. Sok), guitarist Terrie Hessels, drummer Geurt and bassist René, the band debuted with a song titled "Stupid Americans" on the Utreg-Punx vinyl 7" compilation released by Rock Against records in Rotterdam. The release of their first 7" All Corpses Smell the Same followed shortly after that, in 1980. Through the decades their music has gradually developed into its current form of highly intricate, experimental punk/post-punk/no wave-inspired work.
Expanding beyond punk rock, The Ex have incorporated a wide array of influences, often from non-Western and non-rock sources. Some include Hungarian and Turkish folk songs, and more recently music from Ethiopia, Congo and Eritrea (the independence song of Eritrea is covered by The Ex to kick off their 2004 album Turn). Other examples of branching out stylistically include the improvised double album Instant and a release under the moniker Ex Orkest, a 20 piece big band assembled for performances at Holland Festival.
Throughout the early 1980s The Ex went through many line-up changes before settling on the core quartet of G.W. Sok on vocals, Terrie on guitar, Luc on bass and Kat on drums. In the early 1990s, Andy Moor served double-duty with tourmates Dog Faced Hermans before becoming The Ex's permanent second guitarist in 1991. In 2003 Luc left the band after 19 years, to be replaced by double bassist Rozemarie Heggen. In 2005 Heggen in turn left the band and Colin (formerly of the Dog Faced Hermans) served as the band's bass player for recordings and tours with Ethiopian saxophone legend Getatchew Mekuria before becoming The Ex's sound board operator. Guitarists Andy Moor and Terrie Hessels have since filled in bass parts by switching off on baritone guitar.The band has collaborated with many disparate artists, including UK anarchist band Chumbawamba (sometimes using the name Antidote), the Dog Faced Hermans (one former member, Andy Moor, has played guitar in The Ex since 1990), and with the late avant-garde cellist Tom Cora in the early 1990s, resulting in the album Scrabbling at the Lock (1991) and the follow-up And the Weathermen Shrug Their Shoulders (1993). The album In the Fishtank 5 (1999) was made with Chicago's Tortoise, and on In the Fishtank 9 (2001) they collaborated with members of Sonic Youth and the Dutch improvisers Instant Composers Pool Orchestra (ICP).
In 2009, after 30 years with the group, singer and co-founder G.W. Sok announced his departure from the band. Sok did so, believing he lacked sufficient enthusiasm to continue with the group, having decided to focus on writing and graphic design as well as singing in new musical projects with several other bands. His replacement is Arnold de Boer from the Dutch group Zea, with whom The Ex have toured and collaborated. In addition to singing, De Boer plays guitar and utilizes samples with The Ex.
The Ex is the subject of a documentary, Beautiful Frenzy (2004) by Christina Hallström and Mandra U. Wabäck, and the concert film Building a Broken Mousetrap (2006), directed by Jem Cohen. In 2008 the band was also featured in the film Roll Up Your Sleeves, directed by Dylan Haskins.
In 2011 The Ex were chosen by Caribou to perform at and co-curate the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival in Minehead, England.
Band members
Present
Terrie Hessels (also known as Terrie Ex) – guitar, baritone guitar (1979–present)
Katherina Bornefeld – drums, vocals, percussion (1984–present)
Andy Moor – guitar, baritone guitar (1990–present)
Arnold de Boer – vocals, guitar, samples (2009–present)
Former
G.W. Sok – vocals (1979–2009)
Geurt van Gisteren – drums (1979–1981)
René de Groot – bass (1979–1980)
Bas Masbeck – bass (1980–1983)
Wim ter Weele – drums (1981–1982)
Sabien Witteman – drums (1982–1984)
Luc Klaasen – bass (1983–2002)
Yoke Laarman – bass (1983–1985)
Johannes van de Weert – vocals (1986–1987)
Nicolette Schuurman – guitar (1987–1989)
Colin McLean – bass (1993–1994, 2005, 2012)
Han Buhrs – vocals (1995–1997)
Han Bennink – drums (1997)
Rozemarie Heggen – double bass (2003–2005)
Massimo Pupillo – bass (2005)
Timeline
The Ex's music has undergone significant evolution over the years from their beginnings as a punk band. Founded by singer Jos Kley (better known as G.W. Sok), guitarist Terrie Hessels, drummer Geurt and bassist René, the band debuted with a song titled "Stupid Americans" on the Utreg-Punx vinyl 7" compilation released by Rock Against records in Rotterdam. The release of their first 7" All Corpses Smell the Same followed shortly after that, in 1980. Through the decades their music has gradually developed into its current form of highly intricate, experimental punk/post-punk/no wave-inspired work.
Expanding beyond punk rock, The Ex have incorporated a wide array of influences, often from non-Western and non-rock sources. Some include Hungarian and Turkish folk songs, and more recently music from Ethiopia, Congo and Eritrea (the independence song of Eritrea is covered by The Ex to kick off their 2004 album Turn). Other examples of branching out stylistically include the improvised double album Instant and a release under the moniker Ex Orkest, a 20 piece big band assembled for performances at Holland Festival.
Throughout the early 1980s The Ex went through many line-up changes before settling on the core quartet of G.W. Sok on vocals, Terrie on guitar, Luc on bass and Kat on drums. In the early 1990s, Andy Moor served double-duty with tourmates Dog Faced Hermans before becoming The Ex's permanent second guitarist in 1991. In 2003 Luc left the band after 19 years, to be replaced by double bassist Rozemarie Heggen. In 2005 Heggen in turn left the band and Colin (formerly of the Dog Faced Hermans) served as the band's bass player for recordings and tours with Ethiopian saxophone legend Getatchew Mekuria before becoming The Ex's sound board operator. Guitarists Andy Moor and Terrie Hessels have since filled in bass parts by switching off on baritone guitar.The band has collaborated with many disparate artists, including UK anarchist band Chumbawamba (sometimes using the name Antidote), the Dog Faced Hermans (one former member, Andy Moor, has played guitar in The Ex since 1990), and with the late avant-garde cellist Tom Cora in the early 1990s, resulting in the album Scrabbling at the Lock (1991) and the follow-up And the Weathermen Shrug Their Shoulders (1993). The album In the Fishtank 5 (1999) was made with Chicago's Tortoise, and on In the Fishtank 9 (2001) they collaborated with members of Sonic Youth and the Dutch improvisers Instant Composers Pool Orchestra (ICP).
In 2009, after 30 years with the group, singer and co-founder G.W. Sok announced his departure from the band. Sok did so, believing he lacked sufficient enthusiasm to continue with the group, having decided to focus on writing and graphic design as well as singing in new musical projects with several other bands. His replacement is Arnold de Boer from the Dutch group Zea, with whom The Ex have toured and collaborated. In addition to singing, De Boer plays guitar and utilizes samples with The Ex.
The Ex is the subject of a documentary, Beautiful Frenzy (2004) by Christina Hallström and Mandra U. Wabäck, and the concert film Building a Broken Mousetrap (2006), directed by Jem Cohen. In 2008 the band was also featured in the film Roll Up Your Sleeves, directed by Dylan Haskins.
In 2011 The Ex were chosen by Caribou to perform at and co-curate the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival in Minehead, England.
Band members
Present
Terrie Hessels (also known as Terrie Ex) – guitar, baritone guitar (1979–present)
Katherina Bornefeld – drums, vocals, percussion (1984–present)
Andy Moor – guitar, baritone guitar (1990–present)
Arnold de Boer – vocals, guitar, samples (2009–present)
Former
G.W. Sok – vocals (1979–2009)
Geurt van Gisteren – drums (1979–1981)
René de Groot – bass (1979–1980)
Bas Masbeck – bass (1980–1983)
Wim ter Weele – drums (1981–1982)
Sabien Witteman – drums (1982–1984)
Luc Klaasen – bass (1983–2002)
Yoke Laarman – bass (1983–1985)
Johannes van de Weert – vocals (1986–1987)
Nicolette Schuurman – guitar (1987–1989)
Colin McLean – bass (1993–1994, 2005, 2012)
Han Buhrs – vocals (1995–1997)
Han Bennink – drums (1997)
Rozemarie Heggen – double bass (2003–2005)
Massimo Pupillo – bass (2005)
Timeline
View full biography
Band Members : Andy Moor, Katherina Bornefeld, Arnold de Boer, Terrie Hessels, GW Sok, Han Buhrs, Rozemarie Heggen, Wim Ter Weele, John Van De Weert, René De Groot, Bas Masbeck, Joke Laarman, Sabien Witteman, Geurt van Gisteren, Nicolette Schuurman, Jos Kley, Luc Ex, Luc Klaasen
- Biography -
68 albums

At Bimhuis (1991-2015)
2015 - NetherlandsPunk, Art Rock, Avant-garde Jazz
CD Album Compilation ⎯ 31 Tracks
Ex Records, Bimhuis Records

And So Say All Of Us (The Ex 33⅓ Festival - Live At Cafe Oto)
2015 - NetherlandsPunk, Free Improvisation
DVD Album DVD-Video ⎯ 17 Tracks
Ex Records

How Thick You Think / That's Not A Virus
2014 - NetherlandsPost-Punk, Experimental, African
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Ex Records

Enormous Door
2013 - NetherlandsExperimental, Alternative Rock, Avantgarde
CD Album ⎯ 8 Tracks
Ex Records

Maybe I Was The Pilot / Our Leaky Homes
2010 - NetherlandsPunk, Indie Rock
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Ex Records

The Convoy Tour: 25 Years Of The Ex
2009 - NetherlandsPunk, Avantgarde, Art Rock
DVD NTSC ⎯ 2 Tracks
Ex Records

30
2009 - NetherlandsPunk, Avantgarde, Experimental
CD Album Compilation ⎯ 35 Tracks
Ex Records

Building A Broken Mousetrap
2008 - NetherlandsPunk, Avantgarde, Indie Rock
DVD Album ⎯ 11 Tracks
Ex Records, Touch And Go

11 Ethio-Punk Songs
2007 - NetherlandsAlternative Rock, Free Improvisation, Experimental
DVD Album DVD-Video ⎯ 12 Tracks
Buda Musique

Moa Anbessa
2006 - NetherlandsPunk, Free Improvisation, Experimental
CD Album ⎯ 11 Tracks
Terp Records

Knormalities V.3 Posthumorites
2005 - NetherlandsPost-Punk, Avantgarde, Experimental
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 4 Tracks
Dephine Knormal Musik

Singles. Period. (The Vinyl Years 1980-1990)
2005 - NetherlandsPunk, Alternative Rock, Experimental
CD Album Compilation ⎯ 23 Tracks
Ex Records

Ethiopia Tour 2004
2004 - NetherlandsPunk, Free Improvisation, Avant-garde Jazz
Cassette Album ⎯ 15 Tracks

In The Event - Événements N°19
2004 - NetherlandsArt Rock, Musique Concrète, Poetry
CD Album ⎯ 2 Tracks
Al Dante

Beautiful Frenzy
2004 - NetherlandsPunk, Art Rock, Experimental
DVD Album ⎯ 28 Tracks
Blowpipe

Ethiopia Tour 2002
2002 - NetherlandsPunk, Free Improvisation, Avant-garde Jazz
Cassette Album ⎯ 15 Tracks

In The Fishtank 9
2002 - NetherlandsNoise, Experimental, Free Improvisation
CD Album ⎯ 8 Tracks
Konkurrent

Starters Alternators
1998 - NetherlandsAlternative Rock, Noise
CD Album ⎯ 11 Tracks
Ex Records

Instant
1995 - NetherlandsFree Improvisation, Avantgarde, Experimental
CD Album ⎯ 32 Tracks
Ex Records

And The Weathermen Shrug Their Shoulders
1993 - NetherlandsAlternative Rock, Free Improvisation
CD Album ⎯ 16 Tracks
Recrec Music

Live At The Bimhuis June 29 1991 Amsterdam
1992 - NetherlandsPunk, Experimental, Post-Punk
VHS PAL ⎯ 21 Tracks
Moskwood Video

The 6 Series: 6.1 - 6.6
1991 - NetherlandsPunk, Avantgarde
Box Set, Vinyl Album ⎯ 21 Tracks
Ex Records

6.5: This Song Is In English
1991 - NetherlandsPunk, Avantgarde
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Ex Records

Bimhuis 29/06/91: 6.4¹ & 6.4²
1991 - NetherlandsPunk, Avantgarde
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 4 Tracks
Ex Records

Ample
1991 - NetherlandsPunk, Art Rock
Cassette Album Compilation ⎯ 16 Tracks
Dabennegeenrekkert Tapes

Treat
1990 - NetherlandsPunk, Post Rock, Indie Rock
Cassette Album ⎯ 23 Tracks
Convulsion Cassettes

Crap Rap / Keep On Hoppin'
1990 - NetherlandsPunk, Alternative Rock, Experimental
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 4 Tracks
Clawfist

Lied Der Steinklopfer / Stonestampers Song
1990 - NetherlandsPunk
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Ex Records

Everything... We Never Wanted
1986 - NetherlandsPunk
Cassette Album ⎯ 12 Tracks
Acid Rain Products

Enough Is Enough / Love
1984 - NetherlandsPunk, Experimental, Folk
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 3 Tracks
Ex Records, Disaster Electronics (d.e.i.)

Blueprints For A Blackout
1984 - NetherlandsPunk, Avantgarde, Experimental
Vinyl LP ⎯ 19 Tracks
Pig Brother Productions

The Red Dance Package
1983 - NetherlandsPunk, Alternative Rock
Vinyl 12" ⎯ 4 Tracks
Cnt Productions

Dignity Of Labour
1983 - NetherlandsPunk, Industrial, Experimental
Vinyl, Box Set 7" ⎯ 8 Tracks
Vgz Records

Tumult
1983 - NetherlandsPunk, Alternative Rock, Experimental
Vinyl LP ⎯ 13 Tracks
F.a.i. Records

History Is What's Happening
1982 - NetherlandsPunk
Vinyl LP ⎯ 20 Tracks
More D.p.m. - Dirt Per Minute

New Horizons In Retailing
1980 - NetherlandsPunk, Indie Rock
Flexi-disc 7" ⎯ 3 Tracks
Ping Pong Records
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Last Update : 01 April 2021
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