Ex-Blank-Ex

• Formed: 1978
• Genres: Rock

Biography

Cleveland experimental music and performance art troupe Ex-Blank-Ex assembled six of the city's key underground voices -- former Electric Eels John Morton and Dave E., ex-Mirrors drummer Michael Weldon, Andrew Klimeyk (younger brother of Styrenes frontman Jamie), CLE Magazine publisher Jim Ellis, and Anton Fier. Formed in 1978, Ex-Blank-Ex's recorded output is slim, consisting of just two singles issued on the local Drome label; live, the group mixed their own art-punk originals with Electric Eels covers and confrontational performance pieces. The group disbanded in 1979 after half of its roster relocated to New York City -- there, Fier joined New Wave cult heroes the Feelies, Klimeyk signed on with the avant-garde combo Red Dark Sweet, and Weldon later achieved fame as the publisher of the infamous B-movie magazine Psychotronic Video. Morton and Dave E., meanwhile, remained in Cleveland and soon reunited in the Jazz Destroyers. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide