The Ex has been a highly influential band in punk, experimental and avant-garde scenes for over three decades now. In 1979 the band formed out of the squat scene of Amsterdam and Wormer and has since then developed into a prominent musical force covering such diverse styles as punk, noise, rock, jazz, improvisation, and ethnic music.

Starting out as a pure anarcho-punk band, Terrie (guitar), G.W. Sok (vocals), Geurt (drums), and René (bass) choose their instruments by drawing straws to decide on who plays what. For the first half year the group concentrates mainly on a hit-and-run graffiti publicity campaign (the name being chosen based on the fact that it could be sprayed on a wall in two seconds flat!). They play their first gig on August 31 at De Bakkerij, Castricum. From then on the band begins to play regularly, mainly in Dutch squats and youth clubs. Check out this classic footage of their second gig ever in Wormerveer, September 22, 1979.

The Ex will perform and curate an evening at Incubate 2010 on Monday September 13th.