In collaboration with the anarchist quarterly Gramschap (Anger), The Ex release a split 7″ with the Iraqi Kurdish group Awara in 1984, their first encounter with non-western musicians. Non-western music will prove to be of great importance for The Ex in their later developments. In the same year they do a benefit tour with Morzelpronk and Zowiso for the striking British miners and release a benefit live album of the tour called Support the Miners’ Strike. More politically engaged tours and releases follow in the years after.

In 1985 they go on a benefit tour with BGK and the Wandas for the anti-militarist Onkruit organization. A year later they release the double single 1936 dedicated to the Spanish revolution. The release is accompanied by a 144 page photo book and partly consists of arrangements and adaptations of Spanish folksongs.

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