In June 2000, the Ex performed at the Holland Festival, where they collaborated with a twenty-piece big band. Columnist Jan Mulder and conductor Hamisch McKeich contributed to this performance, among many others. Guitarist Terrie also released two improvised albums, one with Ab Baars and one with Han Bennink.

In 2001 the Ex's new album Dizzy Spells was produced by Steve Albini, after which the band went on tour throughout Europe and the United States. In 2001 the album In the Fishtank was released; this album was a collaboration with members of Sonic Youth and the Dutch improvisers Instant Composers Pool Orchestra (ICP).

thumb|The Ex in concert on 16 June 2004 in Germany.<br/>Left to right: Rozemarie Heggen, [[G.W. Sok, Katherina Bornefeld, Andy Moor]]

In 2002, the Ex put on concerts in Ethiopia together with Han Bennink. In 2003 bass player Luc left the band, and was replaced by double bassist Rozemarie Heggen, who had played in the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest. In 2003, the Ex brought the Congolese band "Konono Nr. 1" to Europe. The Ex went on tour again, including in Italy, Eritrea and a three-week tour of the United States. In the United States they collaborated with Steve Albini for the third time to produce the double album Turn, which was released in 2004. The Ex then toured Ethiopia for the second time.

In 2005, the band released the album In The Event together with the French sound poet Anne James Chaton, as well as the single compilation Singles.Period. In 2005 double bass player Rozemarie 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.

During these years, the Ex regularly brought little-known African bands to Europe and the United States. These bands performed as an opener for concert appearances of the Ex, but often also performed together with the Ex on stage. Not only Konono Nr. 1 but also Djibril Diabaté and the Azmari's gained recognition among Western audiences in this way.

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 2005, the Ex performed in "A Clockwork Orange" together with theater group d'Electrique, the production core around Ko van den Bosch, in a huge ship shed in the About the IJ Festival. This performance was very well received by press and public. In May and July 2007, "A Clockwork Orange" went on a reprise and tour of theaters.

In 2008 the band was featured in the film Roll Up Your Sleeves, directed by Dylan Haskins.

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 the energy to continue and wanted to concentrate more 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.

In 2010 the band performed at the Incubate festival in Tilburg, and toured later that year with, among others, the RaaskalBOMfukkerZ. In 2011 the Ex were chosen by Caribou to perform at and co-curate the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival in Minehead, England. During this period the band began to re-release earlier albums.

Band members

Present

  • Terrie Hessels (also known as Terrie Ex) – guitar, baritone guitar <small>(1979–present)</small>
  • Katherina Bornefeld – drums, vocals, percussion <small>(1984–present)</small>
  • Andy Moor – guitar, baritone guitar <small>(1990–present)</small>
  • Arnold de Boer – vocals, guitar, samples <small>(2009–present)</small>

Former

  • G.W. Sok – vocals <small>(1979–2009)</small>
  • Geurt van Gisteren – drums <small>(1979–1981)</small>
  • René de Groot – bass <small>(1979–1980)</small>
  • Bas Masbeck – bass <small>(1980–1983)</small>
  • Wim ter Weele – drums <small>(1981–1982)</small>
  • Sabien Witteman – drums <small>(1982–1984)</small>
  • Luc Klaasen – bass <small>(1983–2002)</small>
  • Yoke Laarman – bass <small>(1983–1985)</small>
  • Johannes van de Weert – vocals <small>(1986–1987)</small>
  • Nicolette Schuurman – guitar <small>(1987–1989)</small>
  • Colin McLean – bass <small>(1993–1994, 2005, 2012)</small>
  • Han Buhrs – vocals <small>(1995–1997)</small>
  • Han Bennink – drums <small>(1997)</small>
  • Rozemarie Heggen – double bass <small>(2003–2005)</small>
  • Massimo Pupillo – bass <small>(2005)</small>

Timeline

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id:sam value:lavender legend:Samples

id:d value:orange legend:Drums_and_percussion

id:alb value:black legend:Studio_album

id:colb value:gray(0.3) legend:Collaboration_album

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</timeline>

Discography

Studio albums

  • Disturbing Domestic Peace (1980)
  • History Is What's Happening (1982)
  • Dignity of Labour (1983)
  • Tumult (1983)
  • Blueprints for a Blackout (1984)
  • Pokkeherrie (1985)
  • Too Many Cowboys (1985)
  • Aural Guerrilla (1988)
  • Joggers and Smoggers (1989)
  • Scrabbling at the Lock (1991)
  • And the Weathermen Shrug Their Shoulders (1993)
  • Instant (1995)
  • Mudbird Shivers (1995)
  • Starters Alternators (1998)
  • Dizzy Spells (2001)
  • Turn (2004)
  • Catch My Shoe (2011)
  • 27 passports (2018)
  • If Your Mirror Breaks (2025)

References

Further reading

  • The Wire 232 and 362.
  • Official band website
  • The Ex discography
  • The Ex discography at Discogs.