G.W. Sok

G.W.Sok
G.W.Sok in The Ex in concert on 16 June 2004 in Germany. Left to right: Rozemarie Heggen, G.W. Sok, Katherina Ex, Andy Moor.
Background information
Origin	Amsterdam
Genres	Punk, anarcho-punk, punk jazz, post-punk
Years active	1979–present
Associated acts	The Ex

G.W. Sok (born 1957, real name Jos Kleij)^[1] is a Dutch singer, best known for his 30-year career as the frontman of the The Ex. G.W. Sok left The Ex in 2008 to focus on a solo career and collaboration projects with other musicians, participation in theatre performances and spoken word performances. Apart from his musical career he's also active as a writer and a graphic designer.

Biography

After leaving The Ex, Sok started to collaborate with several acts among which the French experimental free jazz band Cannibales & Vahinés and the Italian band Zu. In 2010 the single "2-2-3 Fridges/Rid" appeared on Sickroom Records. He joined the Dutch collective Beukorkest on their 2011 tour.

In 2011 Sok released the book A Mix of Bricks & Valentines, a 400-page collection of The Ex lyrics and other lyrics he wrote. Also in 2011 De Eeuwige Optie (The Everlasting Option) was published,^[2] an experimental film by SpOp featuring Sok as an actor. He also wrote the words for the film's ending track "Illusies". This track was also released as the 7 inch "Illusies 1 & 2" under the bandname Zoikle, consisting of Sok, guitarist Lukas Simonis, cellist Nina Hitz, drummer Cor Hoogerdijk and Maarten van Gent on metal percussion.^[3] King Champion Sounds arises from the ashes of the band that was called The Bent Moustache, the musical act of Krommenie-based, Kenya-born, UK-raised Ajay Saggar. This incarnation sees Saggar teaming up with, amongst others, Oli Heffernan (Year of Birds, Shrug) and G.W.Sok. In 2014 he published a double 10" with the UK noise act Action Beat.

Bibliography

• A Mix of Bricks & Valentines, PM Press, 2011

Discography

• 2-2-3 Fridges/Rid, 2010 with Oli Heffernan (i.e. Detective Instinct),
• N.O.W.H.E.R.E with French group Cannibales & Vahinés, 2012
• King Champion Sounds - Different Drummer, 2013, LP
• Action Beat & G.W. Sok - A Remarkable Machine, Double 10, 2014 ERNEST JENNING RECORD CO.
• Two Pin Din & G.W. Sok - Gifts, Milk And Things (2x7"), 2014
• King Champion Sounds - Songs For The Golden Hour (10"/CD), 2014
• Songs for a Free Body w/ Cannibales & Vahinés, 2015

Other contributions

• "Illusies 1 & 2", 7 inch, as Zoikle (w/ Lukas Simonis), 2011
• Surplus 1980 - The World's Still Here (featuring G.W. Sok) on the album Arterial Ends Here, 2013
• Detective Instinct - Black Floral (LP)
• Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp - Rotorotor (CD/LP)

References

1. His artist's name in full would be Geiten Wollen Sok; in the 70s geitenwollensokkendragers (goat wool sock wearers) was a slang name for hippies.
2. "De Eeuwige Optie". Points for Production. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
3. "clip 'Illusies' from De Eeuwige Optie". YouTube. 2011-09-09. Retrieved 2012-12-13.