Biography
John Doe, born John Nommensen Duchac on February 25, 1954, in Decatur, Illinois, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, poet, and bass player. He is the founder and current member of the acclaimed L.A. punk band X. His musical work spans rock, country, and folk genres. As an actor, he has appeared in numerous TV shows and films, notably portraying Jeff Parker in the TV series Roswell.
Besides X, Doe performs with the country-folk-punk band The Knitters and has released solo albums. In the early 1980s, he contributed to two albums by The Flesh Eaters.
In the 1989 biographical film Great Balls of Fire!, Doe played J. W. Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis's cousin and father-in-law. He starred in the 1992 film Roadside Prophets and the 1998 short Lone Greasers. Other acting credits include roles in Road House, Vanishing Point, Salvador, Boogie Nights, The Specials, The Good Girl, Gypsy 83, and Pure Country. With X, he has appeared in two full-length concert films, several music videos, and a notable performance and interview segment in Penelope Spheeris's documentary The Decline of Western Civilization, which chronicles the early 1980s L.A. punk scene.
Doe, along with co-writer Exene Cervenka, wrote most of X’s songs. Their album Wild Gift was named "Record of the Year" by Rolling Stone, The Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times. He also co-wrote "Just Another Sunday" and "Little Honey" with Dave Alvin for the Blasters' 1984 album Hard Line.
In the 1992 film The Bodyguard, starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston, Doe’s rendition of "I Will Always Love You" is heard on a jukebox during a dance scene. Released on cassette by Warner Bros. in September 1992, the track is rare and has not been officially issued on CD, though unauthorized copies exist online.
Doe’s song "The Meanest Man in the World" featured in Season 4 of the TV series Friday Night Lights and appeared on its second soundtrack album.
On April 14, 2009, John Doe released Country Club, an album recorded with Canadian indie rock band The Sadies, featuring covers of country classics and original compositions.
