Photo by MX Ferraro
26 eXes became a song when none other thanButch Vig realized that all 26 of his mysterious buddy Zeke Bleek’s “exes” were (… somewhat miraculously!) alphabetical. From Annabelle, Bev and Cookie, all the way through Yazmin and Zoe. The strangely therapeutic singalong chorus came next– “What’s life’s biggest mystery? I say the opposite sex is. There’s 26 letters in the alphabet… and I got 26 eXes.”
The track was co-written by Zeke Bleek and Butch Vig, who also produced. It was recorded at GrungeIsDead (Los Angeles) and Amano Studios (Appleton, Wisconsin). Samuel Farrell was the mixing engineer, and it was mastered by Justin Perkins at Mystery Room Mastering.
The nostalgic and reminiscent video (directed by Tess Lafia) features Ruby MarkerGarbage‘s Steve Marker, as Penny— with a cameo from Nikki Monninger of Silversun Pickups as Zoe.
Zeke Bleek on the track ““26 eXes” – “I’ve been walked out on, stood up, run down and laid low so many dang times, I just had to sing about it. Butch Vig overheard me telling the tales in a dive bar one day, and he said let’s get you in a studio, Zeke. This song is the role call of my romantic downfall.”
Zeke Bleek is a mysterious drifter with a tattered heart. Due to his lack of luck and forlorn wardrobe, he is known to the few who know him as “The Guy in Gray.” Zeke was “discovered” by legendary producer Butch Vig in a high desert bar over a decade ago, whilst sharing his tales of woe. At first, Bleek was merely hired as a model, to be photographed for the label of Vig’s personal batch of wine, “Bad Boyfriend” Sauvignon Blanc. But then, a musical partnership was soon forged. An EP is slated for release in the Fall. Zeke Bleek writes the lyrics and sings his songs of sadness, and Vig (bass, drums) assembled a crack band, the Mighty Weak, to accompany him. On the debut single, “26 eXes,” Frank Lloyd Anderson (The Emperors of Wyoming) plays pedal steel guitar, Samuel Farrell (Hang Ten) plays guitar, acoustic guitar and tambourine, Alex Drossart (Hang Ten) plays piano and organ. Backup vocals are provided by Drossart, Farrell, Anderson, Cory Chisel, Wally Ingram, Brian Leatart, WL Boyd, Chet Smalls and Michael X. Ferraro.
The Big Takeover is proud to premiere “26 eXes” RIGHT HERE!
After you’re done listening, follow Zeke on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Spotify, Soundcloud, and his official website.
