Farm Aid and Far Beyond: A Conversation with John Doe
- Event Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
- Time: 4:30 pm–5:30 pm (CDT)
- Location: Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory St., Urbana, IL
Join John Doe, co-founder of the legendary band X, for a conversation about the band’s appearance at the inaugural Farm Aid concert in Champaign in 1985.
X, formed in Los Angeles in 1977, is one of the most influential punk bands in music history. Along with fellow members of the L.A. rock scene Lone Justice and the Blasters, X brought fresh sounds and urgent political critiques to the Farm Aid stage. Our conversation with John Doe will be a chance to reflect on the inaugural Farm Aid concert – an effort to raise funds and consciousness in support of farmers facing a profound economic crisis – from the perspective of a performer with a lifetime of experience making music and making history.
Cosponsored by the School of Labor & Employment Relations.
Contact
For further information on this event, contact the Museum Information Desk at spurlock-museum@illinois.edu (email link) or (217) 333-2360.
All are welcome. To request disability-related accommodations for this event, please contact Brian Cudiamat at cudiamat@illinois.edu (email link) or (217) 244-5586.