Foss (band)

Foss
Foss on the cover of the 7-inch EP The El Paso Pussycats (1993) Left to right: O'Rourke, Klahr, and Stevens. Not pictured: Bixler-Zavala (there is a photo of him on the record's back cover).[1]
Background information
Origin	El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Post-hardcore emo
Years active	1993–1995
Past members	Cedric Bixler-Zavala Arlo Klahr Beto O'Rourke Mike Stevens
Website	myspace.com/fossband (defunct; archival link via the Internet Archive)

This article is part of a series about Beto O'Rourke
Political positions Electoral history U.S. Representative from Texas's 16th congressional district Elections 2012 2014 2016 2018 U.S. Senate campaign Election "Vote 'Em Out" Running with Beto 2020 presidential campaign Endorsements 2022 gubernatorial campaign Election Foss (band)
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Foss was an American rock band formed in El Paso, Texas in the early 1990s. It is known for former members Cedric Bixler-Zavala, who found success in the music industry as the singer for the rock bands At the Drive-In and the Mars Volta, as well as Beto O'Rourke, who later was a U.S. Representative and candidate for U.S. Senator, U.S. President, and Governor of Texas.

Typically described as a post-hardcore band, Foss's sound incorporated elements of punk rock, emo, and indie rock styles of the period. The members of Foss espoused the DIY ("Do-It-Yourself") ethic and were influenced by the independent label Dischord Records and punk zines like Maximumrocknroll. The band released a handful of recordings and embarked on two tours spanning parts of the United States and Canada. Foss appeared on Let's Get Real With Bill Lowrey, an evangelical show on El Paso public-access television, after tricking the show's producers into believing they were a Christian rock band. Video of the chaotic performance later resurfaced on YouTube.

The DIY ethos adopted by Foss informed some of O'Rourke's later political decisions, such as his Senate campaign's pledge not to accept financial contributions from PACs (political action committees). During the campaign, the press often remarked on Foss and O'Rourke's connection to Bixler-Zavala, who was by then a well-known musician. Political commentators noted that O'Rourke's past membership in a punk band likely boosted his credibility, image, and political appeal, particularly among younger voters. The Republican Party of Texas mockingly tweeted the cover of Foss's record The El Paso Pussycats, which depicts O'Rourke wearing a dress.