The term acquired its contemporary application after the release of "", a 1991 novel written by Canadian author Douglas Coupland. In 1987, Coupland had written a piece in "Vancouver Magazine" titled "Generation X" which was "the seed of what went on to become the book". Coupland referenced Billy Idol's band Generation X in the 1987 article and again in 1989 in "Vista" magazine. In the book proposal for his novel, Coupland writes that "Generation X" is "taken from the name of Billy Idol’s long-defunct punk band of the late 1970s". However, in 1995 Coupland denied the term's connection to the band, stating that: