Exene Cervenka (born Christene Lee Cervenka; February 1, 1956) is an American singer, artist, and poet. She is best known for her work as a singer in the California

punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...

band X.

Music career

The 21-year-old Cervenka met 23-year-old musician John Doe at a poetry workshop at the Beyond Baroque Foundation in Venice, California. Cervenka started working there. Billy Zoom (guitar) and John Doe (bass and vocals) founded X in 1977, with D.J. Bonebrake coming aboard as drummer. Doe asked Cervenka to join soon after as a co-lead vocalist, and the duo were also the band's primary songwriters. They released their debut album, ''

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

'', in 1980 and, over the next six years, five more albums. She learned to play guitar from Dave Alvin of

The Blasters The Blasters are an American rock music, rock band formed in 1979 in Downey, California, by brothers Phil Alvin (vocals and guitar) and Dave Alvin (guitar), with bass guitarist John Bazz and drummer Bill Bateman (drummer), Bill Bateman. Their s ...

Collaborations

In 1982, Cervenka published ''Adulterers Anonymous'', her first in a series of four books in collaboration with artist

Lydia Lunch Lydia Lunch (born Lydia Anne Koch; June 2, 1959)Martin Charles Strong. ''The Great Indie Discography''. 2003, page 85 is an American singer, poet, writer, actress and self-empowerment speaker. Her career began during the 1970s New York City no ...

. She and Lunch also released a spoken word album, ''Rude Hieroglyphics'', in 1996 and toured in support of the project. From 1996 to 1999, John Roecker and Cervenka co-owned the Los Angeles store You've Got Bad Taste. The store specialized in kitsch and various "off-color" novelties. In 1999, as Exene Červenková, she appeared in the cult video ''Decoupage 2000: Return of the Goddess'', along with guests

Karen Black Karen Blanche Black (née Ziegler; July 1, 1939 – August 8, 2013) was an American actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. She rose to prominence for her work in various studio and independent films in the 1970s, frequently portr ...

and the band L7. She gave a reading of her poem "They Must Be Angels," and appeared in an interview skit with ''Decoupage 2000'' hostess Summer Caprice.

Art career

In 2005, Cervenka's journals and mixed media collages were exhibited in a one-person exhibition titled ''America the Beautiful'' at the Santa Monica Museum of Art. The exhibit was curated by Kristine McKenna and Michael Duncan. An expanded version of the exhibition traveled to DCKT Contemporary in New York in January 2006.

Personal life

Relationships

Cervenka was married to John Doe from 1980 to 1985. She met her second husband

Viggo Mortensen Viggo Peter Mortensen Jr. (; born October 20, 1958) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has received nominations for three Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. Mortensen made his film debut with a small role in ...

in 1986 on the set of the comedy '' Salvation!'', a parody of

televangelism Televangelism (from ''televangelist'', a blend of ''television'' and ''evangelist'') and occasionally termed radio evangelism or teleministry, denotes the utilization of media platforms, notably radio and television, for the marketing of relig ...

. Mortensen played her husband Jerome. They married on July 8, 1987. On January 28, 1988, Cervenka gave birth to a son, Henry Blake Mortensen. Mortensen and Cervenka lived in Idaho for three years. They separated in 1992, and were divorced in 1997. Cervenka married musician Jason Edge, who went on to play in her band Original Sinners. Edge and Cervenka are now divorced.

Residence

Arriving in 1969 from Illinois, Cervenka lived in St. Petersburg and other locations in Central Florida during her teenage years, experiencing the tail end of segregation. She worked a variety of odd jobs to support her family, most notably in the toy department of the locally infamous department store Webb's City. Cervenka moved from Los Angeles to Jefferson City, Missouri, for four years, and then returned to Southern California. She now lives in Orange County.

Health

On June 2, 2009, Cervenka disclosed that she had been diagnosed with

multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease resulting in damage to myelinthe insulating covers of nerve cellsin the brain and spinal cord. As a demyelinating disease, MS disrupts the nervous system's ability to Action potential, transmit ...

. Well before this diagnosis, she and X had actively supported Sweet Relief, a charity that aids uninsured artists. Sweet Relief was begun by musician Victoria Williams when she herself was diagnosed with MS. In 2011, Cervenka said she may have been misdiagnosed. However, Cervenka had to cancel a Spring 2011 tour due to problems associated with her MS. In 2015, John Doe said that the MS diagnosis was incorrect, and that Cervenka had consulted with other doctors who were not able to diagnose her.

Discography

X

Singles, soundtracks, compilations, etc.

* 1978: ''Adult Books/We're Desperate'' 7" ( Dangerhouse Records) * 1979: ''Yes L.A.'' compilation (Dangerhouse Records) * 1980: '' The Decline of Western Civilization'' soundtrack (Spheeris Films/ Slash Records): "Beyond and Back," "Johnny Hit and Run Paulene," "Nausea," "Unheard Music," "We're Desperate" * 1980: ''No Questions Asked'' by Flesh Eaters (Slash Records) * 1982: '' Urgh! A Music War'' soundtrack (

A&M Records A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group and functions as a branch of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Interscope-Geffen-A&M. Established in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, the label initially operated independent ...

)

Albums

* 1980: ''

'' (Slash Records) * 1981: '' Wild Gift'' (Slash Records) * 1982: '' Under the Big Black Sun'' (

Elektra Records Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the ...

) * 1983: '' More Fun in the New World'' (Elektra Records) * 1985: '' Ain't Love Grand!'' (Elektra Records) * 1987: '' See How We Are'' (Elektra Records/ Asylum Records) * 1988: '' Live at the Whisky a Go-Go'' (Elektra/Asylum Records) * 1993: '' Hey Zeus!'' ( Big Life Records) * 1995: '' Unclogged'' (Infidelity Recordings/Sunset Boulevard) * 1997: '' Beyond and Back: The X Anthology'' (Elektra Records) * 2004: '' The Best: Make the Music Go Bang!'' (Elektra Records/

Rhino Records A rhinoceros ( ; ; ; : rhinoceros or rhinoceroses), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant taxon, extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates (perissodactyls) in the family (biology), famil ...

) * 2005: ''X – Live in Los Angeles'' ( Shout! Factory) * 2020: '' Alphabetland'' ( Fat Possum Records) * 202
Smoke & Fiction
( Fat Possum Records)

The Knitters

* 1985: '' Poor Little Critter on the Road'' (Slash Records/Rhino Records) * 2005: '' The Modern Sounds of the Knitters'' (Zoë Records)

Solo

* 1989: '' Old Wives' Tales'' (Rhino Records) * 1990: ''Running Sacred'' (RNA (Rhino New Artists)) * 1994: ''Exene Cervenka'' (Wordcore Volume 7) 7" ( Kill Rock Stars) * 1995: ''Surface To Air Serpents'' (213CD/ Thirsty Ear Recordings) * 2009: ''Somewhere Gone'' ( Bloodshot Records) * 2011: ''The Excitement of Maybe'' (Bloodshot Records)

Bands

* 1997: ''Life Could Be a Dream'' as Auntie Christ ( Lookout Records) * 2002: ''Original Sinners'' as Original Sinners ( Nitro Records) * 2006: ''Sev7en'' as Exene Cervenka and the Original Sinners (Nitro Records)

Other

* 1985: Wanda Coleman, Exene Cervenka: ''Twin Sisters'' LP (Freeway). Poetry performance recorded at McCabe's Guitar Shop, Santa Monica, CA on February 1, 1985. * 1995:

& Exene Cervenka: ''Rude Hieroglyphics'' ( Rykodisc). Recorded live at the Sapphire Supper Club, Orlando, FL on March 20, 1995. * 1999: ''Decoupage 2000: Return of the Goddess.'' Read poem "They Must Be Angels" and appeared in an interview skit. * 2012: John Doe & Exene Cervenka: ''Singing and Playing'' (Moonlight Graham Records). Recorded at Way Station April 2–3, 2010.

Additional musical contributions

* 1994: Applegate, Christina, and Elizabeth Pena.
Across the Moon.
' Los Angeles, CA: Hemdale Home Video, 1994. Music composed by Christopher Tyng & Exene Cervenka * 1996: ''Honor: A Benefit for the Honor the Earth Campaign'' ( Daemon Records). "The Future is a War" by Exene Cervenka * 1997: '' G.I. Jane'' original soundtrack (

Hollywood Records Hollywood Records is an American record label owned by the Disney Music Group which focuses on pop, rock, alternative, hip hop and country genres, also specializing in recordings for a more mature audience not suitable for the flagship Wal ...

). "The Future is a War" by Auntie Christ * 1999: ''One Man's Meat'' by

(Lightning Creek). Features Exene Cervenka on vocals, guitar * 2000: '' Stoned Immaculate: The Music of The Doors'' (Elektra Records). "Children of Night" by Perry Farrell and Exene * 2001: ''Punk-o-rama 2001, Vol. 6'' ( Epitaph Records). "We're Desperate" by Pennywise with Exene * 2002: ''Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three'' (

Sanctuary A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred space, sacred place, such as a shrine, protected by ecclesiastical immunity. By the use of such places as a haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety. This seconda ...

). "Wasted" by Exene Cervenka * 2009: '' The People Speak'' original soundtrack (

Verve Records Verve Records is an active American record label owned by Universal Music Group (UMG). Founded in 1956 by Norman Granz, the label is home to the world's largest jazz catalogue, which includes recordings by artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Ca ...

). "See How We Are" by Exene Cervenka & John Doe * 2011: ''Kings and Queens'' by Blackie and the Rodeo Kings ( Dramatico). "Made of Love" featuring Exene Cervenka * 2018: "Queen for a Day" by Skating Polly featuring and also written by Exene Cervenka * 2018: " Destroying Angels" by

Garbage Garbage, trash (American English), rubbish (British English), or refuse is waste material that is discarded by humans, usually due to a perceived lack of utility. The term generally does not encompass bodily waste products, purely liquid or ...

with John Doe and Exene Cervenka

Video

* '' The Decline of Western Civilization'' (1981) *
Urgh! A Music War
' (1982) * '' X: The Unheard Music'' (1985/1987, video; 1986/1987/2004, DVD; re-released 2011 Silver Anniversary Edition) * '' X - Live in Los Angeles'' (2005) – Shout! Factory: Concert by X in Los Angeles recorded live on November 26 and 27, 2004

Works or publications

* Lunch, Lydia, and Exene Cervenka.
Adulterers Anonymous.
' New York: Grove Press, 1982. *
The 1984 Calendar of Olympic Games, Music & Orwellian Dates.
' 1984, n.d. Produced by M. Hyatt, Exene Cervenka and 53 mail artists from around the world. *
Bad Day: A Short Film by Modi Frank and Exene Cervenka.
'' (1986) * Mohr, Bill, and Sheree Levin.
Poetry Loves Poetry: An Anthology of Los Angeles Poets.
' Santa Monica, CA: Momentum Press, 1985. * Jarecke, Kenneth, and Exene Cervenka.
Just Another War.
' Joliet, Mont: Bedrock Press, 1992. * Cervenka, Exene.
Virtual Unreality.
' Los Angeles: 2.13.61 Publications, 1993. * Cervenka, Exene. "Consumption." '' Details Magazine'', July 1993. (poem) * Cervenka, Exene. "Acres of Defeat." '' Raygun Magazine'', Dec./Jan 1993. (article) * Cervenka, Exene. "Midnight Black." '' L.A. Weekly'' Magazine, Best of L.A. Issue, 1993. (poem) * Lake, Bambi, and Alvin Orloff.
The Unsinkable Bambi Lake: A Fairy Tale Containing the Dish on Cockettes, Punks, and Angels.
' San Francisco: Manic D Press, 1996. Introduction by Exene Cervenka * Snowden, Don, and Gary Leonard.
Make the Music Go Bang!: The Early L.A. Punk Scene.
' New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 1997. "Halos Above Our Horns" by Exene Cervenkova. (essay) * Rollins, Henry.
The Best of 2.13.61 Publications.
' Los Angeles: 2.13.61 Publications, 1998. (excerpts from "Virtual Unreality") * Maybe, Ellyn, and Exene Cervenka.
The Cowardice of Amnesia.
' Los Angeles: 2.13.61 Publications, 1998. * Hyatt, Michael, and Exene Cervenka.
Lucky 13 Postcards.
' Los Angeles, Calif: s.n., 2000. * Cervenka, Exene. ''A Beer on Every Page.'' 2002. * Jocoy, Jim, Thurston Moore, and Exene Cervenka.
We're Desperate: The Punk Photography of Jim Jocoy : SF/LA 78–80.
' New York, NY: PowerHouse Books, 2002. "Slivery Moon" (essay) * Kihn, Greg.
Carved in Rock: Short Stories by Musicians.
' New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 2003. features short story "Perfect World from Virtual Unreality" by Exene Cervenka * Cervenka, Exene, and Viggo Mortensen.
Magical Meteorite Songwriting Device: Collages.
' Santa Monica, CA: Perceval Press, 2006.

Exhibitions

One-person exhibitions

*
America the Beautiful.
' Santa Monica Museum of Art (September 17 – November 26, 2005) * ' DCKT Contemporary (January 7 – February 11, 2006) *
A Fifth of Tomorrow.
' Collages and journals. Western Project (June 9 – July 14, 2007) * ' DCKT Contemporary (May 23 – July 18, 2008)

Two-person exhibitions

*
Exene Cervenka and Wayne White: We're Not The Jet Set.
' Paintings, collages and sculptures. Western Project (July 25 – September 5, 2009)

Group exhibitions

*
Hollywood Satan.
' Mark Moore Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (December 5–25, 1998) *

'' Track 16 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (April 10 – June 15, 1999) *
Capital Art: On the Culture of Punishment.
'' Track 16 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (February 3 – March 31, 2001) * ''Cruel And Unusual: A Benefit For The West Memphis Three.'' sixspace, Los Angeles, CA (2003) *
Vexing: Female Voices from East L.A. Punk.
'' Claremont Museum of Art, Claremont, CA (May 18 – August 31, 2008); Museo de las Artes, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico (2008–2009) * Yard Dog, Austin, TX (2009) * ' Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA (April 11 – September 13, 2009) *
Western Project: The First Six Years.
' Western Project, Culver City, CA (November 7 – December 30, 2009) *
Tanya Batura / Exene Cervenka / Amir H. Fallah / Will Yackulic.
' Western Project, Culver City, CA (August 14 – September 11, 2010) * ' at former Tower Records Store, West 4th Street & Broadway, New York, NY (2010) * ''Girls Just Want to Have Funds.'' P.P.O.W Gallery, New York, NY (2010) * ' Midtown Art District (December 3–8, 2013)

Exhibition catalogs

* Bessy, Claude, and Edward Colver.
Forming: The Early Days of L.A. Punk.
' Santa Monica, CA: Smart Art Press, 2000. Track 16 Gallery (April 10 – June 5, 1999). Cervenka was co-editor, essay: "Forming: the Early Days of L.A. Punk" * Botey, Mariana, and Pilar Perez.
Capitalart: On the Culture of Punishment.
' Santa Monica, CA: Smart Art Press, 2001. Track 16 Gallery (February 3 – March 31, 2001) * Cervenka, Exene.
Exene Cervenka: America the Beautiful.
' Santa Monica, CA: Smart Art Press, 2005.

References

External links

* * * at DCKT Contemporary {{DEFAULTSORT:Cervenka, Exene 1956 births American folk singers American punk rock singers American spoken word poets Bloodshot Records artists Living people American women punk rock singers Singers from Florida People with multiple sclerosis Singers from Chicago The Knitters members X (American band) members People from Mokena, Illinois American conspiracy theorists 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American singers 21st-century American women singers 21st-century American singers