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 band X.

Music career

The 21-year-old Cervenka met 23-year-old musician

John Doe John Doe (male) and Jane Doe (female) are multiple-use placeholder names that are used when the true name of a person is unknown or is being intentionally concealed. In the context of law enforcement in the United States, such names are ofte ...

at a poetry workshop at the Beyond Baroque Foundation in

Venice, California Venice is a neighborhood of the city of Los Angeles within the Westside region of Los Angeles County, California. Venice was founded by Abbot Kinney in 1905 as a seaside resort town. It was an independent city until 1926, when it was annexed by ...

. Cervenka started working there. Billy Zoom (guitar) and John Doe (bass and vocals) founded X in 1977, with

D.J. Bonebrake Donald J. Bonebrake (born December 8, 1955) is an American musician who first emerged as the drummer of the punk rock band the Eyes (also featuring Charlotte Caffey of the Go-Go's). He is best known as an original member of and drummer for punk ...

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 ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...

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

Dave Alvin David Albert Alvin (born November 11, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. He is a former and founding member of the roots rock band the Blasters. Alvin has recorded and performed as a solo artist since the late 1980s a ...

of The Blasters.

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 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 Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (ICA LA), formerly known as the Santa Monica Museum of Art (SMMoA), is a contemporary art museum in Los Angeles, CA. As an independent and non-collecting art museum (or kunsthalle), it exhibits the ...

. The exhibit was curated by

Kristine McKenna Kristine McKenna is an American journalist, critic and art curator best known for her interviews with artists, writers, thinkers, filmmakers and musicians. Many of these have been collected in ''Book of Changes'' (2001) and ''Talk to Her'' (2004 ...

and Michael Duncan. An expanded version of the exhibition traveled to DCKT Contemporary in New York in January 2006.

Personal life

Cervenka was married to

from 1980 to 1985. She met her second husband

Viggo Mortensen Viggo Peter Mortensen Jr. R (; born October 20, 1958) is an American actor, writer, director, producer, musician, and multimedia artist. Born and raised in the State of New York to a Danish father and American mother, he also lived in Argenti ...

in 1986 on the set of the comedy ''

Salvation! ''Salvation!'' (also known as ''Salvation!: Have You Said Your Prayers Today?'') is a 1987 American black comedy film directed by Beth B, and starring Viggo Mortensen, Exene Cervenka, and Stephen McHattie. The film is a parody of televangelism ...

'', a parody of televangelism. 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. Cervenka moved from Los Angeles to

Jefferson City, Missouri Jefferson City, informally Jeff City, is the capital of Missouri, United States. It had a population of 43,228 at the 2020 census, ranking as the 15th most populous city in the state. It is also the county seat of Cole County and the principa ...

, for four years, and then returned to Southern California. She now lives in Orange County.

Health

On June 2, 2009, Cervenka released a statement revealing that she had been diagnosed with

multiple sclerosis Multiple (cerebral) sclerosis (MS), also known as encephalomyelitis disseminata or disseminated sclerosis, is the most common demyelinating disease, in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. This ...

. 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. During a July 2015 interview, John Doe said that the multiple sclerosis diagnosis was a misdiagnosis, that Cervenka, after consulting with various doctors who were not able to diagnose her, is healthy.

Conspiracy theories

Cervenka, as a self-styled "conspiracy therapist," has provoked controversy on social media and on YouTube, under the name "Christine Notmyrealname," by advancing conspiracy theories including the view that the Isla Vista shootings were a hoax designed to bring about stricter gun control laws. After the backlash, she has issued an apology on her Facebook and Twitter accounts and her conspiracy related YouTube videos are no longer available for viewing. However, when pressed in interviews, Cervenka has insisted on a talking point of a "fake" news media, and has given tacit approval to what critics describe as fringe ideologies espoused on message boards and by then-President

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...

Discography

X

Singles, soundtracks, compilations, etc.

* 1978: ''Adult Books/We're Desperate'' 7" (

Dangerhouse Records Dangerhouse Records was a Neff, Joseph (August 13, 2013)"(Re)Graded on a Curve: Dangerhouse Records' Compilation, ''Yes L.A.''" ''The Vinyl District''. Retrieved August 21, 2015. punk music record label based in Los Angeles, California Overvie ...

) * 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 was an American record label founded as an independent company by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss in 1962. Due to the success of the discography A&M released, the label garnered interest and was acquired by PolyGram in 1989 and began distr ...

)

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 ''More Fun in the New World'' is the fourth studio album by American rock band X, released in September 1983 by Elektra Records. It was reissued with four bonus tracks by Rhino Records in 2002. It was the last X album produced by Ray Manzarek. ...

'' (Elektra Records) * 1985: '' Ain't Love Grand!'' (Elektra Records) * 1987: '' See How We Are'' (Elektra Records/

Asylum Records Asylum Records is an American record label, founded in 1971 by David Geffen and partner Elliot Roberts. It was taken over by Warner Communications (now the Warner Music Group) in 1972, and later merged with Elektra Records to become Elektra/Asylu ...

) * 1988: '' Live at the Whisky a Go-Go'' (Elektra/Asylum Records) * 1993: ''

Hey Zeus! ''Hey Zeus!'' (stylized as ''hey Zeus!'') is the seventh studio album by American rock band X. The tracks "Country at War" and "New Life" peaked at No. 15 and No. 26, respectively, on the ''Billboard'' Modern Rock Tracks chart. Track listing Al ...

'' (

Big Life Records Big Life was a record label established in 1987 by Jazz Summers and Tim Parry. It featured hundreds of releases from artists such as The Orb, Stare, Yazz, Junior Reid, Coldcut, De La Soul, and Damage. In 1999, the label was put into receiversh ...

) * 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 (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species ...

) * 2005: ''X – Live in Los Angeles'' (

Shout! Factory Shout! Factory is an American home video and music company founded in 2002 as Retropolis Entertainment. Its video releases include previously released feature films, classic and contemporary television series, animation, live music, and comedy ...

) * 2020: ''

Alphabetland ''Alphabetland'' is the eighth studio album by American punk rock band X (American band), X. Released digitally in April 2020, it is their first studio release in 27years and the first with their original line-up in the past 35years. X released th ...

'' ( Fat Possum Records)

The Knitters

* 1985: ''

Poor Little Critter on the Road ''Poor Little Critter on the Road'' is the debut album from X side project The Knitters, ''Poor Little Critter on the Road'' contains original compositions and covers of songs by X as well as established country music performers. Reception Bart ...

'' (Slash Records/Rhino Records) * 2005: ''

The Modern Sounds of the Knitters ''The Modern Sounds of the Knitters'' is the second album by The Knitters, released in 2005. It has received mixed critical reviews. Recording and release The Knitters were founded in the mid-1980s by members of X and standup bassist Johnny Ray ...

'' (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 Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and Tinuviel Sampson, and based in both Olympia, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, but was originally kn ...

) * 1995: ''Surface To Air Serpents'' (213CD/

Thirsty Ear Recordings Thirsty Ear Recordings is an American independent record label. It was founded in the late 1970s as a marketing company for the then-unnamed alternative music field, and expanded to issue its own records in 1990. Thirsty Ear came to prominence ...

) * 2009: ''Somewhere Gone'' ( Bloodshot Records) * 2011: ''The Excitement of Maybe'' (Bloodshot Records)

Bands

* 1997: ''Life Could Be a Dream'' as

Auntie Christ Auntie Christ is a late-1990s punk rock band, containing Exene Cervenka and D.J. Bonebrake of the band X and Matt Freeman Matthew "McCall" Freeman (born Roger Matthew Freeman; April 23, 1966) is an American musician, singer and songwrite ...

(

Lookout Records Lookout Records (stylized as Lookout! Records) was an independent record label, initially based in Laytonville, California and later in Berkeley, California, Berkeley, focusing on punk rock. Established in 1987, the label is best known for having ...

) * 2002: ''Original Sinners'' as Original Sinners (

Nitro Records Nitro Records was an American independent record label, founded in 1994 and operated by The Offspring's Dexter Holland and Greg K. Nitro is famous for being an incubator for punk rock artists who have subsequently become successful, most nota ...

) * 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: Lydia Lunch & 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 ''G.I. Jane'' is a 1997 American war drama film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Demi Moore, Viggo Mortensen, and Anne Bancroft. The film tells the fictional story of the first woman to undergo special operations training similar to the ...

'' original soundtrack (

Hollywood Records Hollywood Records is an American record label of the Disney Music Group. The label focuses in pop, rock, alternative, hip hop, and country genres, as well as specializing in mature recordings not suitable for the flagship Walt Disney Records ...

). "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 Perry Farrell (born Peretz Bernstein; March 29, 1959) is an American singer, songwriter and musician, best known as the frontman of the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction. Farrell created the touring festival Lollapalooza as part (one of th ...

and Exene * 2001: ''Punk-o-rama 2001, Vol. 6'' (

Epitaph Records Epitaph Records is an American independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, most acts signed to the label were punk and pop punk acts, while there are many post-hardcore and emo ba ...

). "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 place, such as a shrine. By the use of such places as a haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety. This secondary use can be categorized into human sanctuary, a sa ...

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

Verve Records Verve Records is an 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, Nina Simon ...

). "See How We Are" by Exene Cervenka & John Doe * 2011: ''Kings and Queens'' by

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings Blackie and the Rodeo Kings are a Canadian folk rock–alternative country band with blues and country influences. The band was formed in 1996, in Hamilton, Ontario, by Tom Wilson, Stephen Fearing, and Colin Linden. Career Early Period: 19 ...

(

Dramatico Dramatico is a record label founded by Mike Batt in 2000. Artists on the label include Mike Batt, Robert Meadmore, Sarah Blasko, Katie Melua, Leddra Chapman and Alistair Griffin. Dramatico has also established a publishing company in Ne ...

). "Made of Love" featuring Exene Cervenka * 2018: "Queen for a Day" by

Skating Polly Skating Polly is an American rock band formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, in 2009. The band was founded by multi-instrumentalist step-siblings Kelli Drew Mayo (born March 29, 2000) and Peyton Mckenna Bighorse (born July 11, 1995), ...

featuring and also written by Exene Cervenka * 2018: " Destroying Angels" by

Garbage Garbage, trash, rubbish, 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 gaseous wastes, or toxic waste produ ...

with

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 X, or x, is the twenty-fourth and third-to-last letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''"ex"'' (pronounced ), ...

'' (2005) –

: 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 ''Details'' was an American monthly men's magazine that was published by Condé Nast, founded in 1982 by Annie Flanders. Though primarily a magazine devoted to fashion and lifestyle, ''Details'' also featured reports on relevant social and politi ...

,'' 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.
'

(September 17 – November 26, 2005) *
America the Beautiful.
' DCKT Contemporary (January 7 – February 11, 2006) *
A Fifth of Tomorrow.
' Collages and journals. Western Project (June 9 – July 14, 2007) *
Sleep in Spite of Thunder.
' 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 Track 16 is a contemporary art gallery in the fashion district neighborhood of downtown Los Angeles, exhibiting the work of contemporary artists. History Track 16, founded by Tom Patchett, co-founded the gallery hub Bergamot Station in 1994. I ...

, 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) *
Never Can Say Goodbye, No Longer Empty.
' 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) *
DCKT @ Miami Project.
' 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

* *
Exene Cervenka
at DCKT Contemporary {{DEFAULTSORT:Cervenka, Exene 1956 births American women singers American folk singers American punk rock singers American spoken word poets Bloodshot Records artists Living people 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