Exene Cervenka

Exene Cervenka
Exene Cervenka at The Chestnut Cabaret in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 30, 1986
Background information
Birth name Christene Lee Cervenka
Also known as Exene, Exene Cervenková
Christine Notmyrealname
Born (1956-02-01) February 1, 1956
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Origin Los Angeles, California
Genres
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, poet, musician, visual artist
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active 1978–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website exenecervenka.net

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.[1]

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

Cervenka was married to John Doe from 1980 to 1985. She met her second husband Viggo Mortensen in 1986 on the set of the comedy Salvation!, 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.[2] They separated in 1992, and were divorced in 1997.[3]

Cervenka married musician Jason Edge, who went on to play in her band, Original Sinners.[4] Edge and Cervenka are now divorced.[5]

Cervenka moved from Los Angeles to Jefferson City, Missouri[2] for four years, and then returned to Southern California.[6] She now lives in Orange County.[7][8]

Health

On June 2, 2009, Cervenka released a statement revealing that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.[9][10] Well before this diagnosis, she and X have 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.[11] In 2011, Cervenka said she may have been misdiagnosed.[7][12] However, Cervenka had to cancel a Spring 2011 tour due to problems associated with her MS.[13] 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.[14]

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.[15][16][17]

Discography

X

Singles, soundtracks, compilations, etc.

Albums

The Knitters

Solo

Bands

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.[23]
  • 2012: John Doe & Exene Cervenka: Singing and Playing (Moonlight Graham Records). Recorded at Way Station April 2–3, 2010.[24]

Additional musical contributions

  • 1994: Applegate, Christina, and Elizabeth Pena. Across the Moon. Los Angeles, CA: Hemdale Home Video, 1994. ISBN 978-1-569-20068-1 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). "The Future is a War" by Auntie Christ
  • 1999: One Man's Meat by Viggo Mortensen (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). "Wasted" by Exene Cervenka
  • 2009: The People Speak original soundtrack (Verve Records). "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

Video

  • Urgh! A Music War (1982)
  • X: The Unheard Music (1985/1987, video; 1986/1987/2004, DVD; re-released 2011 Silver Anniversary Edition)[25]
  • X - Live in Los Angeles (2005) – Shout! Factory: Concert by X in Los Angeles recorded live on November 26 and 27, 2004 ISBN 978-0-738-93185-2

Works or publications

  • Lunch, Lydia, and Exene Cervenka. Adulterers Anonymous. New York: Grove Press, 1982. ISBN 978-0-394-62412-9
  • 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)[26][27]
  • Mohr, Bill, and Sheree Levin. Poetry Loves Poetry: An Anthology of Los Angeles Poets. Santa Monica, CA: Momentum Press, 1985. ISBN 978-0-936-05450-6[28]
  • Jarecke, Kenneth, and Exene Cervenka. Just Another War. Joliet, Mont: Bedrock Press, 1992. ISBN 978-0-963-47840-5[29]
  • Cervenka, Exene. Virtual Unreality. Los Angeles: 2.13.61 Publications, 1993. ISBN 978-1-880-98515-1
  • 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. ISBN 978-0-916-39742-5 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. ISBN 978-0-312-16912-1 "Halos Above Our Horns" by Exene Cervenkova. (essay)
  • Rollins, Henry. The Best of 2.13.61 Publications. Los Angeles: 2.13.61 Publications, 1998. ISBN 978-1-880-98562-5 (excerpts from "Virtual Unreality")
  • Maybe, Ellyn, and Exene Cervenka. The Cowardice of Amnesia. Los Angeles: 2.13.61 Publications, 1998. ISBN 978-1-880-98558-8
  • 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. ISBN 978-1-576-87156-0 "Slivery Moon" (essay)
  • Kihn, Greg. Carved in Rock: Short Stories by Musicians. New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 2003. ISBN 978-1-560-25453-9 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. ISBN 978-0-976-30092-2[30]

Exhibitions

One-person exhibitions

Two-person exhibitions

Group exhibitions

Exhibition catalogs

  • Bessy, Claude, and Edward Colver. Forming: The Early Days of L.A. Punk. Santa Monica, CA: Smart Art Press, 2000. ISBN 978-1-889-19544-5 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. ISBN 978-1-889-19546-9 Track 16 Gallery (February 3 – March 31, 2001)
  • Cervenka, Exene. Exene Cervenka: America the Beautiful. Santa Monica, CA: Smart Art Press, 2005.

See also

References

  1. Prato, Greg. "Exene Cervenka: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Trucks, Rob (May 20, 2008). "Interview: Exene Cervenka of X". Village Voice. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  3. Heller, Zoe (December 2, 2011). "Viggo Talks and Talks". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  4. Yokoland. "Exene Cervenka". Swindle Magazine. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  5. McCall, Michael (February 4, 2010). "Somewhere Gone from Exene Cervenka". Nashville Scene. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  6. Lewis, Randy (October 6, 2009). "Keeping up with Exene Cervenka". L.A. Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Fadroski, Kelli Skye (June 1, 2011). "Exene tells it straight on X, illness and O.C." Orange County Register. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  8. Zaleski, Annie (October 21, 2009). "Somewhere Out There: Exene Cervenka's new solo record, Somewhere Gone, has strong roots in Missouri". Riverfront Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  9. "A Statement from Exene Cervenka". Bloodshot Records. June 2, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  10. Radford, Chad (February 1, 2010). "Despite her MS diagnosis, Exene Cervenka lives for the moment". Creative Loafing. Creative Loafing Atlanta. Archived from the original on February 18, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  11. Cervenka, Exene (June 2, 2009). "A Statement from Exene Cervenka". ExeneCervenka.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  12. Ohanesian, Liz (October 6, 2006). "Exene Cervenka Returns to Southern California". LA Weekly. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  13. "Exene Cervenka Cancels Tour". Bloodshot Records. April 4, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  14. Stafford, James (27 July 2015). "In Conversation With X's John Doe". Diffuser.fm. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  15. "'80s Punk Star Exene Cervenka Claims Santa Barbara Shooting Was a Hoax". Radio.com. May 28, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  16. Brown, Eric (June 1, 2014). "X Singer Exene Cervenka's Santa Barbara Shooting Conspiracy Theory Is One of Many". International Business Times. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  17. Hicks, Tony (May 29, 2014). "Punk legend Exene Cervenka calls Santa Barbara shooting 'hoax'". Contra Costa Times. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  18. Palmer, Robert (June 23, 1982). "Pop Life; New Album Shows X Has Grown". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  19. Pareles, Jon (July 20, 1995). "Pop Review; John Doe and Exene Go a Little Bit Country". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  20. Pareles, Jon (October 29, 1989). "Reviews/Music; Half of X Equals Cervenka". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  21. Gray, Chris (January 27, 2010). "Inquiring Minds: Exene Cervenka on Losing a Friend, Weeping Willows, Albums as Collage and Her Good Buddy Biscuit". Houston Press. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  22. Steffens, Charlie (March 2011). "An Interview with Exene Cervenka". AMP Magazine. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  23. "Decoupage 2000". Decoupagetv.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  24. Bose, Lilledeshan (May 23, 2012). "How Exene Cervenka Came to Rule Over the Boy's Club". KCET. KCETLink. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  25. Maslin, Janet (November 21, 1986). "Film: 'Unheard Music'". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  26. "Kevin Costner in a "Lost" Western Movie Found and Released Exclusively Online" (PDF). Bad Day Movie. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  27. Derrick, Lisa (July 20, 2010). "Bad Day: Kevin Costner's Secret Movie Released Online". Huffington Post. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  28. Bartruff, James (August 17, 1986). "Fiction : Poetry Loves Poetry, edited by Bill Mohr; photographs by Sheree Levin". L.A. Times. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  29. "Exene Cervenka Interview". Shaved Neck. June 26, 2002. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  30. Maslin, Janet (November 1, 2006). "Viggo Mortensen's Unusual Role: Indie Publishing Mogul". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
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