Exene cervenka biography sampler

Exene Cervenka

American singer (born )

Musical artist

Exene Cervenka (born Christene Lee Cervenka; February 1, ) 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]

Music career

The year-old Cervenka met year-old musician John Doe at a poetry workshop at the Beyond Baroque Foundation in Venice, California.[2] Cervenka started working there.[3]

Billy Zoom (guitar) and John Doe (bass and vocals) founded X in ,[4] 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, in and, over the next six years, five more albums.

She learned to play guitar from Dave Alvin of The Blasters.[5]

Collaborations

In , Cervenka published Adulterers Anonymous, her first in a series of four books in collaboration with artist Lydia Lunch. She and Lunch also released a spoken word album, Rude Hieroglyphics, in and toured in support of the project.[6]

From to , 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.[7][8]

In , as Exene Červenková, she appeared in the cult video Decoupage 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 hostess Summer Caprice.[9]

Art career

In , 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

Personal life

Cervenka was married to John Doe from to She met her second husband Viggo Mortensen in on the set of the comedy Salvation!, a parody of televangelism. Mortensen played her husband Jerome. They married on July 8, On January 28, , Cervenka gave birth to a son, Henry Blake Mortensen. Mortensen and Cervenka lived in Idaho for three years.[2] They separated in , and were divorced in [10]

Cervenka married musician Jason Edge, who went on to play in her band Original Sinners.[11] Edge and Cervenka are now divorced.[12]

Cervenka moved from Los Angeles to Jefferson City, Missouri,[2] for four years, and then returned to Southern California.[13] She now lives in Orange County.[14][15]

Health

On June 2, , Cervenka disclosed that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.[16][17] 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.[18] In , Cervenka said she may have been misdiagnosed.[14][19] However, Cervenka had to cancel a Spring tour due to problems associated with her MS.[20] In , John Doe said that the MS diagnosis was incorrect, and that Cervenka had consulted with other doctors who were not able to diagnose her.[21]

Conspiracy theories

Cervenka has provoked controversy on social media and YouTube, under the name "Christine Notmyrealname," by advancing conspiracy theories, including that the Isla Vista shootings were a hoax designed to bring about stricter gun control laws. After backlash, she issued an apology and her conspiracy related YouTube videos are no longer available.[22][23][24]

Discography

X

Singles, soundtracks, compilations, etc.

Albums

The Knitters

Solo

Bands

Other

  • Wanda Coleman, Exene Cervenka: Twin Sisters LP (Freeway). Poetry performance recorded at McCabe's Guitar Shop, Santa Monica, CA on February 1,
  • Lydia Lunch & Exene Cervenka: Rude Hieroglyphics (Rykodisc). Recorded live at the Sapphire Supper Club, Orlando, FL on March 20,
  • Decoupage Return of the Goddess. Read poem "They Must Be Angels" and appeared in an interview skit.[9]
  • John Doe & Exene Cervenka: Singing and Playing (Moonlight Graham Records). Recorded at Way Station April 2–3, [30]

Additional musical contributions

Video

Works or publications

  • Lunch, Lydia, and Exene Cervenka. Adulterers Anonymous. New York: Grove Press, ISBN&#;
  • The Calendar of Olympic Games, Music & Orwellian Dates. , 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 ed February 10, , at the Wayback Machine ()[32][33]
  • Mohr, Bill, and Sheree Levin. Poetry Loves Poetry: An Anthology of Los Angeles Poets. Santa Monica, CA: Momentum Press, ISBN&#;[34]
  • Jarecke, Kenneth, and Exene Cervenka. Just Another War. Joliet, Mont: Bedrock Press, ISBN&#;[35]
  • Cervenka, Exene. Virtual Unreality. Los Angeles: Publications, ISBN&#;
  • Cervenka, Exene. "Consumption." Details Magazine, July (poem)
  • Cervenka, Exene. "Acres of Defeat." Raygun Magazine, Dec./Jan (article)
  • Cervenka, Exene. "Midnight Black." L.A. Weekly Magazine, Best of L.A. Issue, (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, ISBN&#; 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, ISBN&#; "Halos Above Our Horns" by Exene Cervenkova. (essay)
  • Rollins, Henry. The Best of Publications. Los Angeles: Publications, ISBN&#; (excerpts from "Virtual Unreality")
  • Maybe, Ellyn, and Exene Cervenka. The Cowardice of Amnesia. Los Angeles: Publications, ISBN&#;
  • Hyatt, Michael, and Exene Cervenka. Lucky 13 Postcards. Los Angeles, Calif: s.n.,
  • Cervenka, Exene. A Beer on Every Page.
  • Jocoy, Jim, Thurston Moore, and Exene Cervenka. We're Desperate: The Punk Photography of Jim Jocoy&#;: SF/LA 78– New York, NY: PowerHouse Books, ISBN&#; "Slivery Moon" (essay)
  • Kihn, Greg. Carved in Rock: Short Stories by Musicians. New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, ISBN&#; 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, ISBN&#;[36]

Exhibitions

One-person exhibitions

Two-person exhibitions

Group exhibitions

  • Hollywood Satan. Mark Moore Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (December 5–25, )
  • Forming: The Early Days of L.A. ed August 11, , at the Wayback MachineTrack 16 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (April 10 – June 15, )
  • Capital Art: On the Culture of ed March 4, , at the Wayback Machine Track 16 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (February 3 – March 31, )
  • Cruel And Unusual: A Benefit For The West Memphis Three. sixspace, Los Angeles, CA ()
  • Vexing: Female Voices from East L.A. ed February 3, , at the Wayback Machine Claremont Museum of Art, Claremont, CA (May 18 – August 31, ); Museo de las Artes, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico (–)
  • Yard Dog, Austin, TX ()
  • Celestial Ash: Assemblages from Los Angeles. Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA (April 11 – September 13, )
  • Western Project: The First Six Years. Western Project, Culver City, CA (November 7 – December 30, )
  • Tanya Batura / Exene Cervenka / Amir H. Fallah / Will Yackulic. Western Project, Culver City, CA (August 14 – September 11, )
  • Never Can Say Goodbye, No Longer Empty.[usurped] at former Tower Records Store, West 4th Street & Broadway, New York, NY ()
  • Girls Just Want to Have Funds. P.P.O.W Gallery, New York, NY ()
  • DCKT @ Miami Project. Midtown Art District (December 3–8, )

Exhibition catalogs

  • Bessy, Claude, and Edward Colver. Forming: The Early Days of L.A. Punk. Santa Monica, CA: Smart Art Press, ISBN&#; Track 16 Gallery (April 10 – June 5, ). 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, ISBN&#; Track 16 Gallery (February 3 – March 31, )
  • Cervenka, Exene. Exene Cervenka: America the Beautiful. Santa Monica, CA: Smart Art Press,

See also

References

  1. ^Prato, Greg. "Exene Cervenka: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2,
  2. ^ abcTrucks, Rob (May 20, ). "Interview: Exene Cervenka of X". Village Voice. Archived from the original on February 3, Retrieved February 2,
  3. ^"Exene Cervenka – Singer, songwriter, poet, artist"(audio interview). Storytellers. Blog Talk Radio. July 3, Retrieved February 2,
  4. ^Keith Valcourt (March 30, ). "Exene Cervenka: High Priestess Of Punk". . Retrieved April 4,
  5. ^Kay, Tony (April 24, ). "More Fun in the New World: Exene Cervenka of X, Interviewed". The SunBreak. Archived from the original on April 24,
  6. ^Palmer, Robert (November 3, ). "The Pop Life; 2 Rock Queens Turn to Literature". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2,
  7. ^"Business: Diary; Who Says 'Nobody Ever Went Broke . . . '?". The New York Times. March 21, Retrieved February 2,
  8. ^Lecaro, Lina (February 28, ). "Punk Puppet Apocalypse". LA Weekly. Retrieved February 2,
  9. ^ ab"Decoupage ". Archived from the original on July 9, Retrieved January 2,
  10. ^Heller, Zoe (December 2, ). "Viggo Talks and Talks". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2,
  11. ^Yokoland. "Exene Cervenka". Swindle Magazine. Archived from the original on February 28, Retrieved February 2,
  12. ^McCall, Michael (February 4, ). "Somewhere Gone from Exene Cervenka". Nashville Scene. Archived from the original on March 3, Retrieved February 2,
  13. ^Lewis, Randy (October 6, ). "Keeping up with Exene Cervenka". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 2,
  14. ^ abFadroski, Kelli Skye (June 1, ). "Exene tells it straight on X, illness and O.C."Orange County Register. Retrieved February 2,
  15. ^Zaleski, Annie (October 21, ). "Somewhere Out There: Exene Cervenka's new solo record, Somewhere Gone, has strong roots in Missouri". Riverfront Times. Archived from the original on December 24, Retrieved February 2,
  16. ^"A Statement from Exene Cervenka". Bloodshot Records. June 2, Archived from the original on February 3, Retrieved February 2,
  17. ^Radford, Chad (February 1, ). "Despite her MS diagnosis, Exene Cervenka lives for the moment". Creative Loafing. Creative Loafing Atlanta. Archived from the original on February 18, Retrieved February 2,
  18. ^Cervenka, Exene (June 2, ). "A Statement from Exene Cervenka". . Archived from the original on July 30, Retrieved February 2,
  19. ^Ohanesian, Liz (October 6, ). "Exene Cervenka Returns to Southern California". LA Weekly. Retrieved February 2,
  20. ^"Exene Cervenka Cancels Tour". Bloodshot Records. April 4, Archived from the original on February 3, Retrieved February 2,
  21. ^Stafford, James (July 27, ). "In Conversation With X's John Doe". . Retrieved July 30,
  22. ^"'80s Punk Star Exene Cervenka Claims Santa Barbara Shooting Was a Hoax". . May 28, Retrieved June 5,
  23. ^Brown, Eric (June 1, ). "X Singer Exene Cervenka's Santa Barbara Shooting Conspiracy Theory Is One of Many". International Business Times. Retrieved June 5,
  24. ^Hicks, Tony (May 29, ). "Punk legend Exene Cervenka calls Santa Barbara shooting 'hoax'". Contra Costa Times. Retrieved June 5,
  25. ^Palmer, Robert (June 23, ). "Pop Life; New Album Shows X Has Grown". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2,
  26. ^Pareles, Jon (July 20, ). "Pop Review; John Doe and Exene Go a Little Bit Country". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2,
  27. ^Pareles, Jon (October 29, ). "Reviews/Music; Half of X Equals Cervenka". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2,
  28. ^Gray, Chris (January 27, ). "Inquiring Minds: Exene Cervenka on Losing a Friend, Weeping Willows, Albums as Collage and Her Good Buddy Biscuit". Houston Press. Archived from the original on January 29, Retrieved February 2,
  29. ^Steffens, Charlie (March ). "An Interview with Exene Cervenka". AMP. Archived from the original on February 3, Retrieved February 2,
  30. ^Bose, Lilledeshan (May 23, ). "How Exene Cervenka Came to Rule Over the Boy's Club". KCET. KCETLink. Retrieved February 2,
  31. ^Maslin, Janet (November 21, ). "Film: 'Unheard Music'". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2,
  32. ^"Kevin Costner in a "Lost" Western Movie Found and Released Exclusively Online"(PDF). Bad Day Movie. Archived from the original(PDF) on February 19, Retrieved February 2,
  33. ^Derrick, Lisa (July 20, ). "Bad Day: Kevin Costner's Secret Movie Released Online". Huffington Post. Retrieved February 2,
  34. ^Bartruff, James (August 17, ). "Fiction&#;: Poetry Loves Poetry, edited by Bill Mohr; photographs by Sheree Levin". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 1,
  35. ^"Exene Cervenka Interview". Shaved Neck. June 26, Archived from the original on July 5, Retrieved February 2,
  36. ^Maslin, Janet (November 1, ). "Viggo Mortensen's Unusual Role: Indie Publishing Mogul". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2,

External links