X’s Exene Cervenka Reveals She Has Multiple Sclerosis
Exene Cervenka, co-lead vocalist and original member of famed Los Angeles punk band X, revealed in a statement today that she is suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. “After some months of not feeling 100% healthy, I recently had some medical tests run and the prognosis is that I am suffering from Multiple Sclerosis,” Cervenka said. “Apparently, it has been affecting me for quite some time.”
(Look back at pioneering punks X, in photos.)
In a sad coincidence, X announced just last month that they were embarking on the “X on TRL” tour with the purpose of raising money for the Sweet Relief fund, a charity founded in 1992 by singer-songwriter Victoria Williams, who was also diagnosed with MS, to aid to uninsured musicians. “Although this is obviously unfortunate news, I am choosing to see the positive in it. I, and X as a band, have supported the Sweet Relief charity since the mid-1990s; the irony of this is not lost on any of us,” Cervenka said in the statement. (And for the record, the “TRL” tour has nothing to do with MTV; the set lists are all done by “total request.”)
“While this diagnosis will most certainly mean some changes for me, personally, it will not affect my commitments to the current X U.S. tour, nor will it affect my solo album that is slated for release this fall on Bloodshot Records,” Cervenka added. “My focus will certainly be on maintaining my health — many people remain strong and continue to live their lives as productively as they had before an MS diagnosis and I plan to be one of those people.”
Last month, X singer-bassist John Doe, who was once married to Cervenka, said he was working on songs for a possible new X album, the band’s first since 1993’s hey Zeus!. In January, Cervenka and Doe were joined onstage by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder during an Obama inauguration party in Seattle.
Related Stories:
• The Department of Confusing Press Releases: X on TRL Tour
• Eddie Vedder Joins John Doe and Exene Cervenka’s Knitters to Party for Obama in Seattle