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Exene Cervenka

Biography

Best known because the vocalist for X, among the leaders from the later-’70s/early-’80s California punk explosion, Exene Cervenka in addition has issued single albums, launched many aspect rings, and penned books. Although Cervenka continues to be closely connected with California for a long period, she is not really originally in the West Coast. Blessed on Feb 1, 1956, in Chicago, Christine Cervenka was raised mainly in Tallahassee, FL before relocating to Santa Monica, CA through the summer months of 1976. Through an area poetry workshop, Cervenka fulfilled John Doe, as well as the seed products of what would ultimately become X had been planted. With both writing vocal responsibilities (and Doe doubling on bass), Doe’s friend Billy Move supplied guitar within a Duane Eddy design and was shortly accompanied by the entrance of drummer D.J. Bonebrake, leading to the delivery of X in 1977. With Cervenka changing the spelling of her initial name to Exene, the group led the Hollywood punk motion, but there is much more with their sound compared to the typical punk music group — as nation, rockabilly, and Exene’s poetic lyrics arranged them in addition to the pack. A string of traditional (however criminally forgotten) releases adopted — 1980’s LA, 1981’s Wild Present, 1982’s Beneath the Big Dark Sunlight, and 1983’s MORE PLEASURABLE in the brand new World — where period Cervenka and Doe had been married. Furthermore to her X responsibilities, Cervenka appeared within the nation spinoff the Knitters (1985’s Poor Small Critter on the highway), and released (also in 1985) a poetry cooperation with Wanda Coleman entitled Twin Sisters. But because the ’80s used on, Cervenka and Doe’s relationship would collapse, mainly because do X after Zoom’s leave and some spotty albums. With X winding down, Cervenka released a solo profession, leading to 1989’s Aged Wives’ Stories and 1990’s Operating Sacred. Following a break early within the 10 years, Cervenka, Doe, and Bonebrake resuscitated X in the first ’90s with a fresh studio recording, 1993’s Hey Zeus!, and 1995’s acoustic affair, Unclogged. Later on within the 10 years, Zoom signed back again on, producing a re-formation of the initial X lineup (no fresh studio room recordings surfaced, nevertheless; just live times). During this time period, Cervenka found enough time to release a fresh albeit short-lived music group, Auntie Christ (where she also provided acoustic guitar), including X bandmate Bonebrake in addition to major X lover Rancid bassist Matt Freeman — and in addition issued another solo launch, 1996’s Surface area to Air flow Serpents. The first 21st century noticed the forming of another musical part task for Exene, the initial Sinners. Additionally, Cervenka offers issued many books, like the game titles Virtual Unreality (through Henry Rollins’ 2.13.61 publishing company), A Beer about Every Web page, and YET ANOTHER War, the second option which was a collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-nominated photojournalist Kenneth Jarecke, where Exene supplied commentary to Jarecke’s photos from the Gulf War. The Knitters resurfaced in 2005 with THE PRESENT DAY Sounds from the Knitters, and the next 12 months Cervenka released the single album Sev7en. Someplace Gone appeared in ’09 2009, adopted in 2011 by another single album, The Enjoyment of Probably, which featured visitor places from Dave Alvin and jazz bassist Christian McBride.

Quick Facts


Full Name Exene Cervenka
Date Of Birth February 1, 1956
Profession Actor, Singer, Poet, Songwriter, Film Score Composer, Visual Artist
Nationality American
Spouse Viggo Mortensen, John Doe
Children Henry Mortensen
Siblings Mirielle Cervenka
Music Groups X, The Knitters, Auntie Christ
Music Songs Somewhere Gone, I Wish It Would Stop Raining, Already In Love, Alone In Arizona, I'll Admit It Now, Brand New Memory, He's Got a She, Someday I'll Forget, Children of Night, Half Past Forever, Surface of the Sun, Let Go and Be Sweet, Dirty Snow, Coyote on the Town, Leave Heaven Alone, Biggest Memory, Famous Barmaid, White Trash Wife, Insane Thing, Will Jesus Wash the Bloodstains from Your Hands, See How We Are, Sound of Coming Down, Cocktail Trees, Fine Familiar, Here Come the Crucifiers, Love And Haight, Because I Do, The Willow Tree, Honest Mistake, I Want Questions, The Future Is a War, Gravel
Albums Los Angeles, Wild Gift, Under the Big Black Sun, More Fun in the New World, Ain't Love Grand!, See How We Are, Live at the Whisky a Go-Go, Unclogged, Beyond and Back: The X Anthology, X – Live in Los Angeles, Merry Xmas from X, Poor Little Critter on the Road, Old Wives' Tales, The Modern Sounds of the Knitters, Sev7en, Somewhere Gone, The Excitement Of Maybe
Movies Floundering, Salvation!, X: The Unheard Music, The Pikme-Up


  • Facts
  • Filmography
  • Awards
  • Salaries
  • Quotes
  • Trademarks
  • Pictures

#Fact
1 Sister of Mirielle Cervenka.
2 Ex-sister-in-law of Walter Mortensen.
3 Ranked #75 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll.
4 Son, Henry Mortensen (b. 1988), with Viggo Mortensen.
5 Vocalist for the influential punk band X., noted for their rockabilly styling. She has also performed as a soloist (both music and poetry).


Soundtrack

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Fearless 2015 writer: "Los Angeles"
A Perfect Day 2015 performer: "YOUR PHONE'S OFF THE HOOK, BUT YOU'RE NOT" / writer: "YOUR PHONE'S OFF THE HOOK, BUT YOU'RE NOT"
Grand Theft Auto V 2013 Video Game writer: "Los Angeles" - as Christine Cervenka
Rock 'n' Roll High School 101 2012 TV Series documentary writer - 1 episode
The Kids Are All Right 2010 writer: "The New World"
Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball 2010 Video performer: "Cherry Bomb", "Ballroom Blitz"
The Shield 2008 TV Series writer - 1 episode
True Blood 2008 TV Series writer - 1 episode
Margot at the Wedding 2007 writer: "See How We Are"
Too Tough to Die: A Tribute to Johnny Ramone 2006 Documentary writer: "Los Angeles", "Because I Do"
X: Live in Los Angeles 2005 Video performer: "See How We Are", "True Love" / writer: "Your Phone's Off the Hook But You're Not", "In This House That I Call Home", "We're Desperate", "Beyond & Back", "White Girl", "The Unheard Music", "Los Angeles", "True Love", "I'm Coming Over", "Blue Spark", "The New World", "Nausea", "Johny Hit and Run Paulene", "Motel Room in My Bed", "It's Who You Know", "Because I Do", "Devil Doll", "The Hungry Wolf", "Year 1", "The World's a Mess, It's in My Kiss", "See How We Are"
Tony Hawk's Underground 2 2004 Video Game writer: "Los Angeles"
Mayor of the Sunset Strip 2003 Documentary writer: "Los Angeles", "Hungry Wolf" - as Exene
Freaks and Geeks 2000 TV Series writer - 1 episode
Boys Don't Cry 1999 writer: "Burning House of Love"
G.I. Jane 1997 writer: "The Future Is a War"
SubUrbia 1996 writer: "Unheard Music"
Kalifornia 1993 writer: "Lettuce and Vodka"
Roadside Prophets 1992 performer: "Clean Like Tomorrow" / producer: "Clean Like Tomorrow" / writer: "Clean Like Tomorrow"
The Natural History of Parking Lots 1990 writer: "Los Angeles"
Something Wild 1986 writer: "More Fun in the New World", "Someone Like You"
X: The Unheard Music 1986 Documentary writer: "The Unheard Music", "Los Angeles", "The Hungry Wolf", "Year One", "Riding with Mary", "We're Desperate", "Because I Do", "Beyond & Back", "Come Back to Me", "White Girl", "The Once Over Twice", "True Love Pt. #2", "Motel Room in My Bed", "Real Child of Hell", "Johny Hit & Run Pauline", "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts", "The World's a Mess; It's in My Kiss", "The Have Nots"
X: Burning House of Love 1985 Video short writer: "Burning House of Love"
A Night at Halsted's 1982 writer: "Your Phone's Off the Hook But You're Not" - uncredited
Urgh! A Music War 1981 Documentary writer: "Beyond and Back"

Actress

Actress

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Childrens Hospital 2016 TV Series X
Floundering 1994 Homeless Woman
Salvation!: Have You Said Your Prayers Today? 1987 Rhonda Stample
The Twilight Zone 1985 TV Series Waitress (segment "Nightcrawlers")
X: Burning House of Love 1985 Video short Exene Cervenka

Composer

Composer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Across the Moon 1995

Music Department

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
X: Burning House of Love 1985 Video short lyricist

Self

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
You Can Color Outside the Lines.: The Big Boys 2017 Documentary filming Herself
Alternative Press Music Awards 2015 TV Special Herself
Sunset Strip 2012 Documentary Herself
Already in Love 2011 Video short Herself
Two Headed Cow 2006 Documentary Herself
The Pikme-Up 2006 Documentary
X: Live in Los Angeles 2005 Video Herself
Mayor of the Sunset Strip 2003 Documentary Herself
Decoupage 2000: Return of the Goddess 1999 Short Herself
Women in Rock 1986 Video documentary Herself (as Exene of X)
X: The Unheard Music 1986 Documentary Herself
New American Bandstand 1965 1983-1985 TV Series Herself
Urgh! A Music War 1981 Documentary Herself - X
The Decline of Western Civilization 1981 Documentary 'X' - vocals

Archive Footage

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Prey for Rock & Roll 2003 Herself (uncredited)

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#Quote
1 I'm very American. I love our culture. I love the pieces, the most mundane stuff about our culture, and I think you can make the best art out of an ordinary item that is usually thrown away or people don't care about.


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