Exene Cervenka of X diagnosed with MS

Sad news today, friends — and news that hits close to home, as we’ve been following the rejuvenation of the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund on this blog and in print.

A statement today was issued from the headquarters of rural-Missouri-dwelling punk goddess Exene Cervenka of the legendary LA punk band X (and, more recently, the Original Sinners), announcing that the singer has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Here’s the statement in full.

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. Apparently, it has been affecting me for quite some time.

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-1990’s; the irony of this is not lost on any of us. Sweet Relief was started as an aide to uninsured artists by musician Victoria Williams when she herself was diagnosed with MS in 1992.