Exene Cervenka, the co-lead vocalist of seminal punk group X, has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Trooper that she is, the group has not cancelled any concerts on its current tour. Their next performance is scheduled for June 11 at the Orange Peel in Asheville, NC.

“After some months of not feeling 100 percent healthy, I recently had some medical tests run and the prognosis is that I am suffering from Multiple Sclerosis,” Cervenka said in a statement. “Apparently, it has been affecting me for quite some time.”

“Although this is obviously unfortunate news,” she continued, “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. Sweet Relief was started as an aide to uninsured artists by musician Victoria Williams when she herself was diagnosed with MS in 1992.”

While Cervenka acknowledges that this diagnosis will mean some changes for her, personally, she is not letting it affect her current tour commitments or her upcoming solo album slated for a fall release.

“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,” she said.

X released its first album in 1980. Cervenka was also a member of the Knitters.

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