Kuehnemund died on Thursday (October 10) after what was deemed a “fierce battle” with cancer.

Her VIXEN bandmates said in a statement: “Up until the actual moment that she died, she really believed she was going back home.”

Kuehnemund was only 51 years old at the time of her death.

VIXEN‘s original members, Kuehnemund, vocalist Janet Gardner, drummer Roxy Petrucci and bassist Share Ross appeared together on VH1‘s “Bands Reunited” in October 2004 to reminisce about their start on L.A.’s Sunset Strip and their rise to fame in the late 1980s, before the onset of grunge in the early 1990s displaced metal at the top of the charts. They also took part in a short performance for the program.

Gardner, Petrucci and Ross are currently performing together in a new band called JANETSHAREROXYGINA. The group’s lineup is rounded out by Gina Stile, who was the guitarist on VIXEN‘s “Tangerine” album.

In a statement on her Facebook page, Ross wrote: “For those of you who wondered why VIXEN never reunited, we actually did reunite.

“We had resolved our differences and were wholeheartedly looking forward to playing together again.

“In January 2013, only days before the announcement was to be made public, Jan was given her cancer diagnosis. She requested that we keep her illness private and out of respect for her wishes when press and fans asked us why we were not back together, we replied ‘it’s a matter of timing.’ Since then we’ve been in regular contact with her and offered our loving support while continually hoping to make 2014 the year of VIXEN. However, it was not meant to be.”