Art Alexakis
Art Alexakis
Arthur Paul "Art" Alexakisis an American musician best known as the singer, composer, and guitarist of the rock band Everclear. He has been a member of several notable bands, in addition to his own work as a songwriter for other artists. Alexakis founded several record labels throughout his career, and worked as an A&R representative for major record labels, between and during his own musical projects. Later he became a political activist, and lobbied for special concerns which included drug...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionRock Singer
Date of Birth12 April 1962
CityLos Angeles, CA
CountryUnited States of America
I like Nirvana, but I couldn't say that I was influenced by them. I like to tell a story.
Fatherhood, both times for me, was a choice.
'Santa Monica' was a big song, and I always knew it would be radio friendly. But it's not a defining song for me, though for a lot of people it is.
I like older people; I think older people have a lot of flavor.
Being a musician, especially at the major label where you work for so long, it becomes a cycle. Write a record, make a record, tour. It's just this cycle, and I don't think there's any life built into it with time to assimilate what's going on in front of you and what's going on in your head.
I have my dark side like anybody, you know, depression, anxiety... and I write about gritty, real-life stuff.
I've always loved aggressive, hard, noisy, yet melodic bands, and at the same time I've always loved 'Blue' by Joni Mitchell.
Being a child that grew up with a single mom back in the '70s, Father's Day to me was always a very uncomfortable time. At school, we would make Father's Day cards for our dads, and I usually mailed one to my dad, and he hardly ever responded.
I love Australia! I got a boot thrown at me there.
I'd actually like to make a country album one day. One of my idols is Neil Young, because he's kept himself from being bored.
One of the things about being a boy, especially growing up without a father, is you really don't have that role model to teach you how to do things.
I still fall back a lot on my Les Paul, and there is just no getting away from a Les Paul and a hot pickup.
I've always kind of been a little skeptical about bands that won't play their hits. That's really arrogant to me as a music fan. I do want to hear obscure songs, but like most people, I want to hear the hits, so we always play them.
As a songwriter, I do kind of look at 'Santa Monica' as a thing outside of itself, because it isn't just my song. This is a song a lot of people tell me is a part of their high school or college years. That means a lot to me.