Editing Art Alexakis

{{Short description|American musician (born 1962)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{BLP sources|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Art Alexakis
| image             = Art Alexakis.jpg
| caption           = Alexakis performing at [[Emory University]], September 2007
| landscape         = Yes
| birth_name        = Arthur Paul Alexakis
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1962|04|12}}
| birth_place       = [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]], United States
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}
| instrument        = {{flatlist|
* Vocals
* guitar
* bass
* piano
* mandolin
* banjo
}}
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Alternative rock]]|[[post-grunge]]|[[power pop]]|[[grunge]]|[[punk rock]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Musician|singer-songwriter|[[A&R|A&R representative]]|political activist|actor}}
| years_active      = 1985–present
| label             = {{hlist|[[The End Records]]|[[Eleven Seven Music]]|[[Capitol Records|Capitol]]|Tim/Kerr|Shindig}}
| current_member_of = [[Everclear (band)|Everclear]]
| past_member_of = {{flatlist|
* Colorfinger
* The Easy Hoes
* Shakin' Brave
}}
| website           = {{URL|everclearmusic.com}}
}}

'''Arthur Paul Alexakis''' (born April 12, 1962<ref name=allmusicbio>{{cite web|url= https://www.allmusic.com/artist/art-alexakis-mn0000597133/biography|title=Art Alexakis Biography|first=Greg |last= Prato|publisher=[[AllMusic.com]]|access-date=March 27, 2019|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url= https://archive.today/20190327143309/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/art-alexakis-mn0000597133/biography|url-status=live}}<!--AllMusic also verifies full name Arthur Paul Alexakis--></ref>) is an American musician best known as the singer-songwriter and guitarist of the rock band [[Everclear (band)|Everclear]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/14/movies/rock-review-reality-bites-but-slackers-can-dream.html|title=ROCK REVIEW; Reality Bites But Slackers Can Dream|last=Powers|first=Ann|date=1997-11-14|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-08-15|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He has been a member of several other bands in addition to his own work as a songwriter for other artists. Alexakis has 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 include drug awareness policies and support for the families of the military.

==Early life==
Alexakis was born in [[Los Angeles]], the youngest of five children.<ref name=allmusicbio /> When Art was five years old his father left the family,<ref name=allmusicbio /> and financial difficulties forced his mother to relocate the family to the [[Mar Vista Gardens]] housing project in California, located on the west side of Los Angeles in [[Del Rey, Los Angeles|Del Rey]]. When Alexakis was 8 years old, he was beaten and sexually assaulted by older children in his neighborhood.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.houstonpress.com/artattack/2011/03/sxsw_film_festival_the_other_f.php" |title=Archived copy |website=blogs.houstonpress.com |access-date=19 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318150954/http://blogs.houstonpress.com/artattack/2011/03/sxsw_film_festival_the_other_f.php" |archive-date=18 March 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

His brother George died of a [[heroin]] overdose when Alexakis was 12. That same year, Alexakis's 15-year-old girlfriend died by suicide.<ref>[http://www.spin.com/2015/06/everclear-art-alexakis-sparkle-and-fade-interview-summerland/ Everclear's Art Alexakis: "'Sparkle and Fade' Was My Escape Route"], spin.com. June 2015.</ref> Not long after her death, Alexakis attempted suicide by filling his pockets with sand and lead weights and jumping off the [[Santa Monica Pier]]. Later, he said that the vision and voice of his brother George compelled him to survive.<ref>Edwards, Gavin.  "Clear Unpleasant Danger". ''[[Details (magazine)|Details]]''. May 1996.</ref> Alexakis started [[shooting up]] when he was 13, mostly taking [[crystal methamphetamine]].<ref name="1998interview">{{Cite web|url=http://www.canoe.com:80/JamMusicArtistsE/everclear.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990824170613/http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicArtistsE/everclear.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 24, 1999|title=Clearing the hurdles|access-date=May 4, 2020}}</ref> He became addicted to heroin and [[cocaine]], and he survived a cocaine overdose when he was 22.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.canoe.com:80/JamMusicArtistsE/everclear.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990824170613/http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicArtistsE/everclear.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 24, 1999|title=Art Alexakis says no to drugs and yes to success|access-date=May 4, 2020}}</ref> He quit drugs [[cold turkey]] in June 1989.<ref name="1998interview"/>

Alexakis attended [[Santa Monica High School]] <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.seeing-stars.com/Schools/SantaMonicaHigh.shtml}}</ref> and took film classes at [[Los Angeles Community College]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gazette.net/stories/05192011/entefre153950_32533.php | title=E-I-E-I-Everclear | work=Gazette.net | date=May 19, 2011 | access-date=September 22, 2015 | author=Oravec, Nathan | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923061039/http://www.gazette.net/stories/05192011/entefre153950_32533.php | archive-date=September 23, 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Music career==
===Early bands===
While living in Los Angeles in the 1980s, Alexakis was in a band called Shakin' Brave. Shakin' Brave featured a rather rough rock sound, but failed to emerge from the sea of music in [[Southern California]]. Alexakis and his first wife Anita relocated to [[San Francisco]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wweek.com/music/2017/05/09/i-think-weve-got-a-problem-an-oral-history-of-everclears-so-much-for-the-afterglow/|title=I Think We've Got a Problem: An Oral History of Everclear's "So Much for the Afterglow"|last=Cizmar|first=Martin|date=May 9, 2017 |access-date=2022-06-19}}</ref>

While living in San Francisco, Alexakis discovered a genre of music known as "[[cowpunk]]", a style merging two prevalent forms of music with which he grew up — the tunefulness of [[country music|country]] and the distorted guitars/fast tempo of [[rock and roll]]. Inspired, Alexakis established Shindig Records. He spent several years with his cowpunk band, the Easy Hoes that formed in the late '80s and released one album, ''Tragic Songs of Life'', in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wweek.com/music/2015/11/17/its-a-real-small-town/|last=Cizmar|first=Martin|title=It's a Real Small Town: The story behind Everclear's Sparkle and Fade—and why everyone hates the man behind it.|date=November 17, 2015 |access-date=2022-06-19}}</ref>

Alexakis's next project began as a solo album but grew into a group project under the name Colorfinger.  This band released the album, ''[[Deep in the Heart of the Beast in the Sun]]'' as well as an [[Extended play|EP]], ''Demonstration''.  Only the full-length album was made available for sale. Both were released on Alexakis's Shindig Records. A few songs originally performed by Colorfinger were made into Everclear songs, such as "Why I Don't Believe in God", "Invisible," "The Twistinside", "[[Heartspark Dollarsign]]", and "Hateful".

===Everclear===
[[File:Art Alexakis in 1999 with Everclear.jpg|thumb|Alexakis singing with Everclear at [[Woodstock '99]]]]
Following a move to Portland, Alexakis placed an ad in ''The Rocket'' seeking a bass player and a drummer to form a new band. Alexakis had two respondents, [[Craig Montoya]] and Scott Cuthbert. The trio became the first incarnation of Everclear. After Cuthbert was replaced by [[Greg Eklund]], the band spent the better part of a decade as a dominant act on [[alternative rock]] radio.  The band scored three [[platinum album]]s in ''[[Sparkle & Fade]]'', ''[[So Much for the Afterglow]]'', and ''[[Songs from an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile]]''.

The instability and personal turmoil Alexakis experienced throughout his life would directly inspire his lyrics. "[[Father of Mine]]" and "Why I Don't Believe in God" described his difficult youth, while "[[Heroin Girl]]", "Strawberry", and "Color Pit" touched upon his drug addictions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitelightning.org/resources/faq-b.htm |title=WL Everclear FAQ&nbsp;– Section B |publisher=Whitelightning.org |access-date=2012-02-27}}</ref> Everclear's breakthrough album, ''[[Sparkle & Fade]]'', deals with the themes of escape and redemption that pervaded his life upon leaving San Francisco.

===Songwriting and industry roles===
While finding success as a musical act and songwriter, Alexakis took on other projects within the music industry. For several years, he served as an A&R representative for [[Capitol Records]]. In 1996, he produced Frogpond's album, ''Count to Ten''.

In the early 2000s, Alexakis established his own label, Popularity Recordings, as a subsidiary of [[Artemis Records]]. He produced the label's first release, the 2002 album ''Volume'' by [[Flipp]]. The label closed in 2003.

Alexakis dabbled in songwriting with other artists, including co-writing and duetting the song "At the End of the Day" released on [[Marion Raven]]'s 2005 and 2007 albums, ''[[Here I Am (Marion Raven album)|Here I Am]]'' and ''[[Set Me Free (Marion Raven album)|Set Me Free]]'', respectively.

In October 2008, Alexakis entered the studio with the [[Minneapolis]]-based band Apparently Nothing (previously a Madison band and later renamed to The Usual Things) to produce their debut album, tentatively titled ''The Middle Coast''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apparently-nothing.com/2008/10/04/fall-glimmer-sparkle-and-fade |title=Apparently Nothing blog post |publisher=Apparently-nothing.com |date=December 10, 2011 |access-date=2012-02-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306194050/http://www.apparently-nothing.com/2008/10/04/fall-glimmer-sparkle-and-fade/ |archive-date=March 6, 2009 }}</ref>

==Radio==
From March 2017 through February 2019, Alexakis hosted a weekly radio show on [[Sirius XM]]'s 1990s alternative and grunge music channel, [[Lithium (Sirius XM)|Lithium]] (Channel 34).<ref name="artalexakisshow">{{cite web|title=The Art Alexakis Show comes to Lithium, hosted by the Everclear frontman|date=March 3, 2017|url=http://blog.siriusxm.com/the-art-alexakis-show-comes-to-lithium-hosted-by-the-everclear-frontman/|access-date=2018-03-25}}</ref>

==Film and television==
In 2000, Alexakis made brief appearances in the [[Heather Graham (actress)|Heather Graham]] comedy ''[[Committed (2000 film)|Committed]]''. He played the lead role in the 2006 short film ''Room to Breathe'' and had parts in ''Rid of Me'' (2011)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifilm.com/video/2760808 |title=Movie Reviews & TV Show Reviews &#124; Screen Junkies |publisher=Ifilm.com |access-date=2012-02-27}}</ref> and ''Rogue River'' (2012).

Alexakis was interviewed on ''[[Space Ghost Coast to Coast]]''; the interview never aired, although it is briefly glimpsed on Episode 60, "Lawsuit". In 2002, Alexakis appeared in two episodes of ''[[The Chris Isaak Show]]''. In 2006, he appeared on an episode of ''[[Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide]]'' on [[Nickelodeon]] as a music teacher named Mr. Gibson (a reference to [[Gibson Guitar Corporation|Gibson]] guitars).

In August 2006, Alexakis appeared on ''[[The O'Reilly Factor]]'' discussing the music video for "Hater", the first single from Everclear's ''[[Welcome to the Drama Club]]''.

In 2014, he had a role as a tattoo artist in the biographical drama film ''[[Wild (2014 film)|Wild]]'' starring [[Reese Witherspoon]].

==Political activism==
In 2000, Alexakis testified before [[United States Congress|Congress]] in support of HR 1488, the Compassion for Children and Child Support Enforcement Act. Through ACES, the Association of Children for the Enforcement of Support, President Geraldine Jenson and [[Nancy Pelosi]] sponsored this bill.  The law passed.<ref>{{cite web|author=Staff reporter |title=Everclear Frontman Art Alexakis to Testify Today Before the House of Representatives Sub-Committee on the Need for Federally Enforced Child Support Laws |url=http://www.nyrock.com/worldbeat/03_2000/031600.asp |publisher=NyMusic |date=March 15, 2000 |access-date=2008-02-10 |quote=Everclear singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Art Alexakis is taking time from recording two different albums due out this year to testify at a congressional hearing on the need for federally enforced child support laws. Alexakis will appeal on behalf of ACES (The Association for Children for Enforcement of Support, Inc.) to the House of Representatives on Thursday, March 16 at 11:00&nbsp;am (EST) in Washington, DC. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830032135/http://www.nyrock.com/worldbeat/03_2000/031600.asp |archive-date=August 30, 2008 }}</ref>

Alexakis was a delegate for the [[2004 Democratic National Convention]] representing [[Oregon's 3rd congressional district]] after campaigning for [[John Edwards]] during that year's [[U.S. presidential election, 2004|presidential primaries]]. He and Everclear recorded the [[Woody Guthrie]] standard "[[This Land Is Your Land]]",<ref>{{cite web | author = Jeckell, Barry A.| title = Everclear Singer Headed To DNC | url = http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/67230/everclear-singer-headed-to-dnc | publisher= Billboard | date= July 23, 2004 | access-date = 2008-02-10 | quote = As an elected delegate, the singer will represent Oregon's 3rd congressional district (Portland) at the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Boston.[...] Tying in with the July 25–29 convention and this year's U.S. presidential election, Alexakis has recorded a version of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land", which became available for download from the [[Rock the Vote]] Web site. }}</ref> which he performed at several political events.

Alexakis is a [[gay rights]] activist. In 2010, he expressed his support for [[gay marriage]] and opposition to [[Proposition 8]], "I don't think Prop 8, gay marriage or the things your community lobbies for are political issues. We are Americans; that's where it ends. If Lady Justice is supposed to be blind, then why not towards your community? It is going to happen; it's happening, and I think it is a great thing." In the same interview, he reflected on the gay rights movement in the 1970s by saying, "I went to San Francisco to see the [[Sex Pistols]] in 1978. I was barely 16 and I went with this neighbor of mine, who my mom didn't know was gay, but I knew was gay. I went to [[Castro District|Castro]] with a whole group of gay guys and saw a side of the culture that I had never seen before. I was aware of [[Harvey Milk]] before most people were. It was a great experience."<ref>{{cite web|title=Art Alexakis (Ever)clearing the air|date=January 20, 2010|url=http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Art-Alexakis-40Ever41clearing-the-air/24270.html|publisher=Windy City Media Group|access-date=2010-01-20}}</ref>

Alexakis has also been involved in drug awareness programs, including the taping of [[public service announcement]]s for the [[Office of National Drug Control Policy]].

Along with Everclear, he has performed for U.S. soldiers in [[Guantanamo Bay Naval Base|Guantanamo Bay, Cuba]], Hawaii, and Abu Dhabi. He has also performed for Snowball Express, which organizes events for military families who lost loved ones in the war.

==Personal life==
During his younger years, Alexakis was an [[atheism|atheist]]. In an August 2000 interview with ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'', Alexakis stated he had since become [[Christianity|Christian]]. Speaking about his then-fiancée Stephanie Greig, he said, "She's a Christian, and I'm a Christian—my ex isn't—and so I was like, it's okay to be a Christian. I'm not like a [[born-again Christian|born-again]]... Well, I guess I ''am'' born-again, in a way. But I don't knock people over the head with it. I just kind of use my spirituality to make my life better."{{citation needed|reason=this appears to come from Spin magazine Aug 2000, but needs a proper cite|date=July 2024}}

Alexakis has been married at least three times as of 2024: to Jennifer Dodson Paget (with whom he has a daughter, Anna) from  1995 to 1999; to Stephanie Greig from 2000 to 2004; and since 2009, to Vanessa Crawford (with whom he has a daughter, Arizona).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0018220/|title=Art Alexakis IMDB Profile|website=[[IMDb]] |language=en-US|access-date=July 19, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wweek.com/portland/article-5626-starving-art.html|title=Starving Art|date=May 17, 2006 |language=en-US|access-date=July 19, 2024}}</ref>

On March 26, 2019, Alexakis announced that he had been diagnosed with [[multiple sclerosis]] in a letter to fans posted on the band's website. Alexakis says he was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS following a car accident three years prior.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/everclear-art-alexakis-multiple-sclerosis-diagnosis-813803/|title=Everclear's Art Alexakis Reveals Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis|last=Legaspi|first=Althea|date=March 26, 2019|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=March 27, 2019}}</ref>

==Partial discography==
With '''The Easy Hoes''':
* 1989&nbsp;– ''Tragic Songs of Life''

With '''Colorfinger''':
* 1990&nbsp;– ''Deep in the Heart of the Beast in the Sun''
* 1990&nbsp;– ''Demonstration''

With '''[[Everclear (band)|Everclear]]''':

{{main|Everclear discography}}

* 1993&nbsp;– ''[[World of Noise]]''
* 1995&nbsp;– ''[[Sparkle and Fade]]''
* 1997&nbsp;– ''[[So Much for the Afterglow]]''
* 2000&nbsp;– ''[[Songs from an American Movie Vol. One: Learning How to Smile]]''
* 2000&nbsp;– ''[[Songs from an American Movie Vol. Two: Good Time for a Bad Attitude]]''
* 2003&nbsp;– ''[[Slow Motion Daydream]]''
* 2004&nbsp;– ''[[Ten Years Gone: The Best of Everclear 1994-2004]]''
* 2006&nbsp;– ''[[Welcome to the Drama Club]]''
* 2008&nbsp;– ''[[The Vegas Years]]''
* 2009&nbsp;– ''[[In a Different Light (Everclear album)|In a Different Light]]''
* 2012&nbsp;– ''[[Invisible Stars]]''
* 2015&nbsp;– ''[[Black Is the New Black]]''

'''Solo:'''
* 2019&nbsp;– ''[[Sun Songs]]''

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Art Alexakis}}
* {{IMDb name|18220|Art Alexakis}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/waysandmeans.house.gov/humres/106cong/3-16-00/3-16alex.htm |date=* |title=Alexakis's 2000 testimony to Congress }}

{{Everclear}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexakis, Art}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American alternative rock guitarists]]
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[[Category:American male bloggers]]
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[[Category:Record producers from California]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:American Christians]]
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[[Category:Converts to Christianity from atheism or agnosticism]]
[[Category:Everclear (band) members]]
[[Category:LGBTQ rights activists from California]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:American rhythm guitarists]]
[[Category:Singers from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Texas]]
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