Interview by Ali Williams
90’s alt-rock legends Everclear are heading back down under in November, ready to kick off their 30-year Anniversary tour of their debut album Sparkle and Fade. HEAVY Mag's Ali Williams caught up with frontman and founder Art Alexikas to chat about the tour, their huge success in Australia and what fans can expect when they swing through in a few weeks.
Hailing all the way from Portland, Oregon, Everclear started making a name for themselves in the early 90s when their debut, independently released album World of Noise (1993) would gain them credit on the home front and East Coast Alt Rock scenes. But that was nothing compared to the epic surge they felt after signing to Capitol Records. In 1995, Sparkle and Fade was released, and in what felt like overnight, the world fell in love with them.
Australian audiences couldn’t get enough, with the album going platinum soon after its release and reaching 9th place on the ARIA charts of the same year. Their music has that Cali Coast grunge vibe and lyrics that struck a chord with those who could relate.
Singing about growing up left of centre, trying to make it in the world, overcoming childhood trauma, teenage angst, underwritten by the influence of recreational drug use and powered by the sex drive of a young adult in top gear still learning the road rules, seemed to resonate with young listeners, and their following albums had the same effect.
For many Australians who were teenagers in the 90s, Sparkle and Fade was the soundtrack to their misspent youth, cassette tapes played on repeat, driving along the coastline, windows down, the summer heat thick, mixed with the distinct pungent odour of leaded petrol and dank kush being choofed in another bong hit billowing out of their prized Datto 120Y in clouds of fury. Life was good.
Art recalls the moment he realised that their track Local God had become an anthem in Australia when the head of EMI Records asked him before a show why it wasn’t on the set list. He couldn’t believe it and from then on says “we can’t come to Australia and not play Local God,” surprised that a song written as a soundtrack for Baz Luhrmann's remake of Romeo and Juliet had struck such a chord with Australian audiences.
Alexikas also shares some insight into what it’s like still touring and battling MS, a debilitating, lifelong chronic illness. At 63, Art is definitely showing no signs of slowing down, although he admits he’s a little slower than the fast pace he’d once lived. Tickets for Sparkle and Fade are available from www.ticketmaster.com and www.everclearmusic.com
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