Interview by Paul Salfen
The year is 1995, and the airwaves are alive with the gritty, sun-soaked chords of “Santa Monica,” Everclear’s breakout hit from their platinum-selling major-label debut, Sparkle and Fade. The song, a raw anthem of escape and redemption, turned the Portland-based band into a household name, cementing their place in the ‘90s alt-rock pantheon. Thirty years later, frontman Art Alexakis is still raging, still storytelling, and still connecting with fans as Everclear embarks on the Sparkle and Fade 30th Anniversary Tour, hitting 40 cities across the U.S., including a stop at Legacy Hall in Plano, Texas, on September 25, 2025. Joined by ‘90s stalwarts Local H and Sponge, the band is set to deliver a setlist heavy with the album’s iconic tracks, fan favorites, and a visceral energy that’s defined their three-decade career.
I caught up with Art Alexakis for AMFM Magazine, and as we spoke, his passion for music, his band, and his fans shone through as brightly as ever. At 63, Alexakis is a survivor—not just of the music industry’s ups and downs but of personal battles, including a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2019. His story, much like Sparkle and Fade, is one of resilience, hope, and unfiltered honesty.
It’s a warm August afternoon, and Art Alexakis is in the thick of preparing for the tour. He’s also working on liner notes for a special reissue of Sparkle and Fade, digging through vaults of outtakes that have him rediscovering songs he’d nearly forgotten. “I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, I remember that song,’” he laughs, his voice carrying the same earnest intensity that made tracks like “Heroin Girl” and “Heartspark Dollarsign” resonate so deeply. “It’s incredible that people are still so interested in this record. It’s a testament to what we made—a record that had its own sound, its own little niche, even in the middle of all that alternative stuff in the ‘90s.”
Sparkle and Fade, released in 1995 on Capitol Records, wasn’t Everclear’s first album—that was 1993’s World of Noise, a scrappy indie release on Portland’s Tim/Kerr Records. But it was the album Alexakis had dreamed of making his entire life. “It changed everything for me and Everclear,” he says. Critics agreed, with Punknews calling it “a must-have for any fan of pop-punk” and AllMusic praising its “tough, melodic set of gnarled post-punk hard rock.” The Rolling Stone Album Guide nailed it: “explosive, soul-searching, belligerent.” For Alexakis, the album’s success wasn’t just about going platinum or topping charts with “Santa Monica.” It was about connection. “The words spoke to people who’d gone through tough times,” he says. “It made them feel less like aliens in the world.”
Unlike many sophomore efforts that fall into the dreaded “slump,” Sparkle and Fade was a leap forward. “I wanted to break away from the first record,” Alexakis explains. “Less didactic, less image-based, more lyrical, more storytelling. A lot of bands weren’t doing that at the time. I like writers who just tell the story, no flowery embellishment.” That raw, narrative-driven approach became Everclear’s calling card, and it’s why fans still pack venues to scream along to songs about heartbreak, addiction, and hope.
The 30th Anniversary Tour is a love letter to those fans. Kicking off September 4 in Los Angeles and hitting Legacy Hall in Plano on September 25, the tour features a deep dive into Sparkle and Fade. “We’re playing pretty much the whole album, plus the hits like ‘Father of Mine’ and ‘Wonderful,’” Alexakis says. “We’ve been dusting off some deep cuts, too, like ‘Queen of the Air,’ which we haven’t played in ages. It’s fun, but I’m relearning how to sing and play some of these at the same time!” He chuckles, acknowledging the passage of time. “We did this for the 20th anniversary, but I’ll probably be in a wheelchair for the 40th.”
The tour’s lineup is a ‘90s alt-rock dream, with Local H and Sponge joining the bill. “Sponge took us on our first tour when Sparkle and Fade came out,” Alexakis recalls. “They treated us like brothers. We’ve toured with them four or five times since. Local H, too—they’re just so good. It’s gonna be a blast.” The camaraderie extends to the stage, where Everclear—Alexakis on vocals and guitar, Davey French on guitar, Freddy Herrera on bass, and Brian Nolan on drums—delivers the kind of high-energy performance that’s kept them a live-act powerhouse for over 6 million records sold, 12 Top 40 hits, and a 1998 GRAMMY nomination.
But Alexakis’s story isn’t just about music. In 2019, he revealed his multiple sclerosis diagnosis, a challenge he’s faced with characteristic grit. Now 63, he recently graced the cover of PEOPLE Health (Winter/Spring 2025), sharing his health routine and unshakable positivity. “I have a lot of gratitude,” he says, referencing “Strawberry,” a Sparkle and Fade deep cut about addiction and sobriety. “The line ‘Don’t fall down, you’ll never get up’—it’s a song of hope. For me, it’s about surrendering to the fact that I have MS and understanding it.” He donates a dollar from every ticket sold to Sweet Relief Musicians Fund and the National MS Society, a testament to his commitment to giving back.
Alexakis’s resilience was forged in moments of defiance, like his “Hail Mary” moment in 1993. At the CMJ Music Marathon in New York, a shady manager left the band stranded with an $800 hotel bill they couldn’t pay. “It was everything to us back then,” he recalls. Furious, Alexakis cranked the amps to max and led Everclear in a 35-minute rage-fueled set at the Continental Club. “We were drenched in sweat, jumping three feet in the air, our bassist doing backflips. I kicked over an amp and yelled, ‘Fuck you very much!’” The room filled with industry heavyweights—label presidents, publishers—and the buzz from that night led to a publishing deal within six months and a Capitol Records contract two months later. “That was our moment,” he says. “We just went for it.”
Today, Alexakis stays grounded through sobriety, a tight-knit support system, and his wife of nearly 21 years, his “best friend.” “I work a program, go to meetings, talk to my sober guys daily,” he says. “It’s about catching yourself when you slip, not falling. I’m always gonna try to get up.” That drive fuels his creativity, too. Despite years of saying he was done with new records, recent political and social upheaval has inspired new songs. “I think I’m gonna make a new record this year,” he hints, a spark in his voice.
As Everclear prepares to storm Legacy Hall, Alexakis is already looking forward to Texas staples like Rudy’s barbecue—“I’m big on the burnt ends,” he grins. For fans, the Sparkle and Fade 30th Anniversary Tour is a chance to relive an era-defining album and witness a band that’s never lost its fire. “If you love this record, you don’t want to miss this,” Alexakis says. Tickets Await at everclearmusic.com/tour.
