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Everclear's Art Alexakis talks addiction from a Starbucks

Thank you, universe

Everclear frontman Alexakis (center): “I’m an addict, I don’t do anything halfway. [I’m] aware of my addiction in everything.”
Everclear frontman Alexakis (center): “I’m an addict, I don’t do anything halfway. [I’m] aware of my addiction in everything.”

Art Alexakis, leader of Everclear, brings the band to the Music Box on Saturday, November 21. Alexakis took time out from hunting down a Starbucks in Greensboro, North Carolina, to take a few phoner questions.

Video:

"American Monster"

...off of Everclear's latest, <em>Black Is the New Black</em>

...off of Everclear's latest, Black Is the New Black

What comes to mind about San Diego gigs?

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“There was an old-school punk club there for years, underneath an overpass. We played there once — this is just when we were starting to get label interest, I had a 103 temperature, and we had six dollars to eat on. But we had all these label people coming out. I was so sick that show, but we played. I walked offstage to the back room, threw up, and then walked out to meet people. Full fever.

“And I remember playing later, a sold-out show, it was an L-shaped hall or an inverted L. So, 600 people couldn’t see the band! They didn’t have videos screens, speakers, or anything [laughs]. I remember getting into it with the promoter. It just wasn’t fair.”

Did you win the argument?

“I always win, one way or another [laughs]. I think we did a second show, for those people. I had them rope it off, to the line of demarcation. I don’t think [the promoter] liked it very much because he had to pay his staff. It wasn’t about winning. It was about compromise.”

Does sobriety get easier or harder with time?

Past Event

Everclear

  • Saturday, November 21, 2015, 8 p.m.
  • Music Box, 1337 India Street, San Diego
  • $27 - $125

“It gets easier, but speed bumps come up. You get a sense of entitlement. I’ve done this, I got this, I could have a drink, it’s not gonna hurt me. I meet people who have been clean and sober 20 years, and they go have a glass of wine at a wedding, end up two months later living with a stripper, wife’s kicked ’em out of the house, froze their bank accounts — Oh! That could be me! Thank you, universe, God, whatever!

“I’m an addict. I smoke cigars. It’s an outlet for me, like sex or candy or anything else. I’m an addict, I don’t do anything halfway. I have to be present, conscious, and aware of my addiction in everything. Sometimes it’s No, I don’t need to eat a whole cheesecake. No, I don’t need to smoke ten cigars. No, I don’t need to have sex with 20 people. It feels like it’s gonna fill the hole. It doesn’t. It just makes the hole bigger.”

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Everclear frontman Alexakis (center): “I’m an addict, I don’t do anything halfway. [I’m] aware of my addiction in everything.”
Everclear frontman Alexakis (center): “I’m an addict, I don’t do anything halfway. [I’m] aware of my addiction in everything.”

Art Alexakis, leader of Everclear, brings the band to the Music Box on Saturday, November 21. Alexakis took time out from hunting down a Starbucks in Greensboro, North Carolina, to take a few phoner questions.

Video:

"American Monster"

...off of Everclear's latest, <em>Black Is the New Black</em>

...off of Everclear's latest, Black Is the New Black

What comes to mind about San Diego gigs?

Sponsored
Sponsored

“There was an old-school punk club there for years, underneath an overpass. We played there once — this is just when we were starting to get label interest, I had a 103 temperature, and we had six dollars to eat on. But we had all these label people coming out. I was so sick that show, but we played. I walked offstage to the back room, threw up, and then walked out to meet people. Full fever.

“And I remember playing later, a sold-out show, it was an L-shaped hall or an inverted L. So, 600 people couldn’t see the band! They didn’t have videos screens, speakers, or anything [laughs]. I remember getting into it with the promoter. It just wasn’t fair.”

Did you win the argument?

“I always win, one way or another [laughs]. I think we did a second show, for those people. I had them rope it off, to the line of demarcation. I don’t think [the promoter] liked it very much because he had to pay his staff. It wasn’t about winning. It was about compromise.”

Does sobriety get easier or harder with time?

Past Event

Everclear

  • Saturday, November 21, 2015, 8 p.m.
  • Music Box, 1337 India Street, San Diego
  • $27 - $125

“It gets easier, but speed bumps come up. You get a sense of entitlement. I’ve done this, I got this, I could have a drink, it’s not gonna hurt me. I meet people who have been clean and sober 20 years, and they go have a glass of wine at a wedding, end up two months later living with a stripper, wife’s kicked ’em out of the house, froze their bank accounts — Oh! That could be me! Thank you, universe, God, whatever!

“I’m an addict. I smoke cigars. It’s an outlet for me, like sex or candy or anything else. I’m an addict, I don’t do anything halfway. I have to be present, conscious, and aware of my addiction in everything. Sometimes it’s No, I don’t need to eat a whole cheesecake. No, I don’t need to smoke ten cigars. No, I don’t need to have sex with 20 people. It feels like it’s gonna fill the hole. It doesn’t. It just makes the hole bigger.”

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The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

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