Greg Eklund, left, Art Alexakis, and Craig Montoya of Everclear.
Photo by Capitol Records

Art Alexakis tells the story with quiet pride. Reformed addicts often preach. Do-gooders who have never experienced substance abuse prattle cliches like "Just Say No" and "No Hope In Dope." Alexakis speaks through the music of his band, Everclear. He was calling from Australia. The band plays Honolulu next Tuesday, en route to a tour-closing benefit for Artists for a Hate-Free America. The trio starts work on an album next morning.

Alexakis grew up in a single-parent "white trash" family. His older brother died of drug-related causes; so did a girlfriend. Alexakis was a hard-core junkie until an overdose almost killed him at age 22, over 12 years ago.

The story of Everclear sounds like a show biz fairy tale. Alexakis was divorced, far down on his luck and his girl friend pregnant, when he decided to give music one more try. He had been playing and writing music even in his junkie days. His previous band, Colorfinger, has made waves in San Francisco with an indie-produced single, "Kill Jerry Garcia," about the "whole stupid hippie revivalist thing."

Alexakis moved to Portland shortly after Colorfinger split in 1992 and shortly afterward founded Everclear, named after an extremely lethal brand of 190-proof alcohol. Everclear's first album was recorded in a basement for $400; the low-budget demo was released almost intact as their 1993 debut, "World of Noise." Capitol signed the band and rereleased "World of Noise" in 1994. Sparkle and Fade" followed months later.

"It's not quite that dramatic," Alexakis says. "I'd been clean from 1984 and sober from 1986, and my daughter wasn't born until 1992. I don't think four and a half years of steady touring and commitment to a band is 'over night success' even for the band.

"Having a daughter really brought things into focus a lot stronger. Losing a child is just incomprehensible. I don't know if I could deal with it , (and) I don't know how my mom did, (but) as a parent now I understand what she did (to handle it)."

Alexakis' mother searched for solace in religion, driving him in the other direction. "Most organized religion is part of the whole power and control game. Eastern religions generally teach you that you're nothing, and I don't agree with that either."

He also has little time for X-ers who think Reagan was "cool" or for rich kids who trash bands for "selling out" by becoming successful. "All these people (who criticize) come from money. It's really easy for trust-fund kids to slum but why should the guys in Greenday who've been poor all their lives not work as hard as they can to achieve what they want? ... As long as in my mind I'm not selling out there is no sell out."

In concert: Everclear with Sugar Goatee
When: Oct. 15 Tuesday. Doors open at 7:15 p.m
Where: The Groove, 1130 N. Nimitz
Cost: $15.50
Call: 947-CLUB

Sales of Alanis Morissette's debut album, "Jagged Little Pill," beat out Whitney Houston's "Whitney Houston," Carole King's 1971 album, "Tapestry," and Madonna's 1984 "Like a Virgin."

Grammy-Award winner singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette makes her Hawaii debut Dec. 14 at Pearl Harbor's Richardson Field, across from Aloha Stadium.

Morissette became the all-time top-selling female vocalist in the United States when her debut album, "Jagged Little Pill" was certified at 13 million copies sold, the Recording Industry Association of America said yesterday.

"Jagged" also won a Grammy this year for best album.

Tickets for the concert are $25 and go on sale Saturday at all Connection outlets including Hungry Ear Records, Tower Records, Pearl Harbor Bloch Arena, and the ITT Outlet at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base. Or order by phone at 545-4000 or 1-800-333-3388.

Gates for the concert will open at 1 p.m.; showtime has yet to be set.

Information: 593-9097.

Gregory Isaacs

Gregory Isaacs, known as the "cool ruler" of reggae, is bringing his music to Oahu, Maui and the Big Island.

Isaacs will play the Waikiki Shell at 7 p.m. Saturday, the Maui Arts Cultural Center at

3 p.m. Sunday and the Kona Surf convention center at 8 p.m. Monday.

Tickets for the Shell show, at $25 to 17.50 advance, are available at the Blaisdell box office and at Connection outlets; by phone at 545-4000 or 800-333-3388.