Comprising Art Alexakis, Craig Montoya, and Greg Eklund, who replaced original drummer Scott Cuthbert in 1994, Everclear were formed in Portland, Oregon, USA in 1991. Alexakis had previously worked as a roadie for a succession of north-west punk bands. Indulging himself in copious quantities of drugs, he only decided to start his own band when a cocaine overdose temporarily stopped his heart. Early comparisons to Nirvana (exacerbated by the singer's blonde hair) went into overdrive when Kurt Cobain publicly stated his approval. They made their debut in 1994 with World Of Noise, which included the intriguing "Sparkle" ("Fire pulls the spirit from the corporate whore/I'm embarrassed by the plaid you wear/If I were you I'd hide behind that stupid bleached blond hair"). Critics were left unsure as to whom the reference concerned, Alexakis or Cobain. It was followed by a mini-album, White Trash Hell, again on Fire Records, before a major recording contract with Capitol Records. They were signed by Gary Gersh. In 1995 the band released their first album for the new label, the critically lauded and commercially successful Sparkle And Fade. They repeated this success two years later with the release of the infectious and highly melodic So Much For The Afterglow. Their next album, Songs From An American Movie Vol. One: Learning How To Smile toned down the neo-grunge guitar rock in favour of a more eclectic approach, embracing tight harmonies, strings, and a cover version of Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl". The vitriolic pop punk collection Good Time For A Bad Attitude, released only four months later, helped restore the band's alt rock credibility.
::Taken from MTV.com::
