Art had overcome much by this time in his life. He had overcome a miseralbe, poverty stricken childhood and overcome a drug habbit thanks to his growing love of music.
Art began to write songs and play them on guitar. He taught himslef how to play and how to sing. He then looked for a band to start to play his music for the world.
He was in many bands around the Las Angelos area for many years. Some of their names ranged from "The Easy Hoes" to "Colorfinger". Colorfinger was part of an underground movement of Country and Rock and Roll put together. Colorfinger's "Deep In The Heart Of The Beast In The Sun" was the first record that Art ever made with a band.
In about 1990, Art met a woman by the name of Jenny. The two fell in love and became a couple. However, in 1991 Art was told some shocking news. Jenny was pregnant. Art didn't know what to do. In an interview Art said:
"Depression just hit me, I just started thinking, 'What are you doing? You are such a screw up.'
Nine months later Annabella Alexakis was born. Art swore to himself that he would never be like his father. He would have a relationship with his child. After Annabella was born, Art left Colorfinger and moved his family to Portland, Oregon.
There in Portland Art put an add in a local music magazine called "The Rocket" asking for musicians. The first person to call him was Craig Montoya. Craig grew up in Spokane, Washington and grew up the same way that Art did, he grew up in a broken home and never knew his father either.
Craig and Art hit it off the day that they met. Craig liked the fact that Art wrote about real things and things that people could really connect with.
With the addition of drummer Scott Cuthbert, the band was complete. Art named the band Everclear after the highly potent alcoholic beverage.
The bands first record was "World Of Noise", released in 1992. It was a mix of grunge and muddy rock and roll. Art wrote about the George in the song "Fire Maple Song" and being homeless at one point in his life.
The record didn't sell. They could only sign to a small record company in Portland. Everclear kept playing for months, and they couldn't get signed. They realized that Scott wasnt holding up his end of deal and they decided to look for other drummers.
Greg Eklund answered the add. Greg was the son of a Navy officer and spent most of life living all over the world. Greg was very cocky when he talked to Art on the phone. "I'm the guy!" he would say. So Art was happy to let him see what he could do.
When Greg played with Art and Craig, the band seemed to be perfect. They took their new sound on the road. They went in a small van and only had 3000 dollars on them, by they ventured out to play all around the country, knowing that they wouldnt have enough money to get back. They did this for about one year until Capitol Records signed them in 1994.
In the next year, the lives of Art, Craig, and Greg, would drastically change forever.
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