Art's Broke

So this was on the Everclear mailing list...



From Today's edition of The Oregonian

(http://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/entertain

ment/110518934484020.xml)



Rocker Art Alexakis files for bankruptcy in California court



Portland's biggest rock star has filed for bankruptcy.



Art Alexakis, who as the leader of the band Everclear has toured the world

and made million-selling CDs, filed for Chapter 11 debt reorganization last

week in United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California.

ALEXAKIS



The filing last Tuesday, under the name Arthur Paul Alexakis, listed a

Venice, Calif., address, though it also contains items related to his

Southeast Portland residence.



An outgoing message on Alexakis' voice mail said he was in Mexico. The

singer, his manager and his attorney for the bankruptcy did not immediately

return calls seeking comment.



According to the filing, Alexakis owes a federal tax bill for the years

1999, 2001 and 2002 of $2.75 million, as well as nearly $230,000 to the

Oregon Department of Revenue and more than $120,000 in credit card debt

spread over several accounts.



Although Alexakis was divorced last year for the third time, there is no

indication in the filings that alimony or child support have played a role

in his financial straits.



In an interview with The Oregonian last August, Alexakis repeatedly said

that the past year had been difficult, and that stress had contributed to

his losing 40 pounds. An outspoken supporter of Democratic candidates and

causes, he said that he wasn't able to make political campaign contributions

as large as he had in the past.



During the period when his tax debt originated, Alexakis was experiencing

his greatest commercial success. The album "So Much for the Afterglow,"

released in October of 1997, was certified double-platinum (indicating U.S.

sales of 2 million copies) by the following year, and the group was doing

strong business as a touring act. "Songs From an American Movie, Vol. 1:

Learning How to Smile," from 2000 also went platinum, the third Everclear

release to reach that status.



But the band's album sales have since plummeted. According to figures

supplied by Capitol Records, 2003's "Slow Motion Daydream" has sold a little

more than 100,000 copies, and "Ten Years Gone: The Best of Everclear

1994-2004" has sold less than 40,000 copies since it came out in October. --

Marty Hughley







Eric Keown



Hungry & Hollow



http://www.hungryandhollow.com