Alias (band)
{{Short description|Canadian rock band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Alias
| image =
| caption = Alias
| origin = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| genre = Hard rock,{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/alias-mn0000004400|title=Alias | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=11 November 2019}} AOR
| years_active = 1988–present
| label = EMI, Angelmilk Records, Capitol
| associated_acts = Sheriff, Heart
| website = [http://www.myspace.com/theofficialalias Official Myspace]
| current_members =
| past_members = Freddy Curci
Steve DeMarchi
Roscoe Stewart
Wolf Hassel
Chris Sutherland
Denny DeMarchi
Roger Fisher
Steve Fossen
Mike Derosier
Marco Mendoza
Larry Aberman
Robert O'Hearn
}}
Alias was a Canadian rock supergroup, formed in 1988 in Toronto by songwriter/lead vocalist Freddy Curci and songwriter/lead guitarist Steve DeMarchi of the Canadian arena rock band Sheriff, along with Heart founding members Roger Fisher, Steve Fossen, and Mike Derosier.{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Virgin Books|date=1999|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0257-7|page=19}}{{cite web |publisher=Music Legends| url=http://musiclegends.ca/interviews/roger-fisher-interview/|title=Roger Fisher Interview| accessdate=7 May 2013|date=15 March 2012|last=Saulnier|first=Jason}}
History
=''Alias'' 1988–1992=
Curci and DeMarchi were members of the Canadian rock band Sheriff from 1979 to 1985. Sheriff's popularity in the club circuit garnered the attention of Capitol Records, which led to their self-titled album Sheriff. Sheriff's singles, particularly "When I'm with You",{{cite web |title=Sheriff - When I'm With You |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMwBWlCFuY4 |website=youtube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=31 January 2022}} received a large amount of airplay and reached No. 1 in Canada. Although promotion and distribution problems stalled the record's initial American momentum, the song reached No. 61 on the Billboard charts. Reports of fans not being able to buy the record in stores plagued Sheriff's American tour. Rigorous touring, frustration and disappointments caused tensions that split the band; Sheriff disbanded in 1985.
With the financial backing of friends and family, and with the help of DeMarchi's brother Denny (who later played keyboard and sang backing vocals on the Alias album), Curci and DeMarchi built a recording studio in the DeMarchi family home basement. They worked as couriers during the day, while writing and recording at night. Most of these songs would end up on Alias' self-titled debut album.{{cite web |title=Alias - Alias |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/390179-Alias-Alias |website=discogs.com |date=22 August 1990 |publisher=Discogs |access-date=1 December 2021}}
In 1988, their song "When I'm With You" re-entered and climbed the US Billboard chart for a second time. In January 1989, Capitol Records re-released the Sheriff album in the US. "When I'm With You" hit No. 1 on the Billboard chart in February 1989. Curci and DeMarchi tried to get Sheriff back together, but the other members of Sheriff, rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Arnold Lanni and bassist Wolf Hassel (who had formed the band Frozen Ghost in 1985), were not interested. Curci and DeMarchi joined forces with ex-Heart members Roger Fisher, Steve Fossen and Mike Derosier, to form Alias.
The band released their debut album, Alias,{{cite web |title=Alias (13) – Alias |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/390179-Alias-Alias |website=discogs.com |date=22 August 1990 |publisher=Discogs |access-date=31 January 2022}} in 1990; it went gold in the US and platinum in Canada, scoring hits with the power ballads "More Than Words Can Say"{{cite web |title=Alias - More Than Words Can Say |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjhrGPFaQoQ |website=youtube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=31 January 2022}} (#1 Canada, No. 2 U.S.), "Waiting for Love"{{cite web |title=Alias - Waiting For Love 1990 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to0UO82kGtI |website=youtube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=31 January 2022}} (#13) and "Haunted Heart"{{cite web |title=Alias - Haunted Heart |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS9d4jlQuSU |website=youtube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=31 January 2022}} (#18 on Mainstream Rock Charts). "More Than Words Can Say" was the band's biggest hit, climbing to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot AC chart and on the Billboard Hot 100.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} A North American tour followed through 1990 (including a stint as the opening act for REO Speedwagon){{cite web |title=REO Speedwagon / Alias |url=https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/reo-speedwagon-alias |website=concertarchives.org |publisher=Concert Archives |access-date=1 December 2021}} but, while touring, the trio of former Heart musicians left the band due to musical differences.
In an interview with Strutter magazine, Curci said that Alias never formally disbanded: "Alias never split. Music changed. We couldn't get our music out there. No one wanted to hear it anymore. Grunge was in and, you know what, that's OK, 'cause music needs to do that. It needs to change all the time. That's how it stays fresh. Alias is still Steve and I. Alias will always be Steve and I. Steve and I will do a record tomorrow if the fans need one!"{{cite web|title=Strutter Magazine Interview with Freddy Curci |url=http://www.geocities.com/struttermagazine/FREDDYCURCIINTERVIEW.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091022123238/http://geocities.com/struttermagazine/FREDDYCURCIINTERVIEW.htm |archivedate=2009-10-22}}
The band performed twice on The Tonight Show, with Jay Leno on January 8, 1991, and with Johnny Carson on March 8, 1991.{{cite web |title=The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Richard Harris, Martin Mull, Alias |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6421320/ |website=imdb.com |publisher=IMDB |access-date=1 December 2021}}{{cite web |title=The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Jay Leno (guest host), Mayim Bialik, Marlo Thomas, Charles Johnson, Alias |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0728089/ |website=imdb.com |publisher=IMDB |access-date=1 December 2021}} They also recorded the Tonio K song "Perfect World"{{cite web |title=CA 0:24 / 4:15 Alias - Perfect World |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlP4nyGOLGg |website=youtube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=31 January 2022}} for the 1991 Christina Applegate film, Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.{{cite web |title=Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead Soundtracks |url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0101757/soundtrack/?ref_=tt_trv_snd |website=imdb.com |publisher=IMDB |access-date=1 December 2021}}
BMI presented Freddy Curci and Steve DeMarchi with the "Million-Air Award" for "More Than Words Can Say". According to BMI's website, only 1,500 songs, including "When I'm With You", achieved Million-air status (one million air plays) among the 4.5 million songs by 300,000 BMI-represented artists. One million performances is the equivalent of approximately 50,000 broadcast hours, or more than 5.7 years of continuous airplay.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bmi.com/|title=Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)|website=BMI.com|accessdate=11 November 2019}}{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}
=''Never Say Never'' 2005–2010=
In 1992, Alias recorded their second album, but grunge was on the rise and metal was fading. EMI Canada sat on the record and encouraged Curci to record a solo album, Dreamer’s Road, which was released in 1994.{{cite web |title=Freddy Curci – Dreamer's Road |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4513260-Freddy-Curci-Dreamers-Road |website=discogs.com |date=22 August 1994 |publisher=Discogs |access-date=1 December 2021}}
DeMarchi became a support and touring player for The Cranberries, then recorded and toured in support of Are You Listening?, the 2007 solo album by The Cranberries lead singer Dolores O'Riordan. While on tour, he found that people were asking him to autograph copies of the second Alias album, which had not been released. Some of the songs from that album had appeared on Dreamer's Road and been illegally recorded and printed. As a result, in January 2009, EMI announced the release of Alias' second album, Never Say Never.{{cite web |last1=Sharp |first1=Keith |title=Steve DeMarchi and Freddy Curci Interview 2012 |url=https://themusicexpress.ca/freddy-curci-and-steve-demarchi/ |website=themusicexpress.ca |date=27 September 2012 |publisher=The Music Express |access-date=1 December 2021}}{{cite web |title=Freddy Curci – Dreamer's Road |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4513260-Freddy-Curci-Dreamers-Road |website=discogs.com |date=22 August 1994 |publisher=Discogs |access-date=1 December 2021}} {{cite web |title=Alias – Never Say Never |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/6689322-Alias-Never-Say-Never |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=1 December 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Mis |first1=Joe |title=Alias Never Say Never |url=http://hardrockhaven.net/archives/2009/06/alias-never-say-never/ |website=hardrockhaven.net |publisher=Hardrock Haven |access-date=1 December 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Balogh |first1=Mark |title=Alias Never Say Never |url=https://www.rockeyez.com/reviews/cd/alias/rev-never-say-never.html |website=rockeyez.com |publisher=Rock Eyez |access-date=1 December 2021}}
In early 2005, an acoustic version of "More Than Words Can Say" was released on a VH1 compilation disc, Classic Metal Mania: Stripped.{{cite web |title=VH1 Classic Metal Mania: Stripped |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4635744-Various-VH1-Classic-Metal-Mania-Stripped |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=1 December 2021}}
Also in 2005, "More Than Words Can Say" was featured in a Subway commercial aired during the Super Bowl.{{cite web |title=Subway Commercial (2005) - Super Bowl |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzDtHDl5zsM |website=youtube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=1 December 2021}}
Alias played New York's CMJ Music Marathon in 2005,{{cite web |title=CMJ Music Marathon 2005 |url=https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/cmj-music-marathon-2005 |website=concertarchives.org |publisher=Concert Archives |access-date=1 December 2021}} and the 2006 Dour Festival in Belgium.{{cite web |title=Dour Festival 2006 |url=https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/dour-festival-2006-6dc67f50-3589-4ace-abc3-3f378cebdf0c |website=concertarchives.org |publisher=Concert Archives |access-date=1 December 2021}}
In 2010, Alias headlined, with an acoustic set, at the opening party of Chicago's Melodic Rock Fest 2.{{cite web |title=Winger, Y&T, Danger Danger And Trixter Set To Headline Melodic Rock Fest 2 |url=https://sleazeroxx.com/winger-yt-danger-danger-and-trixter-set-to-headline-melodic-rock-fest-2/ |website=sleazeroxx.com |date=15 March 2010 |publisher=Sleaze Roxx |access-date=1 December 2021}} On 21 August 2014, Alias played at The Sturgis Canada Motorcycle Rally and Music Festival in Merritt, British Columbia, which was the first full live show for the band in many years. The reunion band members included Curci, Hassel, Steve DeMarchi, Denny DeMarchi, guitarist Roscoe Stewart, and drummer Chris Sutherland.{{cite web |title=Sturgis festival moves to Merritt |url=https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/life/sturgis-festival-moves-to-merritt/ |website=vernonmorningstar.com |date=20 August 2014 |publisher=Vernon Morning Star |access-date=1 December 2021}}
In 2013, Fossen, Fisher and Derosier were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as members of Heart. Fisher has continued to record, most recently with The Human Tribe.{{cite web |title=Roger Fisher |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/512332-Roger-Fisher-2 |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=31 January 2022}} On May 15, 2020, Denny DeMarchi died of cancer, at age 57.{{cite news |last=Kennedy |first=John R |date=16 May 2020 |title=Canadian Musician Denny DeMarchi Loses Battle With Cancer |url=https://www.iheartradio.ca/104-1-the-dock/news-trending/canadian-musician-denny-demarchi-loses-battle-with-cancer-1.12428391 |work=iHeartRadio |location=Canada |accessdate=16 May 2020 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516031319/https://www.iheartradio.ca/104-1-the-dock/news-trending/canadian-musician-denny-demarchi-loses-battle-with-cancer-1.12428391 |url-status=dead }} Marco Mendoza and Michael Marquart continue to record; Mendoza as late as 2018, Marquart as recently as 2021.
Band members
- Freddy Curci – lead vocals, keyboards, piano, guitars (1988–1991, 2009–present)
- Steve DeMarchi – guitar, backing vocals (1988–1991, 2009–present)
- Roscoe Stewart – guitars (2014–present)
- Wolf Hassel – bass (guest in 2011, 2014–present)
- Chris Sutherland – drums (2014–present)
- Roger Fisher – guitar, backing vocals (1988–1991)
- Steve Fossen – bass, backing vocals (1988–1991)
- Mike Derosier – drums (1988–1991)
- Michael Marquart – drums (1990){{Citation|title=Lifelike: The Making of An Album in Dolby Atmos (Official Documentary)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSs12zhzHFs|language=en|access-date=2021-11-19}}
- Denny DeMarchi (1962-2020) – keyboards (1990–1991 touring), 2009–2020; also performed session keyboards and backing vocals on Alias' debut album)
- Marco Mendoza – bass (2009–2014)
- Larry Aberman – drums (2009–2014)
- Robert O'Hearn – keyboards (2009–2014)
Timeline
{{#tag:timeline|
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id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals
id:backing value:pink legend:Backing_Vocals
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id:bass value:blue legend:Bass
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bar:Roger text:"Roger Fisher"
bar:Roscoe text:"Roscoe Stewart"
bar:Steve2 text:"Steve Fossen"
bar:Marco text:"Marco Mendoza"
bar:Wolf text:"Wolf Hassel"
bar:Denny text:"Denny DeMarchi"
bar:Robert text:"Robert O'Hearn"
bar:Mike text:"Mike DeRosier"
bar:Michael text:"Michael Marquart"
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bar:Freddy from:01/20/2009 till:end color:keys width:7
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bar:Steve from:01/20/2009 till:end color:guitar
bar:Steve from:01/20/2009 till:end color:backing width:3
bar:Roger from:01/01/1988 till:02/01/1991 color:guitar
bar:Roger from:01/01/1988 till:02/01/1991 color:backing width:3
bar:Roscoe from:08/06/2014 till:end color:guitar
bar:Steve2 from:01/01/1988 till:02/01/1991 color:bass
bar:Steve2 from:01/01/1988 till:02/01/1991 color:backing width:3
bar:Marco from:01/20/2009 till:06/01/2014 color:bass
bar:Wolf from:08/06/2014 till:end color:bass
bar:Denny from:03/01/1990 till:02/01/1991 color:keys
bar:Denny from:01/20/2009 till:05/15/2020 color:keys
bar:Robert from:01/20/2009 till:06/01/2014 color:keys
bar:Mike from:01/01/1988 till:02/01/1991 color:drums
bar:Michael from:01/01/1990 till:12/31/1990 color:drums
bar:Larry from:01/20/2009 till:06/01/2014 color:drums
bar:Chris from:08/06/2014 till:end color:drums
}}
Discography
Studio albums
Singles
Album appearances
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Year
! style="width:16em;"| Song ! Album |
|---|
| 1991
! scope="row"| "Into the Fire" |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- Feldman, Christopher (2000). The Billboard Book of Number Two Hits. {{ISBN|0-8230-7695-4}}.
External links
- [http://www.myspace.com/theofficialalias Alias] Official band website
- [http://www.aor-fm.com/bands/1429/ALIAS_band.jpg Picture of the band with 1980s perms]
{{Alias (band)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alias}}
Category:1988 establishments in Ontario
Category:1991 disestablishments in Ontario
Category:2009 establishments in Ontario
Category:Canadian glam metal musical groups
Category:Canadian hard rock musical groups
Category:Canadian musical quintets
Category:Musical groups established in 1988
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1991
Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2009