Wikipedia

Alias (band)

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.[2][3]

Alias
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresHard rock,[1] AOR
Years active1988–present
LabelsEMI, Angelmilk Records, Capitol
Past membersFreddy Curci
Steve DeMarchi
Roscoe Stewart
Wolf Hassel
Chris Sutherland
Denny DeMarchi
Roger Fisher
Steve Fossen
Mike Derosier
Marco Mendoza
Larry Aberman
Robert O'Hearn
WebsiteOfficial Myspace

History

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Alias 1988–1992

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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",[4] 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.[5]

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,[6] in 1990; it went gold in the US and platinum in Canada, scoring hits with the power ballads "More Than Words Can Say"[7] (#1 Canada, No. 2 U.S.), "Waiting for Love"[8] (#13) and "Haunted Heart"[9] (#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] A North American tour followed through 1990 (including a stint as the opening act for REO Speedwagon)[10] 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!"[11]

The band performed twice on The Tonight Show, with Jay Leno on January 8, 1991, and with Johnny Carson on March 8, 1991.[12][13] They also recorded the Tonio K song "Perfect World"[14] for the 1991 Christina Applegate film, Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.[15]

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.[16][citation needed]

Never Say Never 2005–2010

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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.[17]

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.[18][19] [20][21][22]

In early 2005, an acoustic version of "More Than Words Can Say" was released on a VH1 compilation disc, Classic Metal Mania: Stripped.[23] Also in 2005, "More Than Words Can Say" was featured in a Subway commercial aired during the Super Bowl.[24]

Alias played New York's CMJ Music Marathon in 2005,[25] and the 2006 Dour Festival in Belgium.[26]

In 2010, Alias headlined, with an acoustic set, at the opening party of Chicago's Melodic Rock Fest 2.[27] 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.[28]

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.[29] On May 15, 2020, Denny DeMarchi died of cancer, at age 57.[30] Marco Mendoza and Michael Marquart continue to record; Mendoza as late as 2018, Marquart as recently as 2021.

Band members

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  • 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)[2]
  • Steve Fossen – bass, backing vocals (1988–1991)[2]
  • Mike Derosier – drums (1988–1991)[2]
  • Michael Marquart – drums (1990)[31]
  • Denny DeMarchi (1962-2020) – keyboards (1990–1991 touring), 2009–2020; also performed session keyboards and backing vocals on Alias' debut album)[2]
  • Marco Mendoza – bass (2009–2014)
  • Larry Aberman – drums (2009–2014)
  • Robert O'Hearn – keyboards (2009–2014)

Timeline

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Discography

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Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart
positions
AUS
[32] 		DEN
[33] 		US
[34]
Alias 121 31 114
Never Say Never
  • Release date: 3 March 2009
  • Label: EMI Canada, Angelmilk Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[35][32] 		CAN
[36] 		CAN AC
[37] 		NZ
[38] 		UK
[39] 		US
[40] 		US AC
[41] 		US Main
[42]
1990 "Haunted Heart" — 35 [43] — — — — — 18 Alias
"More Than Words Can Say" 30 1 1 37 — 2 2 —
1991 "Waiting for Love" 135 4 — — 87 13 17 —
"The Power" — 32 [44] — — — — — —
"Perfect World" — 51 [45] 33 — — 90 — — Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (soundtrack)
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Album appearances

Year Song Album
1991 "Into the Fire" Nintendo: White Knuckle Scorin'

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Alias | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1999). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 19. ISBN 0-7535-0257-7.
  3. ^ Saulnier, Jason (15 March 2012). "Roger Fisher Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  4. ^ "Sheriff - When I'm With You". youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Alias - Alias". discogs.com. Discogs. 22 August 1990. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Alias (13) – Alias". discogs.com. Discogs. 22 August 1990. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Alias - More Than Words Can Say". youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Alias - Waiting For Love 1990". youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Alias - Haunted Heart". youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  10. ^ "REO Speedwagon / Alias". concertarchives.org. Concert Archives. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Strutter Magazine Interview with Freddy Curci". Archived from the original on 22 October 2009.
  12. ^ "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Richard Harris, Martin Mull, Alias". imdb.com. IMDB. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  13. ^ "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Jay Leno (guest host), Mayim Bialik, Marlo Thomas, Charles Johnson, Alias". imdb.com. IMDB. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  14. ^ "CA 0:24 / 4:15 Alias - Perfect World". youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead Soundtracks". imdb.com. IMDB. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)". BMI.com. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  17. ^ "Freddy Curci – Dreamer's Road". discogs.com. Discogs. 22 August 1994. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  18. ^ Sharp, Keith (27 September 2012). "Steve DeMarchi and Freddy Curci Interview 2012". themusicexpress.ca. The Music Express. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  19. ^ "Freddy Curci – Dreamer's Road". discogs.com. Discogs. 22 August 1994. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  20. ^ "Alias – Never Say Never". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  21. ^ Mis, Joe. "Alias Never Say Never". hardrockhaven.net. Hardrock Haven. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  22. ^ Balogh, Mark. "Alias Never Say Never". rockeyez.com. Rock Eyez. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  23. ^ "VH1 Classic Metal Mania: Stripped". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  24. ^ "Subway Commercial (2005) - Super Bowl". youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  25. ^ "CMJ Music Marathon 2005". concertarchives.org. Concert Archives. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  26. ^ "Dour Festival 2006". concertarchives.org. Concert Archives. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  27. ^ "Winger, Y&T, Danger Danger And Trixter Set To Headline Melodic Rock Fest 2". sleazeroxx.com. Sleaze Roxx. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  28. ^ "Sturgis festival moves to Merritt". vernonmorningstar.com. Vernon Morning Star. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  29. ^ "Roger Fisher". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  30. ^ Kennedy, John R (16 May 2020). "Canadian Musician Denny DeMarchi Loses Battle With Cancer". iHeartRadio. Canada. Archived from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  31. ^ Lifelike: The Making of An Album in Dolby Atmos (Official Documentary), retrieved 19 November 2021
  32. ^ a b "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing June 17, 1991". Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  33. ^ "danishcharts.dk – Danish charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  34. ^ "Alias Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  35. ^ "australian-charts.com – Australian charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  36. ^ "Results – RPM – Library and Archives Canada – Top Singles". RPM. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  37. ^ "Results – RPM – Library and Archives Canada – Adult Contemporary". RPM. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  38. ^ "charts.nz – New Zealand charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  39. ^ "The Official Charts Company – Alias". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  40. ^ "Alias Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  41. ^ "Alias Album & Song Chart History – Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  42. ^ "Alias : Allmusic : Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  43. ^ "RPM 100 Music Chart" (PDF). Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 25 August 1990. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  44. ^ "RPM 100 Music Chart" (PDF). Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 8 June 1991. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  45. ^ "RPM 100 Music Chart" (PDF). Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 10 August 1991. Retrieved 14 July 2021.

Bibliography

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  • Feldman, Christopher (2000). The Billboard Book of Number Two Hits. ISBN 0-8230-7695-4.
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