Everclear Frontman Planning Solo Album

NEW YORK (AP) - Everclear frontman Art Alexakis is planning to begin work early next year on a solo album for Capitol, the artist tells in the Dec. 1, 2001, issue. "I'm not defined by Everclear," Alexakis says. "There are things I want to do, even if the music isn't worlds away. This can be just my thing; it's not a committee." He adds that the record "isn't going to get that crazy. There are going to be some acoustic songs; there are going to be some rock songs."

In the meantime, Alexakis is in the studio producing the debut album from Flip, a band from Minneapolis he calls a cross between Kiss, Cheap Trick, and the Sex Pistols. The set is due on Popularity Records, Alexakis' joint venture with Artemis.

The artist says he expects Everclear to return to the studio sometime in 2003. The trio released two separate albums in 2000 under the "Songs from An American Movie" moniker; Learning How To Smile," which debuted at No. 9 on The Billboard 200, and "Good Time for a Bad Attitude," which topped at No. 66 on the same chart. The two sets have sold a combined 1.28 million copies in the U.S., according to SoundScan.