Shock Hazard

A few weeks ago, CIMN Music Director Kevin Smith spoke with Freddy Curci, lead singer for the band Alias. Here are some excerpts from that ~ interview.

CIMN: How did you and Steve (DeMarchi) meet Michael (Derosier), Steve (Fossen), and Roger (Fisher), and what was it about Alias that made them want to join the band?

Freddy: First of all, we met Michael last summer in our manager’s office. Mike was doing some session work in L.A. He knew our manager because he had toured with Richard Marx on his first tour. Our manager manages Richard Marx as well to clarify any confusion. He was sitting in the office visiting, doing whatever he was doing. We said "Hi" and Started up a conversation. We really got along well and decided to go for a few drinks in the neighbourhood bar and six hours later we were becoming real good friends. I had a cassette of our demos in my pocket, so I looked at Steve, did the telepathic thing and said, "Do you wanna give this guy a cassette?”. So we gave Mike the cassette. He really liked the stuff and he came up with the idea of getting the other guys in the band. He said, "Look, can I send this tape up to Seattle." We said that would be a great idea. Then Roger and Steve loved the material and we got together and now we're a band.

CIMN: Now you’re out on the road. Since all of you are experience live performers, what can a person expect when they go to see Alias in concert? Freddy: A kick-ass show. There are no low-points in this show. Even the slow points are not low points. We really pride ourselves on getting out there and getting audiences excited and having a lot of fun. This band, we’re not a bunch of posers. We just get out there, have a great time, play our songs, and party with the people because we’re not a hairspray band, we’re not pretentious in that way.

CIMN: How’s the tour been going?

Freddy: Actually, really good. It’s been sold out. CIMN: You went down to New York between PEI and Nova Scotia?

Freddy: I was. It’s been a hectic tour, but I love it, I love every bit of it. Love these frequent flyer points.

CIMN: And getting through customs?

Freddy: Actually, getting in customs through Halifax was 100 times more difficult than it has ever been in Toronto. Can you imagine? It’s like, here come 10 long hair hippie freaks who haven’t shaved in three days. It’s like sure, ok.

CIMN: I was reading the biography I got from your record company and there was a line that said that the Alias sound was apparent on all the tracks. How do you describe the Alias sound?

Freddy: Well, put the 5 of us in a studio together and that’s the Alias sound. I| think it’s very sincere and true to what we believe musically.

CIMN: Straight from the heart basically.

Freddy: Exactly. I don’t think there’s anyone that sounds like me as a vocalist, not that I’m getting high on myself at all in any way. It’s just that I’ve always wanted and worked towards getting a singular sound. When I used to be in cover bands and stuff, people would go, "You sound like this guy" and I’d get upset because I want to sound like me. I guess it’s sort of a compliment, but I always wanted to sound like no-one else and I’ve been striving for that. I feel hopefully I’ve achieved that.

CIMN: .There’s a song on the album that I wanted to ask you about. The song "Heroes" stands out a bit from the rest, a different premise.

Freddy: Well, actually it’s one of my favourite songs on the record. It’s a long story so pull up a chair and let’s get into it. Get a girl and ignore the interview...just kidding. "Heroes" was written about two very special people who are unfortunately no

_ longer with us. It’s about a guy called Baxter and a

guy called Anthony. Anthony was my nephew who died of crib death, SID, sudden infant death syndrome. It’s also about a guy named Baxter who died of cancer. Anthony was the first nephew, the first grandchild. My entire family, the only people I have in North America are my immediate family, my parents, my brothers and sisters. Everyone else is in Italy. My parents come from Italy so having this first grandchild was the largest event in our lives, and when he passed away at three months of age, it was a major drag.

October 12, 1990

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