Wednesday, August 1, 2007

What Ever Happened to Gregg Alexander?

Remember this tune?



Of course you do. "You Get What You Give" was written by the New Radicals' fontman Gregg Alexander.

Alexander and the New Radicals produced a whopping one album. And if you haven't checked it out, you don't know what you're missing. Youtube is your source from some of the other hits on the CD:







So what ever happened to Gregg Alexander? According to Wikipedia:
Since disbanding the group in summer 1999, Alexander has written and produced songs for artists including Ronan Keating, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Enrique Iglesias, Hanson, Geri Halliwell, Melanie C, and fellow ex-New Radical Danielle Brisebois. Most noteworthy was the song "The Game Of Love" by Santana and Michelle Branch, which earned a Grammy in 2003.

All Music Guide's Stephen Thomas Erlewine described him as "the catchiest, smartest professional mainstream pop songwriter of the early 2000s."

Now here is the mystery that is Gregg Alexander:

In 1998, they released Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too. It went on to become a minor success in the late nineties mainly due to the smash hit single, "You Get What You Give".

It was not long before Alexander became tired of the constant media attention and exhaustive touring schedule. In July of 1999, "Someday We'll Know" was announced as the band's second single. However, several days later Alexander announced he was disbanding the New Radicals to focus on production work.

He said that "the fatigue of traveling and getting three hours sleep in a different hotel every night to do boring 'hanging and schmoozing' with radio and retail people is definitely not for me". After a big fight with MCA Alexander finally agreed to shoot a video for "Someday We'll Know" but with the band now defunct, the song got little attention and the New Radicals were forever confined to the one-hit wonder hall of fame.

[After the New Radicals], Gregg Alexander wrote and produced "The Game Of Love" by Santana and Michelle Branch as well as four songs on Enrique Iglesias' album 7 under the pseudonym Alex Ander.

He is also believed to be, along with Rick Nowels, The Party People, who produced Justin Guarini's song "Inner Child", which is a rewritten version of "Inner Smile", the song Alexander and Nowels co-wrote for Texas.

It is often said but unconfirmed that his real name is Greg Aiuto, and thus Gregg Alexander itself is an alias.

Any way you slice it, Alexander was, and apparently still is, a unique individual with a talent for writing songs. And although I am sure he is happy living in obscurity writing songs for stars that crave the spotlight, I can't help but think what could have been if Alexander stuck with New Radicals and continued to pump his own music.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is great that he decided that he knew what he wanted but I sure do miss a second album. Ten years later and i still make sure to have the entire album on my iPod. Its that good, that I never get tired of listening to and wish they would have made it to a second LP.

PooksRutherford said...

You'll either really like this or really hate it. I loved "Get What You Give" and so I did a parody for my SJ Sharks for the 08' SC Playoffs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS1_KEdMd6o

***D***[ST]RO[Y]** said...

I only wish that this explained more. Gregg Alexander is among the last heroes and nonconformists worth their weight in angry idealism. The album is smart, surreal, epic, and destructive. Gregg Alexander should have stayed around and changed things. I think he may have really had the potential.

Anonymous said...

Unbelievable artist. Unbelievable talent. I am in love with his voice. Undeniably one of the greatest songwriters. He is spell binding. I can understand why he wants to remain obscure, but small concerts would be great just to sit and listen to his music would be an honor. I don't know if he realizes what he's got. Come back out Greg! Your music is honest, deep and it gets to us.

Anonymous said...

I just love his vocals and writting skills. He ain't bad to look at either. Que rico.

Anonymous said...

Omg I can't beileve he quit!!! HE IS AWESOME!!!!!! AND HAS A SENSE OF FASHION UNLIKE THE SINGING BUMS NOW-A-DAYS!!!! GMO! I miss Иew Radicals

Anonymous said...

We just listened to the album again this morning and it is so great, had to look up what happened to him. Come back is what I also say!!

Anonymous said...

No question - one of the great song writers. Worth tracking his songs down -you know they will be that good. Gregg -you do your songs best.. please make another record which is your record. It's never too late - the goal posts just change!

Anonymous said...

Gregg--10 years later, you're still on my mind...please come back, the world needs you now more than ever. No one, I mean, no one comes close to your voice and music. Love you so much and miss you madly. I think "A love like that" would be huge today, please consider coming back out. Thanks for the best album ever! ♥♥♥♥♥

Anonymous said...

Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too is one of my top ten, if not TOP Desert Island Record!!! LOVE That Album!!! I'm almost glad that it never blew up and was overexposed!!...Glad there are only a few Priviledged folks who really know how amazing it is!!

Anonymous said...

Gregg, pls come back!!!We need you and your music!!!!

Kat said...

Thank you for sharing this! My favorite album of all time -- they had so much more music to give!!... : (

diane said...

I just found Out about Gregg alexander;I listened to You get what you Give,I saw the video,and i was Amazed;i not only loved the song,but,i loved his performance In the video,he diffenatly has Something about his Music and his personality That Most performers Wish they had. Now i watch all of his video's;I just Wish there were more;i also wish I could of seen him In Person;If he Is Ever In the public Eye,please Advertise It!

Anonymous said...

Good Luck Gregg where ever you are... Thanks for what we got.

Edward said...

Big fan since way back just cant get enough of your music, all the way from South Africa.

Edward said...

Just cant get enough of your music, all the way from South Africa.

Anonymous said...

hey gregg alexander we really miss you bro!!!!! i just wanted to say to you that we really appreciated your music down here!!!! i am a fun of you and this is Athens Greece!!!! just imagine how far can music travel and make people so happy:) being so nostalgic:(

gojiramonkey said...

Hey guys...long time fan of Gregg, right from his first solo album Michigan Rain which is fantastic still AND his follow up Intoxifornication !! So all you guys bored of replaying yer NR album, PLEASE check these out...stay frosty...gojiramonkey, a UK metalhead (mostly)

Rangga Yudha Nagara said...

I think very few figure like him..after disbanded his band that only have 1 album more than decade ago... but ppl still missing him.. like me.. from Indonesia.. any music that i heard,, ill come back to listen new radicals =)

deadpoet said...

Let's stop sayin "please come back". Well, let's admit it, Gregg Alexander is but a One-Hit wonder. But as long as his songs and his music, if not playing in the radios or televisions, is still and will continue in playing and influencing our hearts. I was around 5 years old when the album was released having no concrete knowledge about it but up until now, my soul is uplifted and my eyes get wet whenever I'm listening to his songs.

"What's real can't die!!!!!!"

Unknown said...

Maybe if enough fan got together and asked him .with the same purest heart ,maybe he would
sing again , if the Rolling Stones can still perform I'm sure he would Too.

said...

It is one of the few albums I always buy. I dream of the day he comes back. I listened to his album over and over when it came out... still do. Come back!

Sandy xxx said...

Gregg you make your music unique with that amazing voice of yours. I play your music over and over again, i never bore of listening to you. Although i respect your decision to write and no longer perform, i really miss you and just wish you would change your mind and sing those amazing songs you write. xxxxxxx

Anonymous said...

Gregg when I first heard you I thought I was listening to World Party.For me that is very high praise.Any fan of Gregg Alexander should also check out Karl Wallinger.
I would love to hear some new material.I always try to sell my friends on listening to the entire album.All of the tracks are very strong. Marc in orlando.2/27/13

Anonymous said...

Thank you. You seriously changed my Life. Hope to hear more from you Gregg! Very seldom songs reach deep in me.

Anonymous said...

Loved The album since day 1!!!
Still love it, still miss the band and Gregg!

I am from Greece too! If the guy/girl from greece who wrote about New Radicals sees that again, just send me an email to chat about music here: pinkmotelrecords@gmail.com

:)

Anonymous said...

Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too. Is imho the greatest album ever made, bar none. I really wish he would make more music, as a singer he is at the tip top of my favorite, most inspirational singers ever. Right up there with Freddie Mercury, Chris Cornell and Andrea Bocelli. I have been listening to New Radicals since I was a kid and I have never ever gotten tired of it.

Anonymous said...

Amazing talent. I respect his decision to work behind the scenes. Makes me more curious about the guy. And he is so hot:)

Anonymous said...

Few talents achieve true greatness. You have realized your potential thus great describes you. What you give is what you get are one and the same. What you give up or gave up is also your reward. J.D. Salinger and you should meet .

Anonymous said...

This is what Gregg looks like today... (the one on the left)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/30087170@N00/7242132728/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/30087170@N00/7242076480/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/30087170@N00/7242096754/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/30087170@N00/7242099538/

That guy is a legend. And he's aged just as gracefully as his music. Damn.

"Begin again" soundtrack is mind-blowing vintage Gregg. Let's hope for more soon.

Unknown said...

I'm an older female person Rolling Stones, etc, but Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too, I still listen to ALL the time! I wanted a 2nd album. Genuis