Alex Soria
Encyclopedia
Alex Soria was a rock and roll
musician from Montreal
. He was in the punk rock groups "The Nils
" (1978–1994) and "Chino" (1999). Alex Soria also released a solo album "Next of Kin". Born in Montreal in 1966, Alex Soria had a rather rough childhood. Alex's mother left home on his older brother's 18th birthday. Alex Soria died in the December of 2004. To this day, Alex Soria is remembered as a great musician and song writer.
Alex's older brother Carlos Soria played in several punk
bands during the late 1970s. He would bring home punk records (such as The Clash
or Sex Pistols
) and play them for his little brother Alex. When Alex Soria was about 13 years old, Carlos bought him an $80 guitar and showed him 3 chords. Alex became a very good guitar player, and by 1979 The Nils were playing shows. They recorded a song "Scratches and Needles" for the BYO
compilation "Something to Believe In". The band broke up shortly afterward. Carlos Soria convinced the remaining band members to continue playing, and Carlos joined the group on guitar. The Nils recorded "Call of the Wild" for a Primitive Air Raid compilation, followed by the EP "Paisley".
By 1985, The Nils had become friends with Men Without Hats
. They gave The Nils a $3,500 loan to record their EP "Sell Out Young" for which the Nils filmed a video for the song "Freedom". In 1986, The Nils accepted an offer from Rock Hotel Records(Profile Records) to record their self-titled LP "The Nils". This album included the songs "Daylight" and "Inbetweens" from Sell Out Young, as well as eight other original songs. Copies can still be found today, but are rare and often in bad condition. 1987 and 1988 are said to be the bands greatest years. Sadly, the good times didn't last. In 1988, Rock Hotel Records went under and The Nils got into legal problems when the record label
wouldn't give the band their release forms.
In 1994 the Nils released "Green Fields in Daylight", a compilation of early recordings. Green Fields in Daylight included "Call of the Wild", the Nils demo tape "now", "Scratches and Needles", the 4 songs of "Sell Out Young" and "Paisley". The album also included a radio interview with Carlos Soria. In later years Alex, formed the band "Chino". They released the 6 track EP "Mala Leche" in 1999. Chino continued to play shows but never got much attention. Alex Soria's solo album "Next Of Kin" includes several live recordings of Chino. Even though Alex had drug abuse problems, he kept writing songs and recorded several acoustic/unplugged songs. On December 13, 2004, Alex Soria committed suicide. He was 39 years old. Musicians around the area held a tribute in his name.
Alex Soria's The Nils are recognized by many as starting the punk movement in the Montreal area. Soria influenced countless musicians and bands, not just in Montreal. His lyrics and melodies were genius, his guitar playing powerful. Alex Soria's name lives on after his death as a great musician, song writer, and a pioneer of punk rock.
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
musician from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. He was in the punk rock groups "The Nils
The Nils
The Nils was a Canadian power pop and punk rock band originating in Montreal, Quebec which produced several releases between 1978 and 1994.The band was founded in 1978 by then 12-year old Alex Soria with his brother Carlos Soria. The band never achieved widespread fame despite critical success and...
" (1978–1994) and "Chino" (1999). Alex Soria also released a solo album "Next of Kin". Born in Montreal in 1966, Alex Soria had a rather rough childhood. Alex's mother left home on his older brother's 18th birthday. Alex Soria died in the December of 2004. To this day, Alex Soria is remembered as a great musician and song writer.
Alex's older brother Carlos Soria played in several punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
bands during the late 1970s. He would bring home punk records (such as The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
or Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
) and play them for his little brother Alex. When Alex Soria was about 13 years old, Carlos bought him an $80 guitar and showed him 3 chords. Alex became a very good guitar player, and by 1979 The Nils were playing shows. They recorded a song "Scratches and Needles" for the BYO
BYO Records
BYO Records is a Los Angeles, California based independent punk rock record label created by Shawn and Mark Stern, two of the three brothers of the seminal California punk rock band Youth Brigade . BYO stands for Better Youth Organization and aims to promote punk and other alternative youth...
compilation "Something to Believe In". The band broke up shortly afterward. Carlos Soria convinced the remaining band members to continue playing, and Carlos joined the group on guitar. The Nils recorded "Call of the Wild" for a Primitive Air Raid compilation, followed by the EP "Paisley".
By 1985, The Nils had become friends with Men Without Hats
Men Without Hats
Men Without Hats is a Canadian New Wave group from Montreal, Quebec. Their music was characterized by the distinctive baritone voice of their lead singer Ivan Doroschuk as well as their elaborate use of synthesizers and electronic processing...
. They gave The Nils a $3,500 loan to record their EP "Sell Out Young" for which the Nils filmed a video for the song "Freedom". In 1986, The Nils accepted an offer from Rock Hotel Records(Profile Records) to record their self-titled LP "The Nils". This album included the songs "Daylight" and "Inbetweens" from Sell Out Young, as well as eight other original songs. Copies can still be found today, but are rare and often in bad condition. 1987 and 1988 are said to be the bands greatest years. Sadly, the good times didn't last. In 1988, Rock Hotel Records went under and The Nils got into legal problems when the record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
wouldn't give the band their release forms.
In 1994 the Nils released "Green Fields in Daylight", a compilation of early recordings. Green Fields in Daylight included "Call of the Wild", the Nils demo tape "now", "Scratches and Needles", the 4 songs of "Sell Out Young" and "Paisley". The album also included a radio interview with Carlos Soria. In later years Alex, formed the band "Chino". They released the 6 track EP "Mala Leche" in 1999. Chino continued to play shows but never got much attention. Alex Soria's solo album "Next Of Kin" includes several live recordings of Chino. Even though Alex had drug abuse problems, he kept writing songs and recorded several acoustic/unplugged songs. On December 13, 2004, Alex Soria committed suicide. He was 39 years old. Musicians around the area held a tribute in his name.
Alex Soria's The Nils are recognized by many as starting the punk movement in the Montreal area. Soria influenced countless musicians and bands, not just in Montreal. His lyrics and melodies were genius, his guitar playing powerful. Alex Soria's name lives on after his death as a great musician, song writer, and a pioneer of punk rock.