Arthur Paul Alexakis was born on April 12, 1962 in the projects of Santa Monica, California. He grew up with his mother,brother and sisters in a neighborhood close to Los Angeles, California. Art's father ran out on the family when Art was only four years old and his brother died of a heroin overdose when he was twelve. That is where the lyrics, "I heard a policeman say just another overdose" in the song Heroin Girl - Art's mother actually overheard a policeman say this about her son. Art also turned to drugs. By the time he was in High School, he was shooting up and smoking anything he could get his hands on. In grade nine he was middle man for a lot of dealers in his neighborhood. Things just got worse for Art, as he was throwing his life down the drain. In his early twenties, Art suffered a nearly fatal cocaine overdose.This was a sort of epiphany for Art.He realized he needed to change and quit doing drugs, drinking, and smoking. Without drugs or other substances holding him back, he threw himself into his music. He was singer for the band Easy Hoes, and when they broke up, Colorfinger. During this time he also started his own indie record company, Shindigs Records. With the band Colorfinger, he released the album Deep In The Heart Of The Beast In The Sun. Having had experience in the business, he produced the album. In 1991 Colorfinger broke up and Art moved to Portland, Oregon to live with his pregnant girlfriend Jenny. Art put an ad looking for musicians in the local newspaper, which was answered by Craig Montoya and Scott Cuthbert. The band had their first practice just four days after the birth of Art's daughter, Annabella Rose Alexakis. In 1992 the band made a demo tape to give to clubs. This tape was made into the album World Of Noise in 1993 and released by Tim Kerr Records. Art married Jenny some time during that year.