When Alex Soria died in front of a train in St-Henri, December 13, Montreal lost one of its greatest songwriters. But Carlos Soria lost his brother. Still, despite the enormity of this family tragedy, older brother Carlos says the torrent of accolades flooding in from Montreal’s artistic community and abroad has lightened the load in the wake of Alex’s death.
"I’ve got my moments, some good, some bad," says Carlos, "but [the tribute gathering at Green Room] last Sunday was great. I think Alex would’ve said that he liked it, even though he didn’t say much – it took a week to get one sentence out of the guy. He would’ve been floored by the level of support."
Alex Soria, who was a very youthful 39, will be remembered and celebrated for many outstanding musical contributions over the years – Chino, Los Pados and Black Sox among them – but it was his first band, The Nils, which he started at the age of 12, that he will be remembered for most.
The Nils were at the forefront of a revolution in pop-punk that included contemporaries like The Replacements and Hüsker Dü. Deceptively simple songs that belied a greater, humble complexity – like the signature Scratches and Needles and Call of the Wild – were The Nils’ calling card, which earned them fans right across the continent. Having a great name probably didn’t hurt either. Nils shows, often a study in contrasting power and subtlety, amply demonstrated Alex’s love of songwriting.
"He did it for love, he didn’t do it for money or anything," says the bass-playing Carlos, who with brother Alex formed the backbone of the The Nils’ during their nearly 16-year existence. "He strived for perfection. Alex had a God-given talent, while I used to struggle to play bass."
In those days the brothers also had another thing in common, a struggle with heroin addiction, which sadly has become a component part of The Nils’ history.
"You know what people always say about the ‘H’ word, and the drugs," says Carlos evenly, "but The Nils were never into that until our dreams were taken away, and I wish people would be a little more fair. Alex wouldn’t want us to be bitter or pass blame, he would just want to remember the good things."
The elder Soria is hoping to shift his focus to a memorial concert for his brother in the new year. "There’ve been some good people offering to help out," says Carlos, noting that support for the endeavour has been heartening. "Alex would have wanted it to have a bit of class, so it has to be done right, so it probably won’t be before the end of January."
The concert will provide a small bit of solace, a show of love that Carlos hopes will ease a bit of the pain.
"Alex thought that nobody loved him, it was an act of desperation," he says quietly. "I just want to hang out with my brother and I know I’m never going to be able to do that again."
10 comments
I’m sorry that Alex Soria died.
I’m sorry for his fans, friends and family.
Truly, I am. Any death or loss is painful and regretable but forgive my bluntness here but we’ve all got our crosses to bear. This year I’ve got various people close to me who require medical attention and one who even went in for major surgery on December 22nd.
We’ve all got people who are in need, sick or who’ve unfortunately shuffled off the mortal coil. This just part of the season.
I don’t know Alex Soria from a hole in the ground, never did, but I can sympathize with what the family and friends must be going through. The real lesson to be held here is that we need to appreciate those around us while they are here because you just never know.
The holidays is about a lot of things but it should always be about not only remembering those who are no longer with us but making time for those that are.
Happy holidays, one and all.
Losing someone you love is always difficult. Unfortunately, throughout our lifetime, it will happen to all of us at some point. Let this be a lesson to everyone. Life is so precious and we never know when someone we love will be taken away from us. So always be kind and giving cause life is just too short.
I was sad to hear the news when I read it in another paper last week that Alex Soria passed away when he was met with an accident. Alex had the passion to play music and make people happy. His band The Nils had success and they were popular on college radio in the states. The Nils never made it to mainstream success with bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam but that never bothered Alex because he did not care about the money. Alex cared about his band mates and music first and if he was enjoying himself on stage.
I give my condolences to The Soria family. I hope that the memorial concert will be as good as the performances that The Nils use to give. Alex Soria leaves us with his music that will always be cherished.
To Carlos , Alex’s loving brother I offer courage. To his dear brother lost in the cruel world of heroin and seeking escape from reality , I offer you peace and tranquility. You will always be remembered by those who knew you and those who didn’t will also be touched. You gave us your best years and we neglected to comfort you and support you as a human being , and so you lost direction. May those left behind not be blamed for the neglect but may they take your death and bring life to those who suffer and who maybe also in that wrong direction. We hope you did not die in vain and that some one else may save their souls from your experience. Carlos you must be strong and live on with your brothers love and carry it far and with pride.Re-direct your life and do it for him and for yourself. I do not know either of you , but as a human being I feel your pain and wish to wipe your tears and give you courage to carry on!
Alex Soria’s death cut short a promising career and caused a lot of grief to his immediate family. It is unfortunate that many artists become even bigger successes once they are dead but this is a very small confort to his family. But it was most likely a rash impulsive act that led to his death in front of a train. We are told in safety brochures to alway stop, look and listen before we cross the tracks and then only at points where it is expressly allowed. Some time ago at the crossing over the Bois Franc train station an elderly lady took a big gamble and tried to dash across seconds before the train pulled into the station but she slipped and went under the wheels dying instantly. Once when I was distracted and was also about to race across the tracks as a train was fast approaching the conductor of another train sounded his bell and I was able to avoid what could have been a serious accident. Life is too short to take unnecessary risks! We must teach our children the rules of train safety when they are young to prevent train fatalities from happening in the future.
(I write this just as I am listening to The Nils’ old hit “Call Of The Wild”, from the 1984 “Primitive Air Raid” compilation)
As I was away for the holidays I just got this sad news. I remember when The Nils were a staple of Montreal’s underground music in the mid 80′s. I had the chance to see them pay live at various venues : the Station 10 between the Old Forum and du Fort Street, at the Foufs, etc.
While most bands at the time were either into hardcore punk or keyboard-based new wave, The Nils played guitar-based pop music that was quite energetic and catchy. Alex being the singer and guitar player was a central element of the group. I just wish to take this opportunity to thank Alex Soria for all these good memories I have from these concerts.
Of course, all my thoughts go to Carlos and the rest of the family. I hope they will find the strength to go through these difficult times.
In the early and mid 80′s, I was playing in a band called Two Flags here in Winnipeg. During these years, a time where opening acts did one set and the headlining acts did two, I recall opening for the Nils at the Royal Albert (a three night stint), once at Guelph University with Change of Heart ( rushing through our set so that we could listen to Ian Blurtons band and then the NIls) and another time in Toronto . I forget where. Toronto was the last time I got to see the Nils and particularly Alex. I remember him being very quiet. The three times I got to see the Nils and showcase for them, not once did Alex ever speak. He spoke through Carlos. Carlos was very chatty then. So was Guy Caron. Eloi a Winnipegger himself was nowhere to be seen. The reason I am writing this is the time we played with the NIls in Guelph. Carlos said that Alex wanted a copy of our tape and a sticker that had our bands name on it. The entire time Carlos was asking, Alex stared at the ground. I said that we would give it to him if he played, I think the song is called Bandito Calling, first in their set. . Its off of Sell out young. He didn’t say a word, but he got his tape and sticker anyway. Just as Nils hit the stage and the music blared, the first words to come out of Alex’s mouth were…” there goes a bandit running wild, running to the hills reaching for the sky”…
Thanks Alex and God Bless,
That song has always sent shivers through me when I hear it. As a music-crazed teenager growing up in Canada in the 80s, there were so many great bands to listen to and to this day, nearly 20 years later, I can still play this song and be moved by the passion and emotion of it. The Nils were/are brilliant and the loss of one of it’s founding members is a crushing blow…
All I can say is thank you to the Soria brothers for the music they created and my condelences go out to all his friends and family.
It’s very sad to hear about the death of Alex Soria. I didn’t know him personally but I wanted to relay my memories.
When I was 14 years old I was listening to the World on a Stick, a show on CKDU FM, the university station in Halifax, NS. I taped a song off the radio that night and I still have the cassette. The announcer never said who the band was but I listened to that tape hundreds of times just for that song. There was so much mystery in this tune. I couldn’t make out all the words (stilll can’t) but the chorus sent shivers down my spine everytime (still does). scratches and needles tonight…..
It wasn’t until a friend lent me The Nils full length two years later that I finally figured out the same guy singing Bandito Calling was the guy singing Scratches and Needles on my mixed tape. Alex Soria. Something about his voice has always done it for me. The FEELING is always there.
I saw The Nils twice when they reunited in the 1990′s. Once in Toronto and once in Vancouver. I remember Alex being very quiet on stage but when he pressed his mouth kinda awkwardly into the mic and sang Young Man in Transit this was real rock and roll and I was flying. So cool. Lonnie James was playing drums in the band then and when I met him years later I felt like I was meeting rock royalty because he had PLAYED IN THE NILS.
Thanks Alex for inspiring me with songs that mysteriously beamed out on college airwaves to nooks and crannies like Halifax and beyond. Musical success has nothing to do with money or widespread recoginition. Musical success is talent, quality, spirit and emotion. The Nils had it in spades. You will be remembered
Halifax, NS
Wow, I didn’t even know Alex died until I just read the article here. It’s very unfortunate to lose someone in such a tragic way. His life ended in front of a train but he was losing his battle with heroin for a long while. I was a very big Nils fan when I was younger, I didn’t know anything about them (this was pre-internet) for me, but I just loved their music. I’ve heard them been dubbed many a time as, “the greatest Canadian band never to conquer the world”, even though people’s knowledge of them is contained to a certain area doesn’t make their impact any less relevant. I hope Alex finds healing in the next life.