Craig Montoya
The steady, melodic bassist who provided the crucial rhythmic and harmonic backbone for Everclear's 90s alternative rock anthems.
Born 1970 (age 56)·Musical artist·Birthday: September 14·Generation X
Biography
Craig Montoya was the anchor in the storm of Everclear's rise. Joining frontman Art Alexakis in the band's early Portland days, his bass lines were more than just support; they were melodic counterpoints that gave songs like 'Santa Monica' and 'Father of Mine' their emotional weight and drive. While Alexakis's personal narratives defined the lyrics, Montoya's steady presence and backing vocals helped shape the band's signature sound—a blend of punk energy, pop hooks, and heartland rock. He was there for the whirlwind ascent through the late '90s, a period of platinum records and constant touring that cemented Everclear as a staple of alternative radio. His departure in the mid-2000s marked the end of an era for the band's classic lineup. Since then, Montoya has pursued music on his own terms, playing in local projects and tribute bands, remaining a respected figure in the Pacific Northwest music scene he helped put on the map.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Craig was born in 1970, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Craig Was Born
The biggest hits of 1970
#1 Movie
Love Story
Best Picture
Patton
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Craig's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1970Born
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1975Started school
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1983Became a teenager
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Could drive
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Could vote
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Turned 21
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2000Turned 30
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 40
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 50
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 56 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played bass and provided backing vocals on Everclear's multi-platinum albums 'Sparkle and Fade' and 'So Much for the Afterglow'.
- Co-wrote and performed on the hit singles "Santa Monica," "Father of Mine," and "Everything to Everyone."
- His melodic bass playing was a defining element of Everclear's commercially successful late-1990s sound.
- Toured extensively throughout the 1990s and early 2000s as part of Everclear's rise to mainstream fame.
Did You Know?
He is of Filipino descent.
After leaving Everclear, he played in a band called The Exploding Hearts for a short time before their tragic van accident.
He has been involved in several tribute bands, including one dedicated to The Replacements.
He and former Everclear drummer Greg Eklund performed reunion shows in the 2010s under the name "The Everclear Classic Lineup."
“A bass line should hold the song down and lift it up at the same time.”
