Sophomore Alex Jones knew who he wanted to be the moment he picked up a guitar.

   “I’ve always wanted to be in a band. It’s been a dream of mine since the sixth grade. I’d fall asleep in class and have dreams about playing in front of massive audiences and being a rock star,” Jones said.

   Jones has always been interested in music. He has spent years listening to and playing different instruments, such as the guitar, drums, bass, piano, and the viola. With that talent, his dreams of being in a band became reality when he joined the band Nerve Gas.

   “I watched Nerve Gas play at shows over the summer and was inspired. I knew people affiliated with the band and was asked to join,” Jones said.

   Jones’s band is an alternative rock band, also known as grunge. He joined Nerve Gas after being a fan for the majority of his freshman year.

   “It was a fan-to-member type deal,” Jones said.

   After four years of playing music, Jones has found himself in a community filled with people who shared his same passions. 

   “For the longest time, I didn’t think I was able to go anywhere with music. Then I just kept trying, practicing, striving to be better, and eventually I found myself in places that I originally would’ve just dreamed of being in,” Jones said.

   Nerve Gas is currently working on releasing an album. Jones also performed a solo at the Moontown Sound Bar in downtown Springfield on March 26th to help advertise his band and music career. This act has made Jones grow a taste for solo performances as he enjoyed being up on stage.

   “I’ve always loved music. It’s been a major part of my childhood. I remember my parents playing a lot of rock music for me when I was a toddler. I grew up on Kiss, Queen, and a lot of glam rock music,” Jones said.

   Jones loved anything music related as a child. His dad aspired to become a musician which was a minor influence for Jones to take after. 

   “I was in orchestra for a decent chunk of middle school,” Jones said.

   Jones was studying music for most of middle school. Little did he know, this would be the start of his future.

   “I got my first guitar on my twelfth birthday, but I started getting lessons when I was 13. I’ve been consistent ever since my first lesson,” Jones said.

   Jones currently owns a total of six guitars, and he plans to get more. 

   “It’s an ever-growing collection,” Jones said. 

   Jones enjoys collenting and learning different instruments.

   “For a while, music was just a hobby of mine. I’ve loved playing it and listening to it so much. The more in-depth and deeper I’ve gotten into music, the more I’ve wanted to be a rock star,” Jones said.

   Jones has surrounded himself with music. He’s surrounded his life with what he loves, and he’s been working hard to achieve his goals.

   “When I was just starting to get into guitar, learning the rudiments and how to play it, I had this really, really cool guitar teacher, and he put me on amazing music. He showed me The Smashing Pumpkins and put me on grunge stuff. I thought he was the coolest person ever,” he said.

   Jones took lessons from this teacher when he was 13 years old. He was extremely inspired by him.

   “He taught me for about a year and a half, and I thought he was legendary. I thought, ‘man, this is where I wanna be in the future’,” Jones said.

   Jones aspired to grow to be someone big because of his teachers’ influence. 

   “So many people have given me resources and taught me how to navigate music. They’ve told me that I’m destined for greatness, and I want to prove that,” Jones said.

   Through help and inspiration from peers, Jones worked hard to climb his way to where he is now.

   “I looked into the greats, like Kurt Cobain, Scott Weiland, Layne Staley,” Jones said. 

   Jones wishes that in about five to 10 years, he could be playing in front of crowds of millions and touring the world. He hopes to be rich, famous world round and selling merchandise for his band. 

   “I want to be somebody influential. I want my voice to be heard,” Jones said.

   The lead singer of Nerve Gas, Colton Kastner, who inspired Alex to join his band, praises him.

 “Alex is very authentic. He brings a lot of stage presence,” Kastner said.

   Jones also gets compliments from his colleague and bassist for Nerve Gas, Zander John.

   “Alex is a very thoughtful, optimistic, and talented individual. He makes the band unique,” John said.

   On March 21, Jones played his first performance at the vintage thrift store, Void Vintage, in Springfield to grab attention for the store’s one year anniversary of being open.

   “I was a little bit nervous. But once I got on stage, everything dissolved. I didn’t pay much attention to the crowd, and as it blurred in my mind, I just focused on my playing,” Jones said.

   Jones has been working tirelessly with his music career as of late. He spends most of his free time practicing his music.

   “To all the youngins that are in a similar position to me who love music and want to do something with it, do something with it! Stay passionate. Make every opportunity happen,” Jones said.