National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj is the sequel to the successful 2002 release, Nation Lampoon's Van Wilder. Taj (Kal Penn), from the first film heads to England's prestigious Oxford University to further his studies while in the process, showing the uptight student body how to party.

Everclear's superb songs and Art Alexakis' us-against-them lyrics were taken to heart by bored Gen-X teens in the mid-90s. The band's sound reflected the rock, post-punk and singer/songwriter influences of Alexakis like X, the Replacements, the Pixies, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and Elvis Costello. Also elemental to Everclear's success was their obsessive touring schedule and agressive self-promotion.

Their second album Sparkle and Fade appeared in 1995. Alternative radio quickly picked up on the singles "Santa Monica" and "Heroin Girl," and the album eventually certified platinum. Meanwhile, Alexakis became a major alternative media figure, reporting from the 1996 political conventions for MTV. So Much for the Afterglow followed in 1997, and went double-platinum, particularly due to the success of three Top 5 modern rock hits, "Everything to Everyone," "I Will Buy You a New Life," and "Father of Mine."

Everclear released Welcome to the Drama Club on Eleven Seven Music (in association with ADA/Warner Music Group) in September 2006. Spearheaded by the single "Hater," the album was meant to be a homage to some of Alexakis' earliest influences.