Formed in 1978 by Carlos and Alex Soria, The Nils’popularity began in 1982 upon the release of a 5 song demo entitled “Now”. In1983, they played Montreal’s legendary venue The Spectrum; once with TheRamones and later with X. During this year, they were selected to showcase their song Scratches and Needles on an L.A. based BYO compilation entitled “Something to Believe In” before next being selected to feature Call of The Wild on the “Primitive Air Raid: Montreal ‘84”compilation. The band acquired a significant following by extensively touring North America while still managing to release two influential EPs back to back: Sell Out Young(1985) and Paisley (1986). Their critical success and unmistakable sound caughtthe attention of executives of the now defunct NYC hip hop label Profilerecords. The band signed a five year contract with Rock Hotel, a punk/rock sub-label of Profile and with the help of English songwriter Chris Spedding as producer and Phil Burnett as engineer, they released their first full length self titled album. Upon its release, the album charted and was a critical success. Their ever increasingfanbase including legions of musicians in the genre began naming them as adirect influence. “What surprises me most is how many I run into, or hear from, who say they love The Nils or were directly influenced by them. The Goo Goo Dolls, Superchunk, Jawbox, Meat Puppets, Down By Law, Bob Mould(Sugar, Husker Du) and many of the power-pop punk bands (too many to name), all rave about the Nils (Woody Whelan – Mag Wheel)
The band set off on their seventh North American tour andwas slated to include Europe in support of the album. However, half way through the tour in Minneapolis, the band abruptly received notice that the rest of the tour was cancelled due to the bankruptcy of Profile. Devastated and broke as they were now unable to repay the label’s advance money, the band headed home to find work in order to clear the debt. Further exacerbating the situation, the band further fell victim to their binding contract with Profile that would not allow them to release new material under The Nils name for another four years. With The Nils on a forced hiatus, Carlos Soria moved to Los Angeles accepting an offer to play in Naked Soul and Alex began working menial jobs and playing occasional solo shows around Montreal.
In 1992, now liberated from their contract with Profile, Alex Soria briefly reformed The Nils in absence of his songwriting partner and brother Carlos who was still in L.A. During this time, Alex accepted an offer to release a Nils a retrospective compilation by Woody Whelan of Mag Wheel records. The release entitled “Green Fields in Daylight” proved to be a success for old and new Nils fans. However, without his brother Carlos in tow who throughout the years had taken on a significant role in songwriting, promotion and booking shows, the feat of continuing the band seemed a bit great. Seeking a fresh start, Alex formed Chino featuring Mark Donato (currently of The Nils). They released Mala Leche, a collection of previously unrecorded Nils tracks and some new material. The record adorned the unmistakable songwriting structure that had distinctly set The Nils apart from other bands, though it never garnered the success of that of The Nils.
By 2003, Carlos, Alex and Mark, began playing again as The Nils and started the legwork on a follow up to their successful 1987 release. Then, tragically on December 13th 2004 the band and life for many around them came to a grinding halt when without warning Alex ended his life on a train track near his home. Months later, Carlos and fellow musicians including Chris Spedding, Ian Blurton [Change of Heart] and John Kastner {Doughboys, Assexuals, All Systems Go!} helda sold out benefit tribute concert inAlex’s name.
The Nils lay dormant for the years it took to recover from the greatest loss any of them, their families and fans had ever known. However, as Alex had wished, and with encouragement and support of friends and fellow musicians Keith Morris (Black Flag/Circle Jerks/Off), Chris Spedding and John Kastner, Carlos and Mark picked up once again as The Nils. The band is now under the management of Peter Wark (Rickie Lee Jones, Joseph Arthur, English Beat) and as of today, they are actively playing shows in support of new and old material. A much anticipated new full length album and supporting tour are in the works before the end of 2013.