Biography
Modern pop and rock tunesmith Joey Alkes has filled numerous roles across the music sector, ranging from label executive and lead singer to band manager. He gained widest recognition for co-writing the Plimsouls’ power-pop single “Million Miles Away,” a track that has since surfaced on multiple new-wave anthologies. Although born in New York, Alkes has navigated virtually every corner of the industry; beyond his songwriting credits and executive posts, he served as a music journalist and magazine editor, having earlier published poetry before redirecting his literary efforts toward songcraft.
During the mid-1980s Alkes fronted the Space Shot Orchestra, a project overseen by Tin Machine drummer Hunt Sales. The ensemble became the first act to cut “The Sphinx,” a composition jointly credited to Alkes, Chris Fradkin, and the group’s saxophonist Mitch Rafal, who subsequently joined Kid Frost’s lineup. British blues veteran Alexis Korner committed the same song to tape twelve months afterward. Several years prior, Alkes and Fradkin had collaborated with Plimsouls guitarist Peter Case on the Plimsouls’ hit “Million Miles Away,” which appeared on the soundtrack of the 1982 cult teen film Valley Girl. Additional co-writing credits include the Roadrunners’ “Haunted Forever” and “Talk to Me,” the latter recorded by Phil Seymour, as well as material developed with Jim Basnight of the Moberlys and with Devin Payne. Together Alkes and Payne created “Woman in You Girl,” reportedly tracked by Roy Orbison shortly before his passing, although the recording has never been issued.
In a managerial capacity Alkes represented They Eat Their Own plus the Los Angeles outfits Haunted Garage and a reunited Mother’s Finest, among other clients. Following an extended break from the business, he reentered the field in the late 1990s as a label licensing director, soon establishing his own entertainment firm and launching Airborne Monkey Records, whose roster features Laura B., the singer-songwriter formerly of They Eat Their Own.
During the mid-1980s Alkes fronted the Space Shot Orchestra, a project overseen by Tin Machine drummer Hunt Sales. The ensemble became the first act to cut “The Sphinx,” a composition jointly credited to Alkes, Chris Fradkin, and the group’s saxophonist Mitch Rafal, who subsequently joined Kid Frost’s lineup. British blues veteran Alexis Korner committed the same song to tape twelve months afterward. Several years prior, Alkes and Fradkin had collaborated with Plimsouls guitarist Peter Case on the Plimsouls’ hit “Million Miles Away,” which appeared on the soundtrack of the 1982 cult teen film Valley Girl. Additional co-writing credits include the Roadrunners’ “Haunted Forever” and “Talk to Me,” the latter recorded by Phil Seymour, as well as material developed with Jim Basnight of the Moberlys and with Devin Payne. Together Alkes and Payne created “Woman in You Girl,” reportedly tracked by Roy Orbison shortly before his passing, although the recording has never been issued.
In a managerial capacity Alkes represented They Eat Their Own plus the Los Angeles outfits Haunted Garage and a reunited Mother’s Finest, among other clients. Following an extended break from the business, he reentered the field in the late 1990s as a label licensing director, soon establishing his own entertainment firm and launching Airborne Monkey Records, whose roster features Laura B., the singer-songwriter formerly of They Eat Their Own.