15 Minutes (band)

Alternate Learning

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1977 in Davis, California, United States
Founder	Scott Miller
Defunct	1982
Fate	Disbanded
Successor	Game Theory
Headquarters	Davis, California , United States
Area served	United States (California)
Key people	Scott Miller, Jozef Becker, Scott Gallawa, Carolyn O'Rourke, Lynn Ross, Eric Landers, Byl Miller
Products	Music albums and singles
Parent	Rational Records (label)

Alternate Learning (often abbreviated as ALRN) was a power pop and new wave ensemble active from 1977 until 1982. Originating in Davis, California, the group was fronted by singer-songwriter Scott Miller, who later gained recognition as the leader of the 1980s band Game Theory and the 1990s project the Loud Family.

Initial ALRN era (1977–1978)

Alternate Learning marked Scott Miller’s inaugural band to release recordings on the independent Rational Records label. Established during his high school years, the founding lineup consisted of Miller, Jozef Becker, and Scott Gallawa, who began performing under the Alternate Learning name around 1977 at Rio Americano High School.

Their debut release, a self-titled four-track 7" EP, was recorded in Miller’s home studio located in Sacramento and independently issued via Rational Records in 1979. The band and this EP became commonly identified by the acronym ALRN, which was prominently displayed on the cover art. While officially bearing the full band name, this release is frequently referred to as the ALRN EP or alternatively as the Green Card EP, named after its opening song.

Davis-based original lineup (1978–1980)

In 1978, Miller moved Alternate Learning to Davis, California, where he was attending college.

The Davis lineup expanded with bassist Carolyn O'Rourke and keyboardist Lynn Ross joining the group. This formation achieved regional acclaim through performances around Sacramento, San Francisco, and notably at U.C. Davis.

By 1980, Ross, Scott Gallawa, and Jozef Becker had left the band; Becker cited interpersonal disagreements as a reason for his departure. Gallawa and Becker went on to create Les-Z-Boys alongside Guy Kyser; Becker and Kyser later co-founded Thin White Rope. Becker also played with True West before reuniting with Miller for Game Theory between 1989 and 1990, subsequently collaborating again in Miller’s 1990s project The Loud Family.

Painted Windows phase (1981–1982)

In February 1981, drummer Eric Landers and keyboardist Byl Miller (unrelated to Scott Miller) became members of Alternate Learning.

This lineup recorded the full-length album Painted Windows, which was released through Rational Records. During the recording sessions, Scott Miller clarified that their 1979 EP was created by "Scott Miller with Joe Becker and Scott Gallawa (now of Les-Z-Boys)" rather than by the current members of Alternate Learning.

Prior to the album’s release, this version of Alternate Learning made their live debut alongside Pylon in April 1981, followed by a series of performances extending through October of that year. Although Painted Windows officially came out in January 1982, live shows did not resume until late February 1982.

All compositions on Painted Windows were written by Scott Miller.

Disbandment (1982)

Following the release of Painted Windows, Alternate Learning’s concluding performance took place at the U.C. Davis Coffeehouse on February 27, 1982. The trio comprising Scott Miller, Carolyn O'Rourke, and Byl Miller performed without a live drummer, relying on pre-recorded percussion and effects until drummer Gavin Blair from the X-Men joined for the final songs.

In May 1982, Miller formally dissolved Alternate Learning and promptly established Game Theory. This new ensemble featured keyboardist and backing vocalist Nancy Becker, who had previously contributed synthesizer parts as an occasional member of Alternate Learning.

Partnership with Steve Wynn

In 1981, members of Alternate Learning joined forces with Steve Wynn to create the group 15 Minutes, which released a single through Wynn's label, Down There Records.

This trio consisted of Wynn handling guitar and lead vocals, Caroline O'Rourke playing bass, and Eric Landers on drums. The single, featuring "That's What You Always Say" backed with "Last Chance For You," was both written and produced by Wynn, while Scott Miller took on engineering duties. The A-side track was subsequently covered by The Dream Syndicate on their 1982 release The Days of Wine and Roses.

Both songs were later included as bonus content on Rhino Records' 2001 remastered edition of The Days of Wine and Roses.

Recordings by Game Theory

Within Game Theory's 1987 double album Lolita Nation, the song "Pretty Green Card Shark" integrates the introduction from "Green Card."

In 1990, former Alternate Learning members Scott Miller, Jozef Becker, and Nancy Becker collaborated once again in the studio alongside Michael Quercio to produce a fresh rendition of "Beach State Rocking." This updated Game Theory version served as the opening track on the compilation album Tinker to Evers to Chance, which was issued by Enigma Records.

Commemorative concert (2013)

After the passing of Scott Miller, a tribute concert took place in Sacramento on July 20, 2013. The event's proceeds were dedicated to a fund supporting Miller’s children's education. Nancy Becker performed with Fletcher Gallawa (son of original member Scott Gallawa) and his band under the name "Nan Becker and the Wheels," beginning their set with Alternate Learning tracks such as "Green Card," "What's the Matter," and "When She's Alone."

Remastered releases on Game Theory reissues (2014–2020)

Following Miller’s death, Omnivore Recordings acquired Alternate Learning’s original master recordings as part of their ongoing Game Theory reissue project initiated in 2014. The 2014 reissue of Game Theory's Blaze of Glory included four bonus tracks from Alternate Learning: "What's the Matter" from the ALRN EP, along with "Another Wasted Afternoon," "Beach State Rocking," and "The New You" from Painted Windows.

A live rendition of "Beach State Rocking" was added as bonus material on Omnivore’s 2015 reissue of Real Nighttime, while the 2020 compilation Across the Barrier of Sound presented a remastered version of "When She's Alone."

Studio albums

Year	Title	Format	Label	Catalog no.
1979	Alternate Learning (also known as ALRN)	7" EP	Rational	RAT-001
1982	Painted Windows	LP	Rational	ATI-002

Various artist compilations

Year	Title	Track listing	Format	Label
1979	The Other #1	"When She's Alone" (side 2, track 15)	CS	The Other Tapes
2004	Homework #9	"Sex War" (track 13)	CD-R	Hyped to Death (H2D #68)

Game Theory re-releases (additional tracks)

Year	Album	Additional tracks	Format	Label
REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Blaze of Glory	"Another Wasted Afternoon" (track 13) "What's the Matter" (track 14) "Beach State Rocking" (track 20) "The New You" (track 23)	LP, CD	Omnivore
REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Real Nighttime	"Beach State Rocking (Live)" (track 19)
REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Across the Barrier of Sound: PostScript	"When She's Alone" (track 25)

Collaborative works

Act	Release title
15 Minutes (featuring Steve Wynn)	"That's What You Always Say" (Wynn) b/w "Last Chance For You" (Wynn) Issued in 1981 as a 7" single under Down There Records (DT-1) Added as bonus material on the 2001 remastered CD version of The Dream Syndicate's The Days of Wine and Roses via Rhino Records (R2 79937)

See also

• Scott Miller
• Scott Miller discography
• Game Theory
• The Loud Family