- Matt Finish
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Matt Finish Origin Sydney, Australia Genres rock Years active 1978–present Labels Giant, CBS, Sony BMG, Mammal Music Website Official website Matt Finish are an Australian rock band formed by singer-songwriter/guitarist Matt Moffitt (1956–2003) and drummer/composer/producer John Prior in mid 1979[1][2].
The band's debut album, Short Note, from 1981 peaked at #14 in the Australian albums charts.[3] The title song, Short Note peaked at #18 and went on to become a standard on Australian radio stations. It was recorded by Wendy Matthews and appeared on her 2004 album Café Naturale, featured in Triple M Network’s "Best Songs of the Eighties" poll in 2005, in the 2007 Australian feature film The Final Winter, on numerous compilation albums including Sony BMG's The Essential Australian series released in April 2008; and a new recording of the song appears on Matt Finish's 2008 anthology album 1978-2008.
Contents
History
1970s
Moffitt and Prior first performed as Matt Finish in July and early August 1979 with Brian Alcorn on bass guitar, until New Zealanders Jeff Clayton (bass guitar/vocals) and Glen White (guitar) completed the band's early line-up on 20 August 1979.[1][2] From 1979 to 1980, like their contemporaries Midnight Oil, Flowers/Icehouse and INXS, Matt Finish played regular residencies in clubs and pubs around Sydney most nights of the week, often double-gigging on weekends. In November 1979, radio station 2JJ broadcast Matt Finish live-to-air from the Civic Hotel in Pitt Street, Sydney and continued to broadcast the raw live performances for a year. These recordings appear in the Flight Case collection, released in 2009.
1980s
In January 1980, Clayton contracted hepatitis and was replaced by Rick Grossman who had also attended Sydney Boys High School with Prior.[4]
The band undertook a month-long Queensland tour in February, during which Moffitt drank alone one night in Noosa Heads and slashed both his wrists.[citation needed] The next morning, the band recorded at Music Farm Studios near Byron Bay and radio stations around Australia added these recordings to their regular play-lists. Upon returning to Sydney in March 1980, Glen White left the band. Moffitt, Prior and Grossman performed live as a three-piece while auditioning over eighty guitarists until Clayton rejoined as guitarist.
In mid 1980, Matt Finish recorded at ABC Sydney Studio 221 which 2JJ also broadcast, with the songs "Indicator" and "Red Lights" becoming underground hits. The band began touring interstate regularly and attendances at live performances increased rapidly.
Matt Finish signed to Peter Dawkins-owned, The Giant Recording Company, which on-signed its rights to CBS Records and, at the end of 1980, released their debut double-A-side single, "Matt Finish Plays Africa" with the songs "C.I.A." and "Mancini Shuffle" which radio stations around Australia broadcast on high rotation.
On 18 January 1981, Matt Finish performed at the “Last Double Jay Concert” to an audience of 40,000 at Parramatta Park and the concert was broadcast live-to-air. The same week, Matt Finish performed at the Sydney Musicians Club in a show that was filmed and later released on a DVD entitled Matt Finish Live At The Musicians Club 1981.
Matt Finish's first album, Short Note, was released in February 1981 by Giant/CBS Records. The newly established Triple J national FM radio network played songs from Short Note nationally, followed by the commercial networks. In July 1981, Matt Finish recorded a live EP Fade Away at PACT Theatre in the old Corn Exchange building in Sussex Street, Sydney, and it was released in October 1981. Original copies are now considered collector's items.[citation needed]
Due to Moffitt's declining health, the band split up at the end of 1981.[1] Grossman joined Divinyls for six years (1982–1987) and later joined Hoodoo Gurus. In May 1983, Matt Finish reconvened with Moffitt, Prior and Clayton and they recommenced touring and recording with a constant stream of guest musicians including Bertie Dorset (bass guitar/guitar), Anthony Smith (keyboards), Jim Cox (percussion), Ken Francis (guitar), Rob Riley (guitar), Doug Ironside (guitar), Dave Leslie (guitar) and Russell Nelson (guitar).
In November 1983, Clayton, Prior and Moffitt released the EP Matt Finish[2] followed in 1984 by the album Word of Mouth.[2] The following September, Matt Finish performed 15 shows on U2's Under Australian Skies Tour, including five sold-out shows at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. In November 1984, Moffitt and Prior recorded 16 songs at ATA Studios in Glebe to secure Moffitt's solo recording deal with CBS Records Australia. In 1985, Moffitt and Prior travelled to London and Belgium to record Moffitt's first solo album By as Little as a Look with UK producer Nicky Graham and session musicians Pete Glennister, Felix Krish, Simon Climie and Rob Fisher. "Miss This Tonight", the first single from album, reached #17 on the Australian charts. The song was played extensively on FM rock stations in Australia.
Matt Finish was inactive from 1986 to 1989 while Moffitt and Prior pursued other projects, but Prior produced recordings in New York with Moffitt in 1989. The songs were never released.
1990s
In 1990, Moffitt and Prior reformed Matt Finish with former Eurogliders members Guy Le Claire (guitar) and Lindsay Jehan (bass) and New Yorker Jennifer Barrett (guitar). Managed and promoted by Prior, the band completed their most successful tour to date including 50 sold-out performances around Australia. The band recorded four songs produced by Peter Blyton at Studios 301 and Bondi Road Studios that were never released.
In April 1992, Moffitt released a limited edition solo acoustic CD EP Euroka, produced by Peter Blyton.
In June 1992, Moffitt re-signed with producer Peter Dawkins and using the name Matt Finish (with permission from Prior, whose company Mammal Music owns the Matt Finish trademark) released the single "One Day at a Time", the album By Heart and EP Earthbound featuring Adrian Cannon (drums), Rohan Cannon (guitar/vocals), Bobby Christian (bass guitar) and Paul Dawkins (keyboards). In 1993, Moffitt and Dawkins released the singles Blue and Will I Ever Know? featuring Eliot Reynolds (guitar) and Justin Leaf (drums).
2000s
In 2001, Rajon Music Group released a compilation CD entitled Australian Made Volume 2 featuring the Matt Finish song Short Note.[5]
In 2001, Moffitt and Grossman released the limited edition compilation CD entitled Just A Short Note and formed the band Fire Hand Ember with Joseph Calderazzo (guitar/vocals) and Wayne Gretch (drums) performing 20 shows.
On 13 August 2003, Moffitt died suddenly in his sleep, aged 46.[6] His funeral, on what would have been his 47th birthday, 20 August, was attended by hundreds of people including members of Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel, The Angels, Rose Tattoo, Swanee and Hoodoo Gurus.[4] Mysteriously, the number-plate of Matt's hearse was MF-47.
In 2004, ScreenSound (National Film & Sound Archives) released a compilation CD album called Running In The Shadows: Oz rock rarities 1983-1994 featuring Matt Finish.[7]
In late 2006, Prior reformed Matt Finish with Clayton (guitar/vocals), Luke Dixon (vocals/guitar) and Matt Cornell (vocals/bass) for the Matt Moffitt Memorial Tour, which was promoted by Rob Prior, John's elder brother. At The Basement, Sydney, Grossman joined the band as a special guest. In December 2006, Matt Finish released Don't Fade Away, a new version of Fade Away, free on the internet to commemorate the tribute tour.
In April 2007, Prior, David Adams (vocals/guitar) and Harry Brus (bass/vocals) embarked on a 50-show Australian tour, joined by various guests including Steve Edmonds (guitar/vocals), Kevin Borich (guitar/vocals), Tim Gaze (guitar), Eliot Reynolds (guitar), Russ Nelson (guitar/vocals), Barry Leef (vocals/guitar), Al Slavik (bass), Les Rankin (guitar/vocals), Seven Hawkes (guitar), Tom Ruki (bass) and Guy Le Claire (guitar). In December 2007, Parrish Muhoberac (guitar/vocals) joined Matt Finish and the band finished a new album at Prior's Unity Gain Studios in Erskineville on Christmas Eve.
In January 2008, Matt Finish released an album entitled 1978–2008, a freshly recorded retrospective album with three previously unreleased songs, "Dream Away", "Cold Wars" and "River". In June 2008, Guy Le Claire rejoined and Matt Finish embarked on a tour with internationally renowned saxophonist Dale Barlow, who also attended South Strathfield Public School with Prior.
In January 2009, a DVD entitled Matt Finish Live At The Musicians Club 1981 was released, with the only existing concert footage of the band performing live in the eighties.
In February 2009, the EP New Frontier was released, featuring David Adams (vocals/guitar), Harry Brus (bass), Dieter Kleemann (guitar), Guy Le Claire (guitar), John Prior (keys/drums/vocals), Victor Rounds (bass), arranged & produced by John Prior at Unity Gain Studios Sydney and mastered by William Bowden at King Willy Sound Sydney.
In March 2009, Matt Finish reformed as a three-piece with Glenn Bidmead (vocals/guitar) and Prior (drums/vocals) with Harry Brus, Kim May and then Tom Ruki on bass. In July, the band released two retrospective CDs, Short Note Remastered and Civic Hotel and in September 2009 released Fade Away Sessions and Word Of Mouth. In December 2009, the band released Flight Case, a retrospective 12-disc box set. The band is currently performing around Australia and recording new material.
Matt Finish Chronology
This is a list of dates of significant events, including concerts, recordings, interviews, radio broadcasts and release of albums and singles.
Main article: Matt Finish ChronologyLine-ups
- 1979 Matt Moffitt (vocals/guitar), John Prior (drums), Brian Alcorn (bass guitar)
- 1979 Moffitt, Prior, Jeff Clayton (bass guitar/vocals), Glen White (guitar)
- 1980 Moffitt, Prior, White, Rick Grossman (bass guitar)
- 1980 Moffitt, Prior, Grossman
- 1980 Moffitt, Prior, Grossman, Clayton
- 1983 Moffitt, Prior, Clayton
- 1983 Moffitt, Prior, Clayton, Bertie Dorsett (guitar/bass guitar), Anthony Smith (keyboards), Jim Cox (percussion), Ken Francis (guitar), Rob Riley (guitar)
- 1984 Moffitt, Prior, Clayton, Dorsett, Smith
- 1984 Moffitt, Prior, Clayton, Dorsett
- 1984 Moffitt, Prior, Clayton
- 1984 Moffitt, Prior, Clayton, Russell Nelson (guitar)
- 1984 Moffitt, Prior, Clayton, Doug Ironside (guitar)
- 1990 Moffitt, Prior, Guy Le Claire (guitar), Lindsay Jehan (bass guitar), Jennifer Barrett (guitar/vocals)
- 1993 Moffitt, Darrio Bortolin/Bobby Christian (bass guitar), Adrian Cannon (drums), Rohan Cannon (guitar/vocals), Paul Dawkins (keyboards/vocals)
- 1994 Moffitt, Dawkins, Eliot Reynolds (guitar), Justin Leaf (drums)
- 2001 Moffitt, Grossman, Joseph Calderazzo (guitar/vocals), Wayne Gretch (drums)
- 2006 Prior, Clayton, Matt Cornell (vocals/bass), Luke Dixon (vocals/guitar), with guest Grossman
- 2007 Prior, David Adams (vocals/guitar), Harry Brus (bass/vocals), Steve Edmonds (guitar/vocals) and guests: Les Rankin (guitar/vocals), Kevin Borich (guitar/vocals)
- 2007 Prior, Adams, Brus, Parrish Muhoberac (guitar/vocals)
- 2008 Prior, Adams, Brus, Le Claire with guest Dale Barlow
- 2009 Prior, Brus, Glenn Bidmead (vocals/guitar)
- 2009 Prior, Bidmead, Tom Ruki (bass/vocals)
Discography
Date recorded, title, date released
Albums
- 1979 Civic Hotel (2009)
- 1980 Music Farm (2009)
- 1980 Short Note (1981)
- 1980 Short Note (Remastered) (2009)
- 1981 Fade Away Sessions (2009)
- 1981 Parramatta Park + Melbourne Uni (2009)
- 1983 Word of Mouth (1984)
- 1983 Word of Mouth (Rhinoceros Studios, Remastered) (2009)
- 1983 Word of Mouth (Alberts Studios Mixes (2009)
- 1983 At The Tivoli (2009)
- 1984 Truck Surfing (2009)
- 1984 Kite On A Hurricane Day (2009)
- 1993 By Heart (1993)
- 2001 Just A Short Note (2001)
- 2008 1978 - 2008 (2008)
EPs
- 1981 Fade Away (1981)
- 1983 Matt Finish (1983)
- 1993 Earthbound (1993)
- 2009 New Frontier (2009)
Singles
- 1980 "Matt Finish Play Africa: CIA / Mancini Shuffle"
- 1981 "Short Note / Layman's Day"
- 1984 "Words and Wars / Still Roads (I Need It) / Come on Over"
- 1984 "Always Another / Forecast"
- 1992 "One Day at a Time / Augustine"
- 1993 "Blue / Layman's Day / Camden Town"
- 1994 "Will I Ever Know / Short Note / In My Dreams"
- 2006 "Don't Fade Away 2006"
DVD
- 1981 Matt Finish Live at the Musicians Club 1981 (2009)
Box Set
- 2009 Matt Finish Flight Case (11 CDs, 1 DVD, 1 book and 2 posters in a flight case)
Compilations
List of compilation albums featuring Matt Finish.
- 1981 Storm Riders LP (Peak Records)
- 1981 Storm Riders DVD (Mutiny Media)
- 198? We’ve Got The Rock http://www.australiancollector.com/aus/var.htm
- 1995 Classic Rare Hits Of The 80's (CEL Entertainment)
- 1995 From The Vaults (CEL Entertainment)
- 2001 Australian Made Volume 2 (Rajon)
- 2002 Australian Made Volume 3 (Rajon)
- 2002 Real Aussies (Sony)
- 2002 Real Ballads (Sony)
- 2003 Elite Eighties (Sony)
- 2003 Box Of Love (Rajon)
- 2004 Three Decades Of Aussies (Sony)
- 2004 Running In The Shadows (Screensound)
- 2006 For Pete's Sake (Sony)
- 2008 Essential Australian Rock (Sony)
References
- ^ a b c McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Matt Finish'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. http://web.archive.org/web/20040615182743/www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=471. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
- ^ a b c d "Matt Finish". Australian Rock Database. Magnus Holmgren. http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/m/mattfinish.html. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
- ^ a b Souter, Annie (2003-10-09). "Wild one with a dark angel's voice". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/09/1062902054752.html?from=storyrhs. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
- ^ }http://www.musicaustralia.org/apps/MA?function=showDetail¤tBibRecord=000025119987&itemSeq=18&total=83&returnFunction=searchResults&scope=scope&displayFormat=sound&simpleTerm=hoodoo&reuseSearch=true&sessionId=reuseSearch288D39B2F29F56462558B28AB32078F71237711196881}
- ^ Cashmere, Paul (2003-08-15). "Vale Matt Moffitt". Undercover Media (undercover.com.au). Archived from the original on 2003-08-17. http://web.archive.org/web/20030817010850/http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2003/20030815_mattmoffitt.html. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ }http://www2b.abc.net.au/guestbookcentral/addcomment.asp?GuestbookID=157&EntryID=210231&view=&numtoview=&start=&sort=&filter1=&filter1val=&filter2=&filter2val=&filter3=&filter3val=&advanced=&pagestart=112}
External links
Categories:- Australian rock music groups
- Musical groups established in 1978
- New South Wales musical groups
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