Matt Tong

Infobox musical artist
Name = Matt Tong

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Img_capt = Matt Tong
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Matthew Tong
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1979|4|29
Bournemouth, England
Died =
Origin =
Instrument = Drums
Backing vocals
Genre = Indie rock
Art rock
Occupation =
Years_active =
Associated_acts = Bloc Party
Notable_instruments = Pearl "Session" drum kit

Matthew Tong (born Matthew Chee HungTong 29 April 1979 in Bournemouth) is the drummer for English art rock band Bloc Party. He is of English/Chinese descent.

Tong was a keen musician from an early age, by 11 he was a competent guitarist, pianist and drummer Fact|date=May 2007.

Personal life

Later Tong moved from Bournemouth to Norwich to further his education and received a degree in Philosophy from the University of East Anglia. He also looked for a band to join, initially intending to play guitar. He never found a band that appealed to him because they all missed the important ingredient of a drummer.

Having moved to London in 2001 to further his studies (at Thames Valley University), Tong was asked by work colleague Kele Okereke if he would like to try out for his band. Tong agreed and later met up with Okereke and other members Russell Lissack and Gordon Moakes. Okereke, Lissack and Moakes were very specific in what they wanted from a drummer and eight drummers had already come and goneFact|date=May 2007. Tong then sat at the drum kit and what they heard according to the three was "Magic, It's a sound we thought could possibly never exist"Fact|date=February 2007, and there and then Bloc Party was formed.

Tong has used a five piece maple Pearl Session drum kit in cranberry fade finish (12x10, 14x12, 16 floor tom and 22x18 kick), with Pearl Sensitone Steel snare and Sabian AAX cymbals as used in the 2005 "Banquet" video.

He has recently listed his drum kit as being of the Pearl Reference series, with 22" bass drum, 12", 13" and 16" toms, and 14"x6.5" snare. He uses Sabian 13" AAX Fusion hi-hats, 21" HHX Groove ride and 18" HHXplosion crashes as well as Pro-Mark Neil Peart signature sticks, Pearl hardware (including Eliminator pedals), and Evans heads.

On November 9, 2006, Tong was hospitalised after suffering a collapsed lung (which he actually played a gig with Fact|date=January 2008) while on tour accompanying Panic! at the Disco. Thus, Bloc Party was forced to leave the tour. [ [http://www.nme.com/news/bloc-party/25027 NME.com: "Bloc Party drummer suffers collapsed lung"] ]

Tong is perceived as the most friendly and welcoming of the band in interviews, engaging in a chatty and warm style where the other members often shrink from the camera. He is not related to BBC Radio 1 Dance Specialist DJ Pete Tong.

Tong married Brooke Vermillion in 2006.

Notes and references