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| Label = Giant, [[CBS Records|CBS]], [[Sony BMG]], Mammal Music
| Label = Giant, [[CBS Records|CBS]], [[Sony BMG]], Mammal Music
| URL = [http://www.mattfinish.net Official website]
| URL = [http://www.mattfinish.net Official website]
| Current_members = [[Glenn Bidmead]]<br />Tom Ruki<br />[[Harry Brus]]<br />[[John Prior (musician)|John Prior]]
| Current_members = [[Glenn Bidmead]]<br />Tom Ruki<br />[[John Prior (musician)|John Prior]]
}}
}}
'''Matt Finish''' are an Australian [[Rock music|rock]] band formed by singer-songwriter/guitarist [[Matt Moffitt]] (1956 - 2003) and drummer/composer/producer [[John Prior (musician)|John Prior]] in mid 1979<ref name="McF">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop]]|last=McFarlane|first=Ian|authorlink=Ian McFarlane|publisher=[[Allen & Unwin]]|year=1999|chapter=Encyclopedia entry for 'Matt Finish'|chapterurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20040615182743/www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=471|isbn=1864487682|accessdate=2009-02-24}}</ref><ref name="ARDb">{{cite web|url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/m/mattfinish.html|work=[[Australian Rock Database]]|title=Matt Finish|publisher=Magnus Holmgren|accessdate=2009-04-06}}</ref> and reformed in 2009 by John with singer-songwriter/guitarist [[Glenn Bidmead]] and bassist Tom Ruki.
'''Matt Finish''' are an Australian [[Rock music|rock]] band formed by singer-songwriter/guitarist [[Matt Moffitt]] (1956 - 2003) and drummer/composer/producer [[John Prior (musician)|John Prior]] in mid 1979<ref name="McF">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop]]|last=McFarlane|first=Ian|authorlink=Ian McFarlane|publisher=[[Allen & Unwin]]|year=1999|chapter=Encyclopedia entry for 'Matt Finish'|chapterurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20040615182743/www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=471|isbn=1864487682|accessdate=2009-02-24}}</ref><ref name="ARDb">{{cite web|url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/m/mattfinish.html|work=[[Australian Rock Database]]|title=Matt Finish|publisher=Magnus Holmgren|accessdate=2009-04-06}}</ref> and reformed in 2009 by John with singer-songwriter/guitarist [[Glenn Bidmead]] and bassist Tom Ruki.

Revision as of 02:31, 12 March 2010

Matt Finish

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] and reformed in 2009 by John with singer-songwriter/guitarist Glenn Bidmead and bassist Tom Ruki.

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.

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

Matt Finish, 1981, left-right: Prior, Grossman, Clayton, Moffitt

In January 1980, Jeff Clayton contracted hepatitis and was replaced by Rick Grossman who 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. 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 Jeff 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 and the show was filmed, which is now available on the 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.

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, Jeff, John and Matt released the EP Matt Finish[2] followed in 1984 by the album Word of Mouth.[2]

In September 1984, 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 and is still heard occasionally on the Triple M network.

Matt Finish was inactive from 1986 to 1989 while Moffitt and Prior pursued other projects. In 1989, Prior produced recordings in New York with Moffitt and that 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, Matt 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, Rick 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 John Prior (drums/vocals) with Harry Brus, Kim May or Tom Ruki on bass. The band is currently performing around Australia and recording new material.

In July 2009, 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.

Matt Finish Chronology

This is a list of dates of significant events, including concerts, recordings, interviews, radio broadcasts and release of albums and singles.

Line-Ups

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, book and 2 posters)

References

  1. ^ a b c McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Matt Finish'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1864487682. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c d "Matt Finish". Australian Rock Database. Magnus Holmgren. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  3. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0646119176. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help) NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
  4. ^ a b Souter, Annie (2003-10-09). "Wild one with a dark angel's voice". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  5. ^ }http://www.musicaustralia.org/apps/MA?function=showDetail&currentBibRecord=000025119987&itemSeq=18&total=83&returnFunction=searchResults&scope=scope&displayFormat=sound&simpleTerm=hoodoo&reuseSearch=true&sessionId=reuseSearch288D39B2F29F56462558B28AB32078F71237711196881}
  6. ^ Cashmere, Paul (2003-08-15). "Vale Matt Moffitt". Undercover Media. undercover.com.au. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  7. ^ }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}
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