Matt Finish
Encyclopedia
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.
The band's debut album, Short Note, from 1981 peaked at #14 in the Australian albums charts. 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.
, 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.
In January 1980, Clayton contracted hepatitis and was replaced by Rick Grossman
who had also attended Sydney Boys High School
with Prior.
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 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.
Due to Moffitt's
declining health, the band split up at the end of 1981. 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 followed in 1984 by the album Word of Mouth. 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.
members Guy Le Claire (guitar) and Lindsay Jehan (bass) and New York
er 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).
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. 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
. 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.
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.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band formed by singer-songwriter/guitarist Matt Moffitt
Matt Moffitt
Matt Moffitt was an Australian singer-songwriter/guitarist, best known as the vocalist with rock band Matt Finish. From the late seventies until the mid-nineties, Matt Finish was one of Australia's most popular live bands....
(1956–2003) and drummer/composer/producer John Prior
John Prior (musician)
John David Prior is an Australian drummer, composer and producer recognized for his work with Matt Finish, Adrian Belew , Mick Taylor , Roy Buchanan, Champion Jack Dupree, New Theatre, Coca-Cola, The Great Outdoors, iOTA, Wicked Beat Sound System, Kevin Borich and Dale Barlow.Sydney Morning Herald...
in mid 1979.
The band's debut album, Short Note, from 1981 peaked at #14 in the Australian albums charts. 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
Wendy Matthews
Wendy Joan Matthews is an Australian adult alternative pop singer originally from Canada who has been a member of Models and Absent Friends and is a solo artist...
and appeared on her 2004 album Café Naturale
Café Naturale
-Charts:...
, featured in Triple M Network’s "Best Songs of the Eighties" poll in 2005, in the 2007 Australian feature film The Final Winter
The Final Winter
The Final Winter is an Australian drama film released in 2007. It was directed by Brian Andrews and Jane Forrest and produced by Anthony Coffee, and Michelle Russell, while independently produced it is being distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was written by Matthew Nable who also starred as the...
, 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.
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. From 1979 to 1980, like their contemporaries Midnight OilMidnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
, Flowers/Icehouse
Icehouse (band)
Icehouse is an Australian rock band, formed as Flowers in 1977 in Sydney. Initially known in Australia for their pub rock style, they later achieved mainstream success playing new wave and synthpop style music and attained Top Ten singles chart success in both Europe and the U.S...
and INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
, Matt Finish played regular residencies in clubs and pubs around Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
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
Richard Grossman (musician)
Richard Grossman is an Australian rock musician who has played bass guitar for two iconic bands Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus. Hoodoo Gurus iconic status on the Australian rock scene was acknowledged when they were inducted into the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame. For Grossman, this was his second Hall of Fame...
who had also attended Sydney Boys High School
Sydney Boys High School
Sydney Boys High School is an academically selective public secondary school for boys, located in the City of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, with 1,180 students, from years 7 to 12...
with Prior.
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 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
Peter Dawkins
Peter Dawkins may refer to:*Pete Dawkins, Vice Chairman of the CitiGroup Private Bank and former Chairman/CEO of Primerica Financial Services, Inc.*Peter Dawkins , English founder of the Francis Bacon Research Trust...
-owned, The Giant Recording Company, which on-signed its rights to CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
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
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
. The newly established Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
national FM radio network played songs from Short Note nationally, followed by the commercial networks. In July 1981, Matt Finish recorded a live EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
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
Matt Moffitt
Matt Moffitt was an Australian singer-songwriter/guitarist, best known as the vocalist with rock band Matt Finish. From the late seventies until the mid-nineties, Matt Finish was one of Australia's most popular live bands....
declining health, the band split up at the end of 1981. Grossman joined Divinyls
Divinyls
Divinyls were an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980 and featuring vocalist Christina Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee. As the focal point, Amphlett performed on stage wearing a school uniform and fishnet stockings, often using an illuminated neon tube as a prop and displaying...
for six years (1982–1987) and later joined Hoodoo Gurus
Hoodoo Gurus
Hoodoo Gurus are an Australian rock band, formed in Sydney in 1981, by the mainstay Dave Faulkner and later joined by Richard Grossman , Mark Kingsmill , and Brad Shepherd...
. 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 followed in 1984 by the album Word of Mouth. The following September, Matt Finish performed 15 shows on U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
'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
Simon Climie
Simon Climie is a songwriter/producer and the former lead singer of the UK pop duo Climie Fisher, who had hits with "Love Changes " and "Rise to the Occasion"....
and Rob Fisher
Rob Fisher
Rob Fisher was a British keyboardist and songwriter from Cheltenham, England, who achieved chart success as a member of Naked Eyes, and later Climie 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 EuroglidersEurogliders
Eurogliders were an Indie pop band formed in 1981 in Perth, Western Australia, which included mainstays Grace Knight on vocals and Bernie Lynch on guitar and vocals. The band was originally formed by Bernie Lynch and Amanda Vincent under the name Living Single. After almost a year, Grace Knight...
members Guy Le Claire (guitar) and Lindsay Jehan (bass) and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
er 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
Studios 301
Studios 301 is an Australian recording studio. Established in 1926, Studios 301 is the longest running professional recording studio in the southern hemisphere. It is also Australia’s largest Studio complex featuring state of the art 72 channel Neve 88R console and 72 channel SSL K Series console...
and Bondi
Bondi
Bondi could refer to:-Places in Australia:* Bondi Beach, New South Wales, a beach and suburb in Sydney, Australia* Bondi Junction, New South Wales, a suburb and commercial centre in Sydney, Australia* Bondi, New South Wales, a suburb in Sydney, Australia...
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.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. His funeral, on what would have been his 47th birthday, 20 August, was attended by hundreds of people including members of Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
, Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to...
, The Angels
The Angels (Australian band)
The Angels are a hard rock band that formed in Adelaide, Australia in 1970. The band later relocated from Adelaide to Sydney and enjoyed huge local success until well into the 1990s. For the purposes of international release, their records were released under the names Angel City and later The...
, Rose Tattoo
Rose Tattoo
Rose Tattoo is an Australian rock and roll band, now led by Angry Anderson, that was formed in Sydney in 1976. Their sound is hard rock mixed with blues rock influences, with songs including "Bad Boy for Love", "Rock 'n' Roll Outlaw", "Nice Boys", "We Can't Be Beaten" and "Scarred for Life"...
, Swanee
Swanee
Swanee may refer to:* "Swanee", a song by George Gershwin and Irving Caesar; made popular by Al Jolson* Suwanee River, misspelled by Stephen Foster in writing "Old Folks at Home".* Swanee , an Australian rock singer...
and Hoodoo Gurus
Hoodoo Gurus
Hoodoo Gurus are an Australian rock band, formed in Sydney in 1981, by the mainstay Dave Faulkner and later joined by Richard Grossman , Mark Kingsmill , and Brad Shepherd...
. Mysteriously, the number-plate of Matt's hearse was MF-47.
In 2004, ScreenSound
National Film and Sound Archive
The National Film and Sound Archive is Australia’s audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national collection of audiovisual materials and related items...
(National Film & Sound Archives) released a compilation CD album called Running In The Shadows: Oz rock rarities 1983-1994 featuring Matt Finish.
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
Harry Brus
Harry Brus is an Australian bass player and guitarist, best known for his work with Matt Finish, Kevin Borich, Renée Geyer, Australian Crawl, Leo Sayer, Marcia Hines, Jimmy Barnes, Ross Wilson and Billy Thorpe....
(bass/vocals) embarked on a 50-show Australian tour, joined by various guests including Steve Edmonds (guitar/vocals), Kevin Borich
Kevin Borich
Kevin Nicholas Borich is a New Zealand-born Australian guitarist and singer-songwriter...
(guitar/vocals), Tim Gaze
Tim Gaze
Tim Gaze is an Australian rock and blues guitarist, songwriter, singer and producer. He was a member of several prominent Australian groups of the 1960s and 1970s including Tamam Shud, Kahvas Jute, Ariel and Rose Tattoo.-Biography:...
(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
Erskineville, New South Wales
Erskineville is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Erskineville is located about 3 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney...
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
Dale Barlow
Dale Barlow is an Australian jazz composer, multi-instrumentalist: especially tenor, alto saxophone, soprano saxophonist, baritone saxophone and flute....
, 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
Harry Brus
Harry Brus is an Australian bass player and guitarist, best known for his work with Matt Finish, Kevin Borich, Renée Geyer, Australian Crawl, Leo Sayer, Marcia Hines, Jimmy Barnes, Ross Wilson and Billy Thorpe....
(bass), Dieter Kleemann (guitar), Guy Le Claire (guitar), John Prior
John Prior (musician)
John David Prior is an Australian drummer, composer and producer recognized for his work with Matt Finish, Adrian Belew , Mick Taylor , Roy Buchanan, Champion Jack Dupree, New Theatre, Coca-Cola, The Great Outdoors, iOTA, Wicked Beat Sound System, Kevin Borich and Dale Barlow.Sydney Morning Herald...
(keys/drums/vocals), Victor Rounds (bass), arranged & produced by John Prior
John Prior (musician)
John David Prior is an Australian drummer, composer and producer recognized for his work with Matt Finish, Adrian Belew , Mick Taylor , Roy Buchanan, Champion Jack Dupree, New Theatre, Coca-Cola, The Great Outdoors, iOTA, Wicked Beat Sound System, Kevin Borich and Dale Barlow.Sydney Morning Herald...
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
Glenn Bidmead
Glenn Keith Bidmead is a Sydney-based singer, songwriter, guitarist, performer, producer and sound engineer. Glenn is currently the lead singer and guitarist with Australian rock band Matt Finish...
(vocals/guitar) and Prior (drums/vocals) with Harry Brus
Harry Brus
Harry Brus is an Australian bass player and guitarist, best known for his work with Matt Finish, Kevin Borich, Renée Geyer, Australian Crawl, Leo Sayer, Marcia Hines, Jimmy Barnes, Ross Wilson and Billy Thorpe....
, 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.Line-ups
- 1979 Matt MoffittMatt MoffittMatt Moffitt was an Australian singer-songwriter/guitarist, best known as the vocalist with rock band Matt Finish. From the late seventies until the mid-nineties, Matt Finish was one of Australia's most popular live bands....
(vocals/guitar), John PriorJohn Prior (musician)John David Prior is an Australian drummer, composer and producer recognized for his work with Matt Finish, Adrian Belew , Mick Taylor , Roy Buchanan, Champion Jack Dupree, New Theatre, Coca-Cola, The Great Outdoors, iOTA, Wicked Beat Sound System, Kevin Borich and Dale Barlow.Sydney Morning Herald...
(drums), Brian Alcorn (bass guitar) - 1979 Moffitt, Prior, Jeff Clayton (bass guitar/vocals), Glen White (guitar)
- 1980 Moffitt, Prior, White, Rick GrossmanRichard Grossman (musician)Richard Grossman is an Australian rock musician who has played bass guitar for two iconic bands Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus. Hoodoo Gurus iconic status on the Australian rock scene was acknowledged when they were inducted into the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame. For Grossman, this was his second Hall of Fame...
(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)
- 2006 Prior, Clayton, Matt Cornell (vocals/bass), Luke Dixon (vocals/guitar), with guest Grossman
- 2007 Prior, David Adams (vocals/guitar), Harry BrusHarry BrusHarry Brus is an Australian bass player and guitarist, best known for his work with Matt Finish, Kevin Borich, Renée Geyer, Australian Crawl, Leo Sayer, Marcia Hines, Jimmy Barnes, Ross Wilson and Billy Thorpe....
(bass/vocals), Steve Edmonds (guitar/vocals) and guests: Les Rankin (guitar/vocals), Kevin BorichKevin BorichKevin Nicholas Borich is a New Zealand-born Australian guitarist and singer-songwriter...
(guitar/vocals) - 2007 Prior, Adams, Brus, Parrish Muhoberac (guitar/vocals)
- 2008 Prior, Adams, Brus, Le Claire with guest Dale BarlowDale BarlowDale Barlow is an Australian jazz composer, multi-instrumentalist: especially tenor, alto saxophone, soprano saxophonist, baritone saxophone and flute....
- 2009 Prior, Brus, Glenn BidmeadGlenn BidmeadGlenn Keith Bidmead is a Sydney-based singer, songwriter, guitarist, performer, producer and sound engineer. Glenn is currently the lead singer and guitarist with Australian rock band Matt Finish...
(vocals/guitar) - 2009 Prior, Bidmead, Tom Ruki (bass/vocals)
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 HeartBy Heart (Matt Finish album)By Heart is the third studio album by Australian band Matt Finish. The album produced the singles 'Blue' and 'Earthbound '.-Track listing:# "Blue"# "Earthbound "# "Understand"# "I Could Tell You I Cried"# "Magic"...
(1993) - 2001 Just A Short Note (2001)
- 2008 1978 - 2008 (2008)
EPs
- 1981 Fade AwayFade Away (EP)Fade Away is an EP by Matt Finish. It was recorded live during two sessions at Sydney's PACT theatre in July 1981. Fade Away captured the rawness and power of the live performances that Matt Finish was renowned for.-Line-up:...
(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"
Box Sets
- 2009 Flight Case (limited edition - sold out)
- 2011 Set One and Set Two (2 x 6-disc box sets, limited edition)
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)
External links
- Matt Finish official website
- Matt Finish official MySpace
- Matt Finish at Australian Rock DatabaseAustralian Rock DatabaseAustralian Rock Database is a website with a searchable online database that lists details of Australian rock music artists, albums, bands, producers and record labels. It was established in 2000 by Swedish national, Magnus Holmgren, who had developed an interest in Australian music when visiting...
by Magnus Holmgren - Fire Hand Ember MySpace site
- Australian Music History database
- Undercover
- What's On Central Coast reviews
- Matt Finish photos
- Hotsource
- Matt Finish reviews on Whirlpool