Matt Hoopes
Encyclopedia
Matthew Ryan Hoopes is the lead guitarist of Relient K
, a Christian rock
band that was formed in 1998. Hoopes has played guitar
and performed backing vocals
for Relient K for twelve years. Hoopes has slowly developed into the band's lead guitarist over the years, despite Matt Thiessen playing lead a lot in the band's early days. Thiessen is playing more piano for the band now, whereas Hoopes' primary duty for the band is guitar.
and Brian Pittman
, Hoopes co-founded the band during his junior year of high school at Canton McKinley High School
in Canton, Ohio
. He met Thiessen when they were in the Church choir together in second grade. Matt Thiessen once said in the book The Complex Infrastructure Known as the Female Mind that Hoopes and Brian Pittman were the athletes in high school, and while they were friends with Thiessen, they were also probably considered cooler than Thiessen. While lead singer Matt Thiessen writes almost every song
, Hoopes wrote the song "Those Words Are Not Enough" on The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek
. Marilyn Manson
, also a native of the Canton, is subject of their song My Girlfriend although they are not acquainted.
Relient K was named after Hoopes' car, the Plymouth Reliant
K, and it is said that he still owns it. The car is currently sitting on cinder blocks in the driveway of the house owned by his younger brother, Scott, in North Canton, Ohio. When they started in 1998, Hoopes originally did not want to do any singing in the band. However, Matt Thiessen pushed him to do it, saying that he had a great voice. Hoopes has been the primary backing vocalist for the band ever since.
Besides playing for Relient K, Hoopes has also done backup vocals for certain Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes songs, and has been a guest guitarist at concerts for the band My Red Hot Nightmare. Hoopes has said he is currently learning to play lapsteel, which would probably be used for the band.
While the band refers to him as "Blanche" to keep from confusing the two Matts, some fans refer to him as "Matty H", or just "Hoopes". Matt Thiessen has said that they can either usually tell who is being asked for when someone says "Matt", or they tend to use a lot of last names. This goes for Jon Schneck
and John Warne
as well.
Matt Hoopes normally plays his guitar in one position (as seen in the picture on the right), so much so that certain fans have called it the "Classic Hoopes Stance". He has said he enjoys root beer, and playing golf.http://www.relientk.com/blog-matth-bio.asp
For the last several months, Matt Hoopes has not been traveling with Relient K. However, he remains very active as a team member and band-mate. He still practices with the band and manages their record label, Mono Vs Stereo. As well, he recently produced the new "Deas Vail" record, which is under the Mono Vs. Stereo label. He practices with Relient K and plans to return to touring eventually. It is assumed he is using time off to spend with family.http://www.cantonrep.com/entertainment/ticket/x2012970008/Its-a-Relient-K-Christmas-with-two-Akron-gigs
Hoopes resumed touring with Relient K in May 2011, as he performed with the band for their acoustic concerts before the Vans Warped Tour.
, Relient K's primary producer. They have two children, a daughter named Stella Rose and a son named Jasper Zelman. They currently reside in Nashville, Tennessee
.
Relient K
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Brian Pittman, and Matt Hoopes during the band's junior year in high school and their time at Malone University...
, a Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band that was formed in 1998. Hoopes has played guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and performed backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
for Relient K for twelve years. Hoopes has slowly developed into the band's lead guitarist over the years, despite Matt Thiessen playing lead a lot in the band's early days. Thiessen is playing more piano for the band now, whereas Hoopes' primary duty for the band is guitar.
Biography
Along with Matt ThiessenMatt Thiessen
Matthew Arnold Thiessen is a Canadian-American musician, known for being co-founder, lead singer, guitarist, pianist, and primary songwriter for the Christian rock band Relient K. With Relient K, he has released six full-length albums, including three that were certified Gold, and three that...
and Brian Pittman
Brian Pittman
Brian Lee Pittman is an American musician most notable as the former bassist for the Christian rock band Relient K, of which he was a founding member...
, Hoopes co-founded the band during his junior year of high school at Canton McKinley High School
Canton McKinley High School
Canton McKinley Senior High School is a public high school in Canton, Stark County, Ohio, U.S. It is one of the largest and oldest high schools in Ohio.-Athletics:...
in Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. He met Thiessen when they were in the Church choir together in second grade. Matt Thiessen once said in the book The Complex Infrastructure Known as the Female Mind that Hoopes and Brian Pittman were the athletes in high school, and while they were friends with Thiessen, they were also probably considered cooler than Thiessen. While lead singer Matt Thiessen writes almost every song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, Hoopes wrote the song "Those Words Are Not Enough" on The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek
The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek
The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek is the second full-length album released by the Christian rock band Relient K. It was released on August 28, 2001, and peaked at #158 on the Billboard 200. On June 26, 2006, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA for sales in excess of 500,000 units in the...
. Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
, also a native of the Canton, is subject of their song My Girlfriend although they are not acquainted.
Relient K was named after Hoopes' car, the Plymouth Reliant
Plymouth Reliant
The Plymouth Reliant was one of the first two so-called "K-cars" manufactured by the Chrysler Corporation, introduced for the 1981 model year. The Reliant replaced the Plymouth Volaré/Road Runner, which was the short-lived successor automobile to the highly regarded Plymouth Valiant...
K, and it is said that he still owns it. The car is currently sitting on cinder blocks in the driveway of the house owned by his younger brother, Scott, in North Canton, Ohio. When they started in 1998, Hoopes originally did not want to do any singing in the band. However, Matt Thiessen pushed him to do it, saying that he had a great voice. Hoopes has been the primary backing vocalist for the band ever since.
Besides playing for Relient K, Hoopes has also done backup vocals for certain Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes songs, and has been a guest guitarist at concerts for the band My Red Hot Nightmare. Hoopes has said he is currently learning to play lapsteel, which would probably be used for the band.
While the band refers to him as "Blanche" to keep from confusing the two Matts, some fans refer to him as "Matty H", or just "Hoopes". Matt Thiessen has said that they can either usually tell who is being asked for when someone says "Matt", or they tend to use a lot of last names. This goes for Jon Schneck
Jonathan Schneck
Jonathan Schneck is a guitarist, banjo player, and bell player for the band Relient K. He joined the band in January 2005, shortly after the release of their fourth full-length album Mmhmm. Schneck is the band's youngest member...
and John Warne
John Warne
John Warne is an American musician who has been active in the Christian rock scene since 1996. He is best known for being the bassist for the Christian rock band Relient K as well as being a founding member of the Christian punk band Ace Troubleshooter...
as well.
Matt Hoopes normally plays his guitar in one position (as seen in the picture on the right), so much so that certain fans have called it the "Classic Hoopes Stance". He has said he enjoys root beer, and playing golf.http://www.relientk.com/blog-matth-bio.asp
For the last several months, Matt Hoopes has not been traveling with Relient K. However, he remains very active as a team member and band-mate. He still practices with the band and manages their record label, Mono Vs Stereo. As well, he recently produced the new "Deas Vail" record, which is under the Mono Vs. Stereo label. He practices with Relient K and plans to return to touring eventually. It is assumed he is using time off to spend with family.http://www.cantonrep.com/entertainment/ticket/x2012970008/Its-a-Relient-K-Christmas-with-two-Akron-gigs
Hoopes resumed touring with Relient K in May 2011, as he performed with the band for their acoustic concerts before the Vans Warped Tour.
Personal life
Hoopes is married to Danielle, the daughter of Mark Lee TownsendMark Lee Townsend
Mark Lee Townsend is known best as guitarist for the Christian rock band dc Talk, playing with them from 1996 until their hiatus in 2001. Mark's career started as a member/singer/guitarist/songwriter for the 80's Pop/Christian band Bash 'N The Code from 1986 through 1991. In between dc Talk tours,...
, Relient K's primary producer. They have two children, a daughter named Stella Rose and a son named Jasper Zelman. They currently reside in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
.