Matt's Early History

[everest]

I've always been interested in how Matt developed into the artist we all now know and respect so much. Over the years, I've gathered a lot of tidbits here and there about certain parts of his pre-MGB life, but I was wondering if anyone's generated any sort of a timeline or been able to verify any information.

 

Here are some of the pieces of the puzzle I've stored to memory. (I used to have a ton of articles saved on my computer but that all got lost during the last crash). Can anyone verify any of this info? I'll try to include sources if I can remember them. Some of the information might not be at the listed sources anymore.

 

Very Early Life (Birth through High School):

 

His dad's profession had something to do with industry.

He took violin lessons at age 10 (Rollingstone.com trivia)

High school life as described in "The Night Opus"

Uplands Elementary School in Coquitlam, Centennial(?) High School in Coquitlam

In high school he sold a painting for $2000 (Rollingstone.com trivia) (I once saw an auction for a picture - a still life of some pots - allegedly painted by matt on Ebay)

 

 

 

Post-High School:

 

Moved in with Jenny ("The Night Opus")

 

Enrolled in art school

 

Dropped out of Art school("I just decided it was crap and I was never going back" -- old HMV bio/ Alternative story: He and Jenny needed cash/ Alternative story: His family fell on hard financial times and couldn't support him)

 

Moved back home and began writing songs (as well as painting and writing fiction)

 

At 19 he started playing guitar and joined The Rodchester Kings, who released one tape "and in closing" in 1991.

-- There are two reasons I can remember for his quitting the band: The guitarist in the Rodchester Kings didn't want him learning how to play the guitar and potentially replacing him (some fansite); he had an anxiety attack that lasted for several days that made him quit the band.

 

Released 4 demos between 1991 and 1995, as well as co-writing a song with a woman by the name of Danielle French.

 

Formed the Matthew Good Band (he later commented he would have liked to call it "Gandalf") with Dave Genn and his friend from high school, Ian Browne.

 

And the rest is history...

 

 

 

 

Does anyone else have a more complete or coherent story? Perhaps you could fill in some holes?

[Crusader]

This may help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Good

[prototypepariah]

I think you left out who he went to the semi formal of sophmore year with!

[everest]

Yeah, maybe I did, sir. Would you care to enlighten me...? ;)

 

I guess it may sound freakish that I seem to care so much about somewhat trivial details, but for years I've modeled a fair amount of my decisions around being able to reach a position somewhat similar to that of Matt's. As a young high-schooler, I found that his music really struck a chord for me (no pun intended) and really helped me clarify a lot of the things I was going through. In a way, I just wanted to be able to do the same for young people, and I've been interested in his history because I want to understand how someone like that develops. Where they stand up against tradition, where they really set themselves apart, where they go along with things and which difficult events help solidify their views and actions. Matt has a great number of devoted fans and I feel like I resonate so much with him, that I look to information about his past as a possible foil or mirror to my own life's journey. Not because of some freakish stalker type of thing, but moreso because of what understanding I can extract from it. But enough of that rant.

 

As for the wikipedia article, thanks for the link, but that doesn't explain too much of his pre-MGB history. Things are well documented about most "superstars'" post-celebrity life, but the idea of how someone developed into something like that is what truly fascinates me.

 

ALSO: In the article, they mention that "Haven't Slept in Years" became a significant hit on radio and Muchmusic. If I'm not mistaken, Matt recorded a video for Haven't Slept in Years, but destroyed it out of dissatisfaction. I think that prevented it from garnering any major radio airplay, but I wasn't really around at the time so I'm not positive aout that. Does anybody know the answer?

Edited October 19, 2005 by everest

[S.E. Hardy]

We're all freakish... that's why we're here...

[cummer]

Im pretty sure that teh Jenny refered to in The night opus was not a real girl... However, there are rumors that Jenny is actually made up of three girls that matt has known...

[Devil On Rollerskates]

Im pretty sure that teh Jenny refered to in The night opus was not a real girl... However, there are rumors that Jenny is actually made up of three girls that matt has known...

 

This is something that MG has said before I believe.

 

There was a page about Matt Good's early history but I can't find it now.

Edited October 20, 2005 by Devil On Rollerskates

[Scotty33]

Anyone ever really think about what matt does when he writes a song?

[Disestabulistic]

Anyone ever really think about what matt does when he writes a song?

Not realy.

[Hoverball]

The cross-overs of characters in Matt's work has always blown my mind.

 

Especially reading ALTINLTS when Mr. Chips and Jenny both popped up.

 

It blows my mind to think whether these are figures in his head or events that have actually happened to him. Especially since he writes some of it so you picture him actually going throught the stories.

 

Thanks,

 

Dan

 

P. S. Itching ever so closely to the magic "60"

[Devil On Rollerskates]

P. S. Inching ever so closely to the magic "60"

 

If you want the History Teacher demos and a whole bunch of other rare stuff, it's worth it.

[devolution]

Anyone else out there besides yours truly feel that this thread is entirely creepy? I'm as big a fan of Matt's as anyone on the globe (read the book, consumed the albums, I can play all his tunes on guitar blindfolded etc...), but damn people, the whole bio and comparing one's life to his...and then attempting to completely justify it? ;) -sounds like the first step of denial, leading to the next step of uninvited visits into the tour bus if you know what I mean.

Anyway, that's just my perspective, and I certainly have no desire in furthering a cyberwar with anyone disagreeing with me, so I'll just sit back and continue to enjoy this site!

P.S.

I'll be at all 3 Edmonton shows, Calgary on Nov.1, and I have a black Magnum (rented) for the Commodore shows on the 4th and 5th in Vancouver.

Life is good.

[static]

I personally don't think its very creepy. It's interesting to know someone's past history so you can get an idea as to how they got where they are, and have a rough idea of their true personality.

[everest]

Anyone else out there besides yours truly feel that this thread is entirely creepy? I'm as big a fan of Matt's as anyone on the globe (read the book, consumed the albums, I can play all his tunes on guitar blindfolded etc...), but damn people, the whole bio and comparing one's life to his...and then attempting to completely justify it? :angry: -sounds like the first step of denial, leading to the next step of uninvited visits into the tour bus if you know what I mean.

Anyway, that's just my perspective, and I certainly have no desire in furthering a cyberwar with anyone disagreeing with me, so I'll just sit back and continue to enjoy this site!

P.S.

I'll be at all 3 Edmonton shows, Calgary on Nov.1, and I have a black Magnum (rented) for the Commodore shows on the 4th and 5th in Vancouver.

Life is good.

I have a justification (hopefully not the "justification" you were speaking of) that may perhaps shed light onto this issue. Art, in many ways, is about furthering the human experience, making it more meaningful and worthwhile. While some people seem completely satisfied just taking in art, I've also had a great interest in producing art myself, and I'm always looking for ways to do it better. Matt's art has perhaps inspired me more than that of anyone else, and I have always been interested in his methodology, in the way he takes his experiences and portrays them in a unique way.

 

Truth is, I'm not a huge fan of "Matt Good" the publicity figure. I disagree with some of his political views and I rarely read his blog. As you can see, I just started posting on this website and that was mostly to hear the demos and other rarities. I am going to the show in Calgary and all I plan to do is shake his hand, look him in the eye and thank him for all he's done for me. No uninvited visits to the tour bus (the idea never crossed my mind until you brought it up... hmm...creepy ;) ), no stalking him so that I can have a video made out of his scary experience with me, nothing of that. It's just a different reason for being interested in his art. You go to six shows from one tour and, ahem, play all his songs on guitar blindfolded (I'd like to see the Giant solo done like that... and yes, i was the one who tabbed that out), and I like to know more about the person behind it. Different strokes, different folks. that's all

[Nearfantastica]

I don't think this thread is creepy...not really. It's within our nature as fanatics to consume information about theguy. I *DO* think that Matt's wedding photo's being available online is a bit creepy, but that's just me. ;)

 

I remember Matt saying once that he lived in his parent's basement, and he got used to sleeping with the dryer on. It got to the point where he couldn't sleep unless there was some dryer-like noise.

 

I've always found that story amusing, because I sleep next to a dryer myself, and it f!cking sucks.

[jeorjazzjune]

Art is also about PERSONAL expression, PERSONAL feeling, and PERSONAL styles...it's great to be enamored in what someone creates. But, if you're looking to further yourself in art, one would think you'd try to find your own technique and what works for you.

 

An artist like Matt comes along once in a great while, people like him lag off when their lives get straightened out, he's just worked very hard at keeping up with something that has payed off greatly for him.

 

And when you do meet him and thank him, you can tell how grateful and appreciative he is that you think the way you do about his work, it's what I think in some small sense of it all keeps him doing some of what he does. Knowing that you may have helped even one person become someone better has to have some effect on what someone creates.

 

To be more like Matt, you may want to get a supermodel wife whose 10 years your senior, 3 small dogs, and try to become a manic-depressive social outcast, that may be your start.

[Russell]

Art is also about PERSONAL expression, PERSONAL feeling, and PERSONAL styles...it's great to be enamored in what someone creates. But, if you're looking to further yourself in art, one would think you'd try to find your own technique and what works for you.

 

An artist like Matt comes along once in a great while, people like him lag off when their lives get straightened out, he's just worked very hard at keeping up with something that has payed off greatly for him.

 

And when you do meet him and thank him, you can tell how grateful and appreciative he is that you think the way you do about his work, it's what I think in some small sense of it all keeps him doing some of what he does. Knowing that you may have helped even one person become someone better has to have some effect on what someone creates.

 

To be more like Matt, you may want to get a supermodel wife whose 10 years your senior, 3 small dogs, and try to become a manic-depressive social outcast, that may be your start.

His wife is younger than him. But yeah, you're right that it's all about the individual.

[devolution]

Jazzjune or whatever the handle is... nice post! I totally enjoyed your perspective!

Cheers!

[Devil On Rollerskates]

Im pretty sure that teh Jenny refered to in The night opus was not a real girl... However, there are rumors that Jenny is actually made up of three girls that matt has known...

 

This is something that MG has said before I believe.

 

There was a page about Matt Good's early history but I can't find it now.

I found it.

 

Matthew Good --> History Teacher