Matt Finish
About
Sydney based band 1978-present
Formed in 1978 by vocalist/guitarist Matt Moffitt and drummer John Prior, the sound owed much to Matt’s impassioned voice and lyrical songwriting and John’s dynamic musical arrangements, complete with Jeff Clayton’s melodic, economical guitar parts and Rick Grossman’s muscular bass.
from the Matt Finish website
History
After two years of performing eight shows a week on the Australian pub circuit, Matt Finish was signed to Peter Dawkins’ The Giant Recording Company. At the finish of 1980, the band released their debut double-A-side single, “Matt Finish Plays Africa” with the songs “C.I.A.” and “Mancini Shuffle”
The following year, 1981, saw the release of the band’s first album Short Note, followed by the live EP Fade Away. Finally, as a result of Moffitt’s declining health, the band split up at the end of the year.
A year passed before Moffitt, Prior and Clayton reformed in 1983, joined later in the year by Bertie Dorset. The new line-up recommenced touring and, in November, released Matt Finish. This EP was followed in 1984 by the album Word of Mouth.
The band again broke up in 1985 when Moffitt decided to start a solo recording career.
In 1990 Matt Finish reformed with original members Moffitt and Prior joined by Jennifer Barrett (guitar), former Eurogliders members Guy Le Claire (guitar) and Lindsay Jehan (bass). In 1991 the band split.
Moffitt released a limited edition solo acoustic CD EP, “Euroka”, in April 1992.
In June 1992, Matt Finish released “One Day at a Time”, the first Matt Finish single produced in eight years.
The line-up changed once again, and in 1993 the band, comprising Moffitt, Paul Dawkins (keyboards), Rohan Cannon (guitar), Bobby Christian (bass) and Adrian Cannon (drums) recorded Matt Finish’s third album, By Heart, and released the EP Earthbound. The following year the band released the singles “Blue” and “Will I Ever Know?” recorded with Eliot Reynolds and Justin Leaf. Moffitt, Reynolds and Dawkins co-wrote many new tracks but the band split yet again. Dawkins and Moffitt continued to work together for a couple of years after, including the recording and mixing of an (at the time of writing) unreleased album that contained ten songs
In 2001, Matt Moffitt and Rick Grossman formed the band Fire Hand Ember, with Joseph Calderazzo (guitar/bv) and Wayne Gretch (drums). FHE performed about 20 times, sometimes under the names “Matt Finish” and “Matt Moffitt”, including at the launch of Just a Short Note (The Best Of) in December.
In August 2003, Matt Moffitt died suddenly.
In 2006, Prior and Clayton were joined by Luke Dixon (vocals/guitar), Matt Cornell (vocals/bass) in a new line-up of Matt Finish for the “Matt Moffitt Memorial Tour”. In April 2007, Prior, Steve Edmonds (guitar/vocals), Harry Brus (bass/vocals) and David Adams (vocals/guitar) embarked on an Australian tour, joined by guests Kevin Borich (guitar/vocals), Tim Gaze (guitar), Eliot Reynolds (guitar), Russ Nelson (guitar/vocals, Barry Leef (vocals/guitar), Al Slavik (bass/vocals), Seven Hawkes (guitar/vocals) and Tom Ruki (bass/vocals). Edmonds was replaced by Le Claire, who was replaced by Les Rankin (guitar/vocals).
from Wikipedia
Members
- Matt Moffitt – Vocals, Guitar
- John Prior – Drums
- Jeff Clayton – Guitar
- Rick Grossman – Bass
- Tony Georgeson – Drums
- Brian Alcorn – Bass
- Chris Raggett – Guitar
- Ken Francis – Guitar
- Jeff Clayton – Bass, Guitar
- Glen White – Guitar
- Rob Riley – Guitar
- Harry Brus – Bass
- Steve Edmonds – Guitar, Vocals
- Guy Le Claire – Guitar
- Matt Cornell – Vocals, Bass
- Kevin Borich – Guitar
- Tim Gaze – Guitar
- Al Slavick – Bass
- Laurie Marlow – Bass
Recordings
- Matt Finish Play Africa – Single 1980
- Short Note – Album 1981
- Short Note – Single 1981
- Fade Away – EP 1981
- Matt Finish (self titled) – EP 1983
- Word of Mouth – Album 1984
- Words and Wars – Single 1984
- Always Another – Single 1984
- Come on Over – Single 1984
- One Day At A Time – Single 1992
- Earthbound – EP 1993
- By Heart – Album 1993
- Blue – Single 1993
- Will I Ever Know – Single 1994
- Just A Short Note – Album 2001
- Don’t Fade Away – Single 2006
Other Resources
Known Gigs
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 30/07/79 | Manly Vale | Manly Vale Hotel |
| + The Farriss Brothers | ||
| 05/09/79 | Kogarah, NSW | Pleasures Wine Bar |
| 27/10/79 | Circular Quay | Metropole Tavern |
| with Dee Minor and the Discords | ||
| 03/11/79 | Bondi Junction | Bondi Lifesaver |
| 15/12/79 | Rydalmere | Family Inn |
| 29/12/79 | Rydalmere | Family Inn |
| 12/01/80 | Rydalmere | Family Inn |
| with Cold Chisel | ||
| 01/02/80 | Rydalmere | Family Inn |
| 01/03/80 | Rydalmere | Family Inn |
| with Swanee and Radioactive | ||
| 14/03/80 | Cabramatta, NSW | Stardust Hotel |
| 15/03/80 | Manly Vale | Manly Vale Hotel |
| + The Lonely Hearts | ||
| 03/04/80 | Sydney | Stagedoor Tavern |
| + The Clones & Sekret Sekret | ||
| 12/04/80 | Sydney | Stagedoor Tavern |
| + Midnight Oil, Outline & Vixen | ||
| 28/06/80 | Sydney | Chequers |
| + Midnight Oil | ||
| 02/07/80 | Kings Cross | The Manzil Room |
| 04/07/80 | Rydalmere | Family Inn |
| 05/08/80 | Rydalmere | Family Inn |
| 06/09/80 | Sydney | Chequers |
| 23/09/80 | Rydalmere | Family Inn |
| 25/09/80 | Kings Cross | The Manzil Room |
| 29/09/80 | Punchbowl | Sundowner Hotel |
| 01/10/80 | Kings Cross | The Manzil Room |
| 03/10/80 | Fairfield | Fairfield Hotel |
| 03/10/80 | Kings Cross | The Manzil Room |
| (Late show) | ||
| 04/10/80 | Cammeray | San Miguel Hotel |
I still miss Matt.
Yeah He was such a polished frontman who wrote some wellcrafted songs.
Matt Finish were a red hot live act on the Sydney live circuit in the early to mid Eighties, in the days when it was cram as many people into a live venue as possible, get em hot and sweaty and they will buy more booze.
Yes Me too Such a talent Gone too quickly
saw em this time last year at the collangatta hotel . with tim gaze …. great show i felt sorry for them for the crowd number was all 7 of us !
[…] July 1960 – John David Prior. Matt Finish. Born in Sydney, New South […]
[…] Matt Finish […]
I was fortunate to hear the demo album post By Heart thanks to Peter Dawkins and it has a couple of classic songs WAIT and RESCUE ME, classic Matt Finish…in fact WAIT I would say is one of Matt’s best ever songs….hopefully one day it will be released plus thanks to Rick Grossman I got a copy of the demo for Close My Eyes and Low Tide, showcasing Matt’s and Ricks collaboration in early 2000…..the music of Matt Finish will live on forever…
would have loved to see the band in the 80 s on the pub scene great aussie music
I saw Matt Finish twice – once at a lunchtime concert at the UNSW Roundhouse in 1980 and once at the Sefton Hotel – almost certain it was the 18th or 19th March 1983. Mancini Shuffle and You Get So still stand up as great tracks. Great live.
Remember seeing them a few times. Once at the old Comb and Cutter, Blacktown. Great band live and very tight. Loved John Prior’s drumming.
They also headlined at a theatre near Haymarket in Sydney (Capitol or Regent?) in about 81 or 82-support act Flaming Hands- brilliant then and the other time I saw them at Stardust Cabramatta in March 1980.
Missed them coz they didn’t turn up at Avalon array….RSI in late 81 ……eventually saw them at the Tivoli CBD in winter 83′ and matt was pissed off and smashed up his guitar…..a disappointment really but so do I, I think the Scientists supported. Matt Finish truly underrated or simply not appreciated by by the main but good musos certainly did
Saw this excellent band quite a few times and can remember seeing them supporting another iconic band -Icehouse- at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. They put on a tight, fantastic show which was largely unappreciated by the audience!
Just love their music and followed Matt Moffitt as he embarked on a solo career. I am just overjoyed as I have located a site where I can purchase the rest of their recorded output!
Saw them every time they came to Melbourne which was quite often. They were a red hot live band. Saw them at village green pub in glen waverley amongst others i struggle to remember. Maybe south side 6 in moorabbin?
Unsure of the date but saw them at Dapto leagues club on a Saturday then next day(Sunday) at I think Parramatta park for the last JJ Rock Concert before the station went to triple JJJ and stereo. Very fortunate indeed.
The JJ Concert at Parramatta Park was on Sunday 18 January 1981. It featured Machinations, Matt Finish, Midnight Oil, Mondo Rock, Moving Pictures and The Radiators. Lots of bands starting with “M”. Remember it being stinking hot and people jumping in the river.
So, the Matt Finish gig at Dapto must have been 17 January 1981. Great band. Saw them a few times at the Family Inn. Probably some of the gigs listed above.
[…] Matt Finish […]
Saw Matt Finish at Selina’s Coogee, on the squelchy carpet(!) I reckon sometime 1981,with my sister,what was I thinking? Great band,Matty was a great front man.
[…] July 1960 – John David Prior. Matt Finish. Born in Sydney, New South […]
I grew up seeing live Aussie music in the 70s 80s 90s saw Matt finish Matt Moffitt on the Gold Coast many times at the playroom the Jack club the patch great musician great band. Beautiful lyrics