J- Then what led you to leaving the band..?

M- Ummm.. Jason's new song writing style being pushed down my throat and me basically being made to sing 10 love ballads, without the option to write a song on the record.. and basically I was getting strong armed into singing a new record w/10 ballads on it.. and completely ruining my career.. everybody else's career.. I just bowed out.. the band thought they could do it without me and unfortunately I had to prove a big point and show them they couldn't.. that and I think Jason always wanted to be a singer anyway.. but he should have done his own band, and just gotten it over with.. cause he ruined a really good band..

J- Do you still talk to him..

M- Ahh NO.. maybe in court ill talk to Jason but never  ever.. ever will I talk to that guy.. I've never been screwed over so much in my life Stepphenwolf never got it as bad as I got it from Saigon Kick.. haha.. and it was Jason and the manager.. so when it comes down to it.. no.. no..no..

J- Well my next question was.. you got back together for a small tour w/Tom and Phil...and I wanted to know if there was any chance of a full reunion..hahaha.. but I guess not.. haha..

M -No.. ya know.. Tom kinda put down his bass.. so there was allot of friction on the road w/Tom..

J- But it was Tom, Phil and you.. and wasn't it Blando.. from Slaughter?

M- Yes.. we got Blando on guitar exactly..
but ya know it was a great cool thing.. cause Blando handled the parts great..

J- Ya he's amazing..

M- Ya he played his ass off.. and when it came down to it.. Tom just didn't want to do it.. he was a misuse at that time.. and a physical therapist.. and when it came down to it his bass playing was really not up to par... and he was pretty much bossing everyone else around.. he pretty much lost track with the fact he was pretty lucky to be out there the first time.. much less 10 years later..

J- Now onto the solo album.. have you always wanted to do a solo album?

M- Uhh ya know what... this record.. yes I always wanted to do a solo record.. did I think it was going to be this one.. no.. I always wanted to do a band record.. and if you noticed.. it kinda sounds like a band.. I just basically had to hold the rains in do it myself because in a band situation I'm a pretty laid back guy.. or I'm an animal.. and the nice guy gets walked on.. and the animal comes up and bites the foot off that stepped on it.. and the band thing just doesn't work out.. ya know.. truthfully, I believe my 15yr. dream band.. was Saigon Kick.. and I really don't think I'll see that again.. that was the special one relationship you have in your life.. just one.. and that was my one special band.. and there might be another one..  but I think at this point its all about finding the right thing in players.. and not pushing them down.. but actually push them up and not let them sound like hired guys.. but  make them sound like a band.. I try and let the guys have allot of room.. on the record to breathe.. and I got some pretty big monsters playing.. so.. I wanted them to play..

J- Right... how long have you been working on the album?

M- Umm.. I started writing it when I left Saigon Kick.

J- Did you do other side projects after Saigon..?

M- Ya I did a record called Coma.. which actually never came out.. I have this ultra fear which shoots myself in the foot every time..  but I  have a big big criteria that I have to meet, to call something a record.. and allot of people don't share that.. allot of people will put out anything.. and ask you to buy it..5 different ways.. 5 different times.. and your getting the same piece of crap..

J- Is Coma the name of the band? or the release?

M- The band..

J- And didn't it have Harry Cody in the band..

M- Ya..ya..

J- See I do my homework... hahaha..
Its just so cool, cause I'm fans of all these bands, and its cool to see things go full circle and different people play w/different bands.. I was a big Shotgun Messiah fan..

M- I agree.. that's a cool thing about going solo.. if somebody doesn't cut the job.. you've got another buddy right down the road and it probably is his thing.. it was beautiful.. I had Jonathon Mover to play drums.. who is one of my best buds.. and he's one of the most amazing drummers on earth.. he's played on Fuel records.. Satrani.. Aretha Franklin.. and ya know having that as a base.. was a real amazing thing.. I always had that criteria to live up to when it came to putting on the guitars the vocals.. I didn't want it to be rough.. but I wanted it to be a players record..

Onward in Matt's life..