Matt Freeman
Encyclopedia
Matthew "McCall" Freeman (born Roger Matthew Freeman on June 14, 1966) is an American
musician. He is best known for his bass guitar
work with the punk rock bands Operation Ivy
, Rancid
and as the frontman of Devil's Brigade
.
(2000), he revealed that his style was heavily influenced at an early age by John Entwistle
, bassist for The Who
. He typically uses a hard pick but sometimes will fingerpick
.
Freeman's playing style is considered atypical in the punk rock world due to his frequent use of scale
s and arpeggios as opposed to "motoring" through a chord progression's root notes as is typical of punk bass playing. Freeman's solos in the songs "Maxwell Murder", "White Knuckle Ride", and "Axiom" are among his most lauded.
. After Operation Ivy broke up in May 1989, they formed a new band, Downfall
, which included all but one member of Operation Ivy and two additional members. Downfall recorded a 10-song album which has never been released, then broke up. Freeman and Armstrong next formed Generator, who played a number of shows, but are not known to have recorded anything. After that, Freeman played with the political punk band MDC for about a year.
, however they left the band shortly after its formation. The band went on to become moderately successful throughout the 90s.
. Rancid is his most successful band yet. He considered Rancid a side project until Armstrong had proved to him that he had his alcoholism under control. Guitarist Lars Frederiksen
joined the band later in 1993. Their partnership has continued with Freeman contributing basslines to selected tracks by the Transplants, one of Armstrong's side projects.
in Social Distortion
shortly before the release of their then-new album Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll
. Freeman did not intend to stay in the band permanently and he was replaced by current bassist Brent Harding
in late 2004.
, Freeman was diagnosed with lung cancer
in May 2005, but was dismissed as abnormal tissue
growth and not terminal to his health in June 2005. He had been a smoker for 20 years but had quit, seemingly by coincidence, shortly prior to this. He learned to play the mandolin
so he would have something to do with his hands as heard on the Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards
album, Viking
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician. He is best known for his bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
work with the punk rock bands Operation Ivy
Operation Ivy (band)
Operation Ivy was an American ska punk band that formed in Berkeley, California, and was often credited with spurring the 1990s punk revival in California. It is well-known as one of the first bands to "mix" hardcore punk with elements of ska, known as ska-core...
, Rancid
Rancid (band)
Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both of whom previously played in the ska punk band Operation Ivy, Rancid is credited—along with Green Day and The Offspring—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the...
and as the frontman of Devil's Brigade
Devil's Brigade (band)
Devils Brigade is an American rock band formed as a side project by Rancid bassist Matt Freeman in 2000. In Devils Brigade Freeman performs a mix of punk rock and psychobilly styles, singing lead vocals and playing a double bass in contrast to the backing vocals and electric bass guitar he performs...
.
Playing style
In a promotional interview streamed from the Rancid website before the release of RancidRancid (2000 album)
Rancid is the eponymous fifth studio album by the American punk rock band Rancid. It is the second eponymous album and was released on August 1, 2000 through frontman Tim Armstrong's label, Hellcat Records. It was the band's first album released through Hellcat...
(2000), he revealed that his style was heavily influenced at an early age by John Entwistle
John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
, bassist for The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
. He typically uses a hard pick but sometimes will fingerpick
Fingerpick
A fingerpick is a type of plectrum used most commonly for playing bluegrass style banjo music. Most fingerpicks are composed of metal or plastic. Unlike flat guitar picks, which are held between the thumb and finger and used one at a time, fingerpicks clip onto or wrap around the end of the fingers...
.
Freeman's playing style is considered atypical in the punk rock world due to his frequent use of scale
Musical scale
In music, a scale is a sequence of musical notes in ascending and descending order. Most commonly, especially in the context of the common practice period, the notes of a scale will belong to a single key, thus providing material for or being used to conveniently represent part or all of a musical...
s and arpeggios as opposed to "motoring" through a chord progression's root notes as is typical of punk bass playing. Freeman's solos in the songs "Maxwell Murder", "White Knuckle Ride", and "Axiom" are among his most lauded.
Singing style
Although Armstrong and Frederiksen are the principal singers in Rancid, Freeman has taken the lead vocal duties in a number of gritty sounding songs through the years, including the songs "Black and Blue", "Rigged on a Fix", "Black Derby Jacket" and, "L.A. River". He is known for possessing a deep and raspy singing voice.Gear
Freeman plays Fender Precision and Jazz basses. His 1977 Fender Precision was used as the basis for the 2011 Squier Matt Freeman Signature Bass.Operation Ivy and Downfall
In May 1987, Freeman and Armstrong formed the band Operation IvyOperation Ivy (band)
Operation Ivy was an American ska punk band that formed in Berkeley, California, and was often credited with spurring the 1990s punk revival in California. It is well-known as one of the first bands to "mix" hardcore punk with elements of ska, known as ska-core...
. After Operation Ivy broke up in May 1989, they formed a new band, Downfall
Downfall (band)
Downfall was a ska and punk band from the Bay Area formed by Tim Armstrong, Matt Freeman, Dave Mello, Pat Mello, and Jason Hammon following the break-up of Operation Ivy in 1989 and pre-dating Armstrong's and Freeman's wider recognition in Rancid...
, which included all but one member of Operation Ivy and two additional members. Downfall recorded a 10-song album which has never been released, then broke up. Freeman and Armstrong next formed Generator, who played a number of shows, but are not known to have recorded anything. After that, Freeman played with the political punk band MDC for about a year.
Dance Hall Crashers
After Operation Ivy, Freeman and Armstrong formed the ska band the Dance Hall CrashersDance Hall Crashers
Dance Hall Crashers is an American ska punk band formed in 1989 in Berkeley, California.-Early years:The original incarnation of the Dance Hall Crashers was formed in 1989 by Matt Freeman and Tim Armstrong, formerly of the seminal Bay Area ska-punk band Operation Ivy, after both musicians...
, however they left the band shortly after its formation. The band went on to become moderately successful throughout the 90s.
MDC
He joined MDC in 1990, completing one US and one European tour and playing bass on their 1991 release Millions Of Dead Cops II: Hey Cop! If I Had A Face Like Yours.... The lineup for this version of the band consisted of Freeman, original singer Dave Dictor, original drummer Al Schvitz and guitarist Bill Collins, formerly of Fang, Special Forces and Intensified Chaos.Gr'ups and Rancid
He joined The Gr'ups in 1991. In 1992, Freeman and Armstrong recruited drummer Brett Reed and formed RancidRancid (band)
Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both of whom previously played in the ska punk band Operation Ivy, Rancid is credited—along with Green Day and The Offspring—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the...
. Rancid is his most successful band yet. He considered Rancid a side project until Armstrong had proved to him that he had his alcoholism under control. Guitarist Lars Frederiksen
Lars Frederiksen
Lars Erik Frederiksen is an American guitarist and vocalist, most notably for the punk rock band Rancid, and as the frontman of Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards and The Old Firm Casuals. He was also briefly a member of the UK Subs in 1991...
joined the band later in 1993. Their partnership has continued with Freeman contributing basslines to selected tracks by the Transplants, one of Armstrong's side projects.
Social Distortion
During Rancid's 2004 hiatus, Freeman replaced bassist John MaurerJohn Maurer
John Maurer was the long time bass guitar player for Social Distortion from 1984 to 2004. He was replaced by Rancid's Matt Freeman. He joined Social Distortion after the departure of Brent Liles....
in Social Distortion
Social Distortion
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...
shortly before the release of their then-new album Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll
Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll
Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll is the sixth album by American punk rock band Social Distortion. It is their first studio album in eight years, since the release of White Light, White Heat, White Trash in 1996, the longest gap between Social Distortion's studio albums to date...
. Freeman did not intend to stay in the band permanently and he was replaced by current bassist Brent Harding
Brent Harding
Brent Harding is the current bass player for the California punk group Social Distortion, which he joined in late 2004.-Biography:...
in late 2004.
Health issues
Following his departure from Social DistortionSocial Distortion
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...
, Freeman was diagnosed with lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
in May 2005, but was dismissed as abnormal tissue
Biological tissue
Tissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organism. A tissue is an ensemble of cells, not necessarily identical, but from the same origin, that together carry out a specific function. These are called tissues because of their identical functioning...
growth and not terminal to his health in June 2005. He had been a smoker for 20 years but had quit, seemingly by coincidence, shortly prior to this. He learned to play the mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
so he would have something to do with his hands as heard on the Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards
Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards
Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards were an American street punk band formed to release the songs that Lars had written. Their songs include subject matter consisting of drinking, fighting, drugs, sex, prostitutes, gangs, and street life...
album, Viking
Viking (album)
Viking is the second studio album by the American punk rock band Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards.-Track listing:All songs written by Lars Frederiksen and Tim Armstrong unless otherwise noted.#"Bastards"#"Skins, Punx and Drunx"#"Fight"#"1%"...
.
Downfall
- They Don't Get Paid, They Don't Get Laid, but Boy Do They Work Hard! compilation album (1989)
- Very Small World compilation album (1991)
- Can of Pork compilation album (1992)
Rancid
- RancidRancid (1993 album)Mike DaRonco of Allmusic stated "This is where it all starts. Without any reminiscing about their former band, Operation Ivy, Matt Freeman and Tim Armstrong blast through their debut without any hints of ska or blatant Clash plagiarizing...
(1993) - Let's Go (1994)
- ...And Out Come the Wolves...And Out Come the Wolves…And Out Come the Wolves is the third studio album by the American punk rock band Rancid. It was released on August 22, 1995 through Epitaph Records. Rancid's popularity and catchy songs made them the subject of a major label bidding war that ended with the band staying on Epitaph...
(1995) - Life Won't WaitLife Won't WaitLife Won't Wait is the fourth studio album by the American punk rock band Rancid. It was released on June 30, 1998 through Epitaph Records. It was released as the follow-up to ...And Out Come the Wolves .-Musical style and lyrics:...
(1998) - RancidRancid (2000 album)Rancid is the eponymous fifth studio album by the American punk rock band Rancid. It is the second eponymous album and was released on August 1, 2000 through frontman Tim Armstrong's label, Hellcat Records. It was the band's first album released through Hellcat...
(2000) - BYO Split Series Volume III (2002)
- Indestructible (2003)
- B Sides and C SidesB Sides and C SidesB Sides and C Sides is a compilation album by the American punk rock band Rancid. It was first released online on December 11, 2007, followed by a standard release on January 15, 2008. It contains a number of B-sides and rare songs as well as compilation or soundtrack appearances plus 3 previously...
(2008) - Let the Dominoes FallLet the Dominoes FallLet the Dominoes Fall is the seventh studio album by the American punk rock band Rancid. It was released on June 2, 2009 through Hellcat Records...
(2009)