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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Who is Matthew Thomas Skiba?

Who is Matthew Thomas Skiba?  The music world know himMatt Skiba, Skiba the lead singer and guitarist of Alkaline Trio. He has previously been a member of various bands including Jerkwater (McHenry/Chicago, IL; Dyslexic Records), Blunt, and The Traitors (Johanns Face Records). In 2002, Skiba recorded a split EP with Kevin Seconds. In 2006 Skiba launched a new side project with F-Minus bassist Josiah Steinbrick. The band, named Heavens, debuted the album Patent Pending on September 12, 2006.

 Alkaline Trio

Born in Chicago on February 24, 1976, he moved to the suburb of McHenry, Illinois at the age of three. Playing piano at an early age, his first concert was Public image Ltd., but in 1996, while working as a bike messenger, he decided to take up the guitar. Skiba dropped out of Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois to form Alkaline Trio with drummer Glenn Porter and bassist Rob Doran.
After the group recorded their first compilation and demo, they recorded the For Your Lungs Only EP, during which Rob Doran left the group. Dan Andriano picked up from there and recorded the EP with them. The groups lineup changed again in 2000 when Glenn Porter left until they recruited present member Derek Grant in 2002.
Matt also played drums for The Traitors before forming Alkaline Trio. Their self-titled album, which Skiba played drums on, was released on Johann's Face Records.

Side Projects and Solo

In 2001, he started his first large solo shows with The Plea For Peace Tour. These shows were mostly him performing Alkaline Trio songs on acoustic with backing drums and bass in a few shows.
His first solo release came in 2002 in the form of a split with Kevin Seconds. The songs were performed mostly on acoustic with backing drums, bass, and piano (all of which were played by Matt). The song Good Fucking Bye is sometimes performed live with the Alkaline Trio to this day.
In 2006, Skiba formed a side project called Heavens with Thieves Like Us and Flowers Of Doom guitarist Josiah Steinbeck. They released their debut album Patent Pending on Sept. 12, 2006.
During May 2007, Skiba performed five "special" shows with Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music).
On August 18, 2009, Skiba, fellow Alkaline Trio member Derek Grant and Greg Corner and Jonny Radtke of Kill Hannah debuted their new super-group cover band named Them Krocked Vulvas (occasionally played under the name "A Perfect Circus").
On August 10, 2010, he is releasing a debut solo album titled Demos on Asian Man Records.

 Personal life

Skiba and Derek Grant (the drummer in his present band Alkaline Trio) have declared themselves card carrying members of the Church of Satan. Matt has previously stated in an interview with Guitar World magazine that he uses his membership card of the Church to "watch people squirm". In an interview with Rock Sound in 2008 he stated that he in fact considers himself an agnostic. He is also a vegetarian and has stated in an interview with AOL Interface that he practices transcendental meditation. He said that it has greatly helped his creative process in writing due to it putting him in a clear and calm state of mind, though initially he didn't agree with this belief and thought that being the "tortured soul" was more beneficial. However, after reading the book Catching the Big Fish by David Lynch, he now believes a calm state of mind and being is more artistically helpful. and In 2003 during the recording of their album, Good Mourning, Skiba had a problem with acid reflux because of his early troubles with alcohol and illicit drug use, diet and not warming up before singing.
He now resides in California He has "Love Song" tattooed on his knuckles. He is a "big Cure fan" and a "huge Damned fan". He is also "an enormous David Lynch fan" and a "really big Nirvana fan". According to an interview with Kerrang, Skiba is no longer married.
In recent interviews, it has been said that Skiba is currently moving to Canada (Vancouver).

 Family

His mother, Joan Skiba, is a 4th/5th-grade teacher at Woods Creek Elementary School, and his father, Thomas Skiba, is an oral surgeon, both working in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

 Career

Skiba remains the only original member of the Trio (they endured several lineup changes that ultimately resulted in the addition of bassist Dan Andriano and drummer Derek Grant). The Trio released their debut Goddamnit on Asian Man Records in 1998, followed by Maybe I'll Catch Fire & Alkaline Trio. Alkaline Trio signed with Vagrant Records in late 2000 and released From Here to Infirmary in 2001, Good Mourning in 2003, Crimson in 2005, and Remains in 2007. In July 2008, the band released Agony & Irony, their first record on Epic Records. Later they released "This Addiction" on self label, Heart & Skull (partner label with Epitaph Records)
Skiba is also an active solo artist; in addition to the split with 7 Seconds' Kevin Seconds, he contributed to Fat Wreck Chords' 2005 compilation Protect: A Benefit for the National Association to Protect Children with the song "Demons Away".
In September 2006, his side project Heavens released the album, Patent Pending and started to tour. In late December 2008 Josiah Steinbrick announced on Heaven's Myspace page "This is no longer a Heavens page. Sorry, that's just the way it's going down. Matt will still be doing Trio stuff and last I heard he might be working on a wonderful solo record. I'm not really positive actually but I'm sure it will be great." There was a falling out between Matt Skiba and Josiah Steinbrick that led to the end of Heavens.
Also in 2006 Skiba contributed to the "Rock 'n' Roll High School" track that appears on the Brats on the Beat: Ramones for Kids tribute album released on Go-Kart Records.
He is referenced in the NOFX song, Creeping out Sara on their 2009 album Coaster.
Skiba is set to release a solo album in Summer 2010.

Notable guest appearances

 Discography

   Alkaline Trio:

Studio Albums:
Year Title Label US Chart Position
1998 Goddamnit Asian Man Records
-
2000 Maybe I'll Catch Fire Asian Man Records
-
2001 From Here to Infirmary Vagrant Records
#199 (Billboard 200), #14 (Heatseakers Chart), #09 (Independent Albums)
2003 Good Mourning Vagrant Records
#20 (Billboard 200), #01 (Independent Albums)
2005 Crimson Vagrant Records
#25 (Billboard 200)
2008 Agony and Irony Epic Records
#13 (Billboard 200)
2010 This Addiction Heart & Skull Records
#11 (Billboard 200)
Compilations:
Year Title Label Info
2000 Alkaline Trio Asian Man Records Collection of EPs/b-sides/non-album tracks from 1996-2000
2007 Remains Vagrant Records
Collection of EPs/b-sides/non-album tracks from 2001-2005.
Solo Albums:
Year Title Label Info
2010 Demos Asian Man Records

EPs and Demos:
Note: Blood Pact members get access to downloadable EPs such as the Halloween 7" or Live Acoustic in London.

 Heavens:


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