Matthew Hayes

Hometown: Traverse City Michigan

Birth Date:  August 1, 1975

High School:  Traverse City Central High School

College:  Several

Musical Background:  Anything to everything

Where did you grow up:  Benzonia, MI     Traverse City, MI

What were some off the non-musical jobs you had:  Costruction, delivery driver, lawn mower, fudge maker, dealer, drive way sealer, etc.

When did you pick up the instrument:  Around 3 years old.

Who are some of your musical heroes:  My father, Willams R. Hayes Jr., John Bonham, Miles Davis, Elvin Jones, Run DMC, etc.

Why:  Timeless, Musical leaders

Top 5 recording artists:  Led Zeppelin, Miles Davis, Fishbone, Tribe Called Quest, Stevie Wonder

Top 5 records:  The Roots-Everything Falls Apart or Do You Want More

Miles Davis-Bitches Brew

Fishbone-Reality of My Surroundings

Weather Report- Black Market

Rage Against The Machin

Top 5 songs:  Fight The Youth-Fishbone

Never Be Right-Mama’s Gun

Tom Saywer-Rush

Definition-Black Star

Bomb Track-Rage Against The Machine

This list could go on for ever and ever and ever….

What made me want to become a musician:  Watching my father.  Playing music keeps me in the moment…I don’t think about yesterday or tomorrow…just the music.

What would you do if you were not a musician:  Alot of things. Some legal, some not so much.

Was there a record/concert or movie that changed your life:  Fishbone’s record Reality of My Surroundings and Lallapalooza ’93

Whats your favorite and least favorite thing about performing:  Flipping the crowd.  When they have no idea who we are when we start, but when we are finished they have that oh shit look on their faces!  Least favorite is when catering sucks.

Whats your favorite and least favorite thing about studio recording:  I love the vibe of making a record.  I don’t like the pressure of time and money.

Whats your worst nightmare:  Being on stage and not remembering how to play the drums.

Whats your greatest fantasy:  Taking lessons from Elvin Jones and John Bonham