Matt Katz-Bohen

Matt Katz-Bohen

Katz-Bohen at the former Tammany Hall Bldg. (NYC) Spring/Summer 2012
Background information
Birth name Matthew Jeremy Katz-Bohen
Born Manhattan, New York City, New York United States
Genres Pop, dance-pop, electropop, disco, Latin pop, alla turca, EDM, reggaeton
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, producer
Instruments Guitar, keyboards, vocals
Years active 1996–present
Labels Eleven Seven Music
Associated acts Blondie, Daddy, GoonSquad
Website www.blondie.net

Matthew Jeremy "Matt" Katz-Bohen is a songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Since 2008, he has been the keyboardist for the rock band Blondie.[1]

Early life

Katz-Bohen was born in Manhattan, New York. He started playing piano and then guitar in elementary school. He then attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School (the "Fame" School) in New York City, where he studied violin and composition. He then attended Bard College.

As an accompanying performer

As a guitarist, Katz-Bohen has backed performers Boy George, Ashford & Simpson, Jody Watley, Lady Miss Kier, John Cameron Mitchell, Debbie Harry (as a solo artist), the Toilet Böys, and Princess Superstar. He joined industrial legends Psychic TV (PTV3) on bass guitar for their 2008 European tour.Psychic TV en Madrid 2008– Papal Breakdance He was Music Director and lead guitarist at Misstress Formika's NYC weekly "Area" party from 2005–2010. As a keyboardist, in 2013 he performed on a single; Every Empire – Change (Beep Beep) In 2015, Katz-Bohen accompanied Harry during a two-week residency from March 24 - April 4 at the Café Carlyle.[2] Since 2015, he has served as substitute music director (substituting for Justin Craig) in the Broadway production of Hedwig And The Angry Inch, and performed in the production on both keys and guitar.

As a member of Daddy (1999–2007)

After Katz-Bohen met his future wife, Laurel Barclay, in elementary school, they began composing and performing songs, forming Variety City in 1996. Playing primarily in NYC, the couple performed under that name with a changing line-up of musicians through 1998. Then in 1999, they changed the band's name to Daddy. Daddy's members were Matt (guitar), Laurel (vocals, keyboards), James Caputo (bass), and Ben Ritter (drums). Garnering the praise of Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, who told him, "the sounds/arrangements are totally cool...inspired", they received press in a number of New York City magazines such as the Village Voice,[3] Interview Magazine,[4] and the Paper Magazine.[5] Ned Vizzini of the New York Press characterized their sound as, "Cross David Bowie with Black Flag and 'Cabaret' and you get NYC's own Daddy, of course." In 2005, Matt and Laurel won a SESAC Songwriters Hall of Fame Abe Olman scholarship award. Daddy often played the legendary Squeezebox parties, and in 2006–2007, toured the United States and Canada.

As a member of GoonSquad (2006–2010)

GoonSquad was formed with Matt, Laurel, and Guy Furrow. In 2006, Katz-Bohen was frequently playing with Furrow (aka Miss Guy of the Toilet Böys) at the night club "Speed" on 39th street. Furrow was the DJ and Katz-Bohen played guitar in the house band. Different celebrities, artists and performers would come sing with the band.

As a member of Blondie (2008–present)

Katz-Bohen joined Blondie in 2008 for the Parallel Lines 30th Anniversary Tour. In[6] he explains the circumstances that led to him meeting Blondie vocalist Debbie Harry, and soon afterwards being invited to join the band on keyboards. This tour, and the subsequent Call Me Invincible Tour (2009), Endangered Species Tour (2010), Panic of Girls Tour (2011), Whip It To Shreds Tour (2012), Blast Off Tour/No Principals Tour (2013), and the Blondie 4(0) Ever Tour (2014) has seen Blondie performing at venues in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Finland, France, Ireland, Isle of Man, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States. A complete listing of all the venues may be found in the Blondie Gig List.[7] In addition to performing with Blondie, he co-wrote and co-produced songs on Blondie's 2011 album Panic of Girls[8] – "Wipe Off My Sweat" (Stein / Harry / Katz-Bohen), "Love Doesn't Frighten Me", and "What I Heard" (both of which were co-written by Matt and his wife Laurel Katz-Bohen), which spent several weeks in prime rotation on BBC Radio2.[9] He also produced and wrote three more songs for Blondie's 2014 release of their tenth studio album, Blondie 4(0) Ever: "A Rose by Any Name" (featuring Beth Ditto, produced by Matt and co-written by Laurel Katz-Bohen), "Take Me in the Night" (Smith / Katz-Bohen), and "Put Some Color on You" (Laurel Katz-Bohen / Matt Katz-Bohen / Debbie Harry / Lissy Trullie / Tommy Kessler).[10] In a March 2014 interview with Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry, she credits Katz-Bohen with making, "significant contributions" on the new album.[11] Onstage with Blondie, he uses a Roland Fantom-G, Dave Smith Prophet 08, Roland VK8, Propellerhead Reason, and Ableton Live.[12] In addition to these instruments, when producing, he favors the Roland Juno-106, Jupiter-6, and Minimoog Voyager.[13][14]

As a producer

In addition to producer credits on the latest two Blondie albums, Katz-Bohen has worked with the cast of RuPaul's Drag Race, including producing and performing in Manila Luzon's "Best XXXcessory" (#37 on the iTunes dance chart),[15] Raja Gemini's "Zubi Zubi Zubi", Jiggly Caliente, Latrice Royale, and RuPaul. With Guy Furrow, he co-produced and performed in "Merry Effin Christmas"[16]

Personal life

In 2007, Katz-Bohen married Laurel Barclay. They have known each other since age 12.

Discography

Main article: Blondie discography

Studio albums

Singles and EPs

All songs co-written with Laurel Katz-Bohen unless otherwise noted with an asterisk)

Film credits

Katz-Bohen is credited in the music department as a guitar consultant and as the soundtrack composer of the 2008 film Between Love and Goodbye.[17]

Blondie personnel

Band

References

  1. ↑ "Blondie biography". Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  2. ↑ Farber, Jim. "Concert Review: Debbie Harry a good fit at Cafe Carlyle". New York Daily News. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  3. ↑ Toni Schlesinger (March 9, 2004). "They Have Chandeliers". The Village Voice. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  4. ↑ Interview Magazine. Brant Publications. August 2002.
  5. ↑ Durbin, Jonathan (June–July 2002). "Daddy Dearest". The Paper Magazine. p. 38.
  6. ↑ Ian Gittins (2011). Blondie Panic of Girls Collector's Pack. UK: Future Publishing Limited. pp. 42–43. ISBN 1-858703-88-3.
  7. ↑ "Blondie Gig List". Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  8. ↑ Dick Porter; Kris Needs (September 1, 2012). Blondie: Parallel Lives. EU: Omnibus Press. p. 307. ISBN 978-1780381299.
  9. ↑ "Simon Mayo Drivetime Programme on BBC Radio 2". July 28, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  10. ↑ Michael Hill (2014). "Bio 40th Anniversary & Blondie 4(0) Ever". SXSW LLC. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  11. ↑ Rick Moody; Gregory Harris (March 2014). "Debbie Harry". New York: Interview Magazine. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Ableton Live on stage with Blondie keyboard player Matt Katz-Bohen". Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  13. ↑ Tom Brislin (March 2012). "Matt Katz-Bohen of Blondie: New Wave for a New Decade". Keyboard Magazine (New Bay Media, LLC) 38 (3): 26. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  14. ↑ Steven Jones; Johnny Paris (July 2013). "Matt Katz- Bohen From Blondie". Punk Globe. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Best XXXcessory official video". YouTube. 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Merry Effin' Christmas". YouTube. 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Between Love and Goodbye – soundtrack". 2008. Retrieved March 1, 2014.

External links

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