Editing Matt Freeman (section)

== Bands ==
[[File:Mattlive (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Freeman performing in 2007]]

=== Operation Ivy and Downfall ===
In May 1987, Freeman and Armstrong formed the band [[Operation Ivy (band)|Operation Ivy]]. After Operation Ivy broke up in May 1989, they formed a new band, [[Downfall (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.

=== Dance Hall Crashers ===
After Operation Ivy, Freeman and Armstrong formed the ska band the [[Dance Hall Crashers]], but they left the band shortly after its formation. The band went on to become moderately successful throughout the 90s.

=== MDC ===
He joined [[MDC (band)|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 [[Rancid (band)|Rancid]]. 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. The band released their tenth album, ''[[Tomorrow Never Comes (Rancid album)|Tomorrow Never Comes]]'', in June 2023. 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 Maurer (Social Distortion)|John Maurer]] 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.

=== Charger===
In 2020 Matt formed a [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band, [[Charger (band)|Charger]].

=== The Crew ===

In May 2021, Freeman along with fellow Rancid bandmate [[Tim Armstrong]], Fletcher Dragge ([[Pennywise (band)|Pennywise]]), Byron McCracken (Pennywise), and [[Mike Muir]] ([[Suicidal Tendencies]]) formed a punk rock [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]] called the Crew.<ref name="breihan">{{cite web|last=Breihan|first=Tom|title=Members Of Rancid, Pennywise, & Suicidal Tendencies Form Punk Supergroup The Crew & Share Debut Single "One Voice"|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2148110/members-of-rancid-pennywise-suicidal-tendencies-form-punk-supergroup-the-crew-share-debut-single-one-voice/music/|work=[[Stereogum]]|date=May 18, 2021|access-date=May 18, 2021}}</ref> The band's first single, "One Voice", was released on Epitaph Records.<ref name="breihan" />