Editing Matt Sharp

{{Short description|American musician (born 1969)}}
{{About|the musician|Sharp's self-titled album|Matt Sharp (album){{!}}''Matt Sharp'' (album)|the television producer|Matt Sharp (producer)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Matt Sharp
| background       = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| image            = Matt Sharp photo by Josh Alder.jpg
| caption          = Matt Sharp after a solo tour show at the [[W.O.W. Hall]] in [[Eugene, Oregon]], in 2004
| birth_name       = Matthew Kelly Sharp
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1969|9|22|mf=yes}}
| birth_place      = [[Bangkok]], Thailand
| origin           = [[Arlington County, Virginia]], U.S.
| genre            = {{flatlist|
* [[Alternative rock]]
* [[power pop]]
* {{nowrap|[[pop punk]]}}
* [[emo]]
* [[indie rock]]
}}
| occupation       = {{flatlist|
* Musician
* songwriter
}}
| instrument       = {{flatlist|
* Bass guitar
* vocals
* guitar
* synthesizer
* drums
* Rubab
}}
| years_active     = 1985–present
| label            = {{flatlist|
* [[Geffen Records|Geffen]]
* [[Maverick Records|Maverick]]
* [[Reprise Records|Reprise]]
* In Music We Trust
* [[Boompa Records|Boompa]]
}}
| current_member_of  = [[The Rentals]]
| past_member_of    = [[Weezer]]
| website          = 
}}

'''Matthew Kelly Sharp''' (born September 22, 1969)<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tAk5AQAAIAAJ&q=matt+sharp+1969 | title=Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music | isbn=978-0-7876-8065-7 | last1=Pilchak | first1=Angela M. | date=March 2005 | publisher=Cengage Gale }}</ref> is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Until 1998, he was the bassist for the [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Weezer]], which he co-founded in 1992. He appears on their first two albums, the ''[[Weezer (Blue Album)|Blue Album]]'' (1994) and ''[[Pinkerton (album)|Pinkerton]]'' (1996). In 1994, Sharp founded [[The Rentals|Rentals]], who have released five albums. Sharp has also released an EP and an album as a solo artist.

==Early life==
Matt Sharp was born in [[Bangkok]], Thailand, to American parents on September 22, 1969. The family moved to [[Arlington County, Virginia|Arlington]], Virginia, when he was one year old. At the age of nine, he made his first musical purchase, a [[single (music)#Types of physical singles|45 rpm single]] of the song "[[Le Freak]]" by [[Chic (band)|Chic]].<ref name="page 50">Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 50</ref> 
<!--At the age of fourteen, Matt found his musical tastes being drawn to heavy metal bands like [[Voivod (band)|Voivod]] and [[Venom (band)|Venom]]<ref name”1A”>Joyce, Richard, 2018</ref> and [[thrash metal|thrash]] bands like [[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]],<ref name”1b”>Joyce, Richard, 2018</ref> [[Suicidal Tendencies]], and [[Dirty Rotten Imbeciles|D.R.I.]]<ref name="page 50"/> Despite his love for guitar distortion and heavy metal, he became obsessed with the [[Moog synthesizer]].<ref name”1c”>Joyce, Richard, 2018</ref> He started his own thrash band, named Wreckage, and played bass along with Marcel DeSantos (drums) and Kingsley “King” Fowley (guitar and vocals), founder of [[Deceased (band)|Deceased]] death metal band. Matt went to Washington-Lee High School, thriving in the audio-visual club. Matt lived on North Glebe Road in Arlington, Virginia, at that time.<ref name="1a">Joyce, Richard, 2018</ref>-->At sixteen, he moved to [[San Diego]].<ref name="page 51">Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 51</ref>

In 1989, Sharp started fronting a [[Gothic rock|goth]] band, the Clique, which lasted less than a year.<ref name="page 51"/> A few months after the Clique disbanded, Sharp befriended the drummer [[Patrick Wilson (drummer)|Patrick Wilson]], with whom he created the band 60 Wrong Sausages.<ref name="page 51"/> The guitarist [[Jason Cropper]] soon joined.<ref name="page 53">Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 53</ref> Around this time, Wilson was also in another band, Fuzz, with the guitarist and vocalist [[Rivers Cuomo]]. For a brief period, Cuomo, Wilson and Sharp shared an apartment.<ref name="page 55">Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 55</ref> During this time, Sharp worked as a [[telemarketer]].<ref name="page 55"/>

== Career ==

=== 1991–1999: Weezer and the Rentals ===
In mid-1991, Sharp moved north to [[Berkeley, California]], to pursue what the Weezer collaborator [[Karl Koch (Weezer assistant)|Karl Koch]] described as "some sorta symphonic keyboard sequencing music".<ref name="page 58">Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 56</ref> In January 1992, Wilson showed Sharp material he and Cuomo had been working on. Impressed, Sharp returned to Los Angeles to join the band.<ref name="page 62">Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 62</ref> Sharp became the group's bassist and de facto manager.<ref name=":02">{{Cite magazine |last=Hiatt |first=Brian |date=2019-08-28 |title=The Strange Birth and Near Death of Weezer |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/weezer-blue-album-25th-anniversary-877089/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US |access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref>

Cuomo, Wilson, Sharp and Cropper formed [[Weezer]] in 1992. Their first show was on March 19, 1992, closing for [[Keanu Reeves]]' band [[Dogstar (band)|Dogstar]].<ref name=":02" /> Cuomo gave Sharp one year to get the band a record deal before Cuomo accepted a scholarship at the [[University of California, Berkeley]].<ref name=":02" /> In November, Weezer recorded a demo, ''[[The Kitchen Tape]]'', including a version of the future Weezer single "[[Say It Ain't So]]".<ref name=":02" /> The demo was heard by Todd Sullivan, an [[A&r|A&R]] man at [[Geffen Records]], who signed Weezer in June 1993.<ref name=":02" />

Weezer released their [[Weezer (Blue Album)|self-titled debut album]] in May 1994. It was [[RIAA certification|certified]] platinum in January 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH|title=Gold and Platinum: Searchable Database|publisher=RIAA|access-date=August 30, 2007}}</ref> In early 1994, Sharp founded the [[The Rentals|Rentals]].<ref name="page 150">Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 150</ref> They released their debut album, ''[[Return of the Rentals]],'' the following year, which featured the radio hit "[[Return of the Rentals#Track listing|Friends of P]]".<ref name="billboard">{{cite news |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the rentals|chart=all}} |title=The Rentals: Artist Chart History |publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=2007-10-15}}</ref> Weezer's second album, ''[[Pinkerton (album)|Pinkerton]]'', was released in September 1996. With a darker, more abrasive sound, ''Pinkerton'' was a commercial and critical failure, but attained critical acclaim later.<ref name="AllMusic2">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/pinkerton-mw0000646499|title=''Pinkerton'' – Weezer : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|work=[[AllMusic]]|publisher=[[AllRovi]]|access-date=June 4, 2013}}</ref> Following the mixed response to ''Pinkerton'', Weezer went on a five-year hiatus.<ref name=":023">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/16/garden/16weezer.html|title=Student With a Past|date=2006-02-16|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=2015-07-20|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> 

[[Lush (band)|Lush]] singer/guitarist [[Miki Berenyi]] confirmed in several interviews that the third verse of their hit 1996 song "[[Ladykillers (song)|Ladykillers]]" was about Sharp.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/11-songs-bands-have-written-about-other-artists|title=10 songs bands have written about other artists|first=Mike|last=Rampton|date=February 28, 2020|access-date=March 29, 2025}}</ref>

In 1998, Sharp left Weezer due to differences with the band members.<ref name="mattsharp">{{cite web |date=April 24, 2002 |title=Former Weezer Bassist Matt Sharp Sues Band Over Royalties |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453586/20020424/weezer.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031003001309/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453586/20020424/weezer.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 3, 2003 |access-date=June 26, 2009 |publisher=[[MTV]]}}</ref> In 2016, he said of his departure: "I don't really know how to speak on this because I don't know what should be kept private and what should be shared. I certainly have my view of it, as I'm sure everybody else has their sort of foggy things. When you have a group that doesn't communicate, you're going to have a whole lot of different stories."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/how-weezers-pinkerton-went-from-embarrassing-to-essential-w441144|title=How Weezer's 'Pinkerton' Went From Embarrassing to Essential|last=Braun|first=Laura Marie|date=23 September 2016|newspaper=Rolling Stone|access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref>

In 1999, the Rentals released their second album, ''[[Seven More Minutes]]''. Among its contributors were [[Damon Albarn]] (of [[Blur (band)|Blur]] and [[Gorillaz]]), [[Donna Matthews]] (of [[Elastica]]), [[Miki Berenyi]] (of [[Lush (band)|Lush]]), and [[Tim Wheeler]] (of [[Ash (band)|Ash]]).<ref name="booklet">''Seven More Minutes'' booklet and [[liner notes]]</ref> [[Maya Rudolph]] (later of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'') was a member of the touring band during this time. The track "My Head is in the Sun" was co-written with Cuomo.<ref name="page 257">Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 257</ref> The album sold considerably less than ''Return of the Rentals'', and the Rentals went on hiatus in late 1999.<ref name="page 273">Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 273</ref>

=== 2000–2003: Solo records and Weezer lawsuit ===
Sharp moved{{When|date=June 2020}} to the town of [[Leiper's Fork, Tennessee|Leiper's Fork]], Tennessee, and began recording. In an interview with [[MTV News]], Sharp said he was trying to cut ties to the music world.<ref name="page 470">Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 470</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1491398/20040924/sharp_matt.jhtml?headlines=true|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041011181906/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1491398/20040924/sharp_matt.jhtml?headlines=true|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 11, 2004|title=Matt Sharp Says LP With Rivers Cuomo May Never Come Out|last=Montgomery|first=James|date=24 September 2004|publisher=[[MTV News]]|access-date=2007-10-10}}</ref> Sharp went on an acoustic tour in 2002 with former [[Cake (band)|Cake]] guitarist [[Greg Brown (rock musician)|Greg Brown]].<ref name="page 469">Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 469</ref> In 2003, after a four-year hiatus,<ref name="page 470" /> Sharp returned with an EP, ''[[Puckett's Versus the Country Boy]]''.<ref name="page 472">Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 472</ref>

On April 19, 2002, Sharp filed a five-count federal lawsuit against Weezer.<ref name="sue">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453586/20020424/weezer.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031003001309/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453586/20020424/weezer.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 3, 2003|title=Former Weezer Bassist Matt Sharp Sues Band Over Royalties|last=Yago|first=Gideon|date=24 April 2002|publisher=[[MTV News]]|access-date=2007-10-10}}</ref> He alleged he was owed royalties for co-writing Weezer's first hit, "[[Undone – The Sweater Song]]", and that he owned a 25% interest in the first nine tracks of ''Pinkerton'', which had been credited solely to Cuomo despite all four band members working on the album. Sharp also said he had handled most of Weezer's business affairs during their early success, including the hiring of accountants and attorneys and securing their record deal.<ref name="sue" /><ref name="page 423">Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 423</ref> The lawsuit also stated that Cuomo was going to ask Sharp to appear in the music video for their 2001 song "[[Island in the Sun (Weezer song)|Island in the Sun]]".<ref name="page 423" /> Finally, Sharp additionally charged his former bandmates [[Patrick Wilson (drummer)|Patrick Wilson]] and [[Brian Bell]] with breach of fiduciary duty, legal malpractice, dissolution of partnership, and declaratory relief.<ref name="page 424">Luerssen D., John, 2004 p. 424</ref> The lawsuit was settled out of court.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/overrated-underrated-or-properly-rated-weezer/|title=Overrated, Underrated, or Properly Rated: Weezer|last=Hyden|first=Steven|date=2014-10-07|website=Grantland|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-23}}</ref>

=== 2003–present: Reunion with Cuomo, re-formation of the Rentals ===
{{quote box
| quote = People come up to me and say, "By the way, the last two Weezer records really sucked," and they're always saying it to get in good with me. And I haven't heard them. But if they were bad, they'd probably be just as bad if I was there.
| source = – Sharp in 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chartattack.com/features/1819/matt-sharp-talks-about-rivers-cuomos-etiquette-fetish-and-tegan-and-sara|title=Matt Sharp Talks About Rivers Cuomo's Etiquette Fetish And Tegan And Sara|last=Hargreaves|first=Trevor|date=8 November 2006|publisher=[[Chart Attack]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505085502/http://www.chartattack.com/features/1819/matt-sharp-talks-about-rivers-cuomos-etiquette-fetish-and-tegan-and-sara|archive-date=May 5, 2010|url-status=usurped|access-date=2009-04-02|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| align = right
| width = 25%
| salign = right
}}In 2003, Sharp released a solo EP, followed by a [[Matt Sharp (album)|self-titled solo album]] in 2004. He continued to tour in 2004–2005 with the band [[Goldenboy]]. On February 12, 2004, Cuomo sat in during a solo performance by Sharp at [[California State University, Fullerton]]. They played four songs together: the Sharp/Cuomo collaborations "Mrs. Young" and "Time Song", and the Weezer songs "[[Say It Ain't So]]" and "Undone".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnIpAPz1obA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/FnIpAPz1obA| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Matt Sharp and Rivers Cuomo - Mrs Young (Live)|last=Sharp|first=Matt|date=12 February 2004|website=YouTube|access-date=20 May 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Sharp announced at the show that he and Cuomo had reunited and would be working on a record together.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ywEFEqmO0o |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/8ywEFEqmO0o| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Matt Sharp and RiversCuomo - Time Song (Live)|last=Sharp|first=Matt|date=12 February 2004|website=YouTube|access-date=20 May 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Later in 2004, Sharp announced on his website that although he and Cuomo had come up with "15 or 16 new song ideas", their "special brand of dysfunctionality" might keep them from finishing the project.<ref name=":0" />[[File:Matt Sharp The Rentals 2007.jpg|thumb|right|Sharp performing with [[the Rentals]] in 2007]]
[[File:Berri Txarrak Lagunartean - Kobetamendi - 2019-07-14 - 185.jpg|thumb|Sharp performing in [[Bilbao]] with [[Berri Txarrak]] in 2019]]In March 2004, Sharp recorded synthesizer on ''[[So Jealous]]'' by Canadian indie pop band [[Tegan and Sara]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.inmusicwetrust.com/mattsharpletter.html|title=Note To Fans From Matt Sharp|last=Sharp|first=Matt|date=4 August 2004|publisher=In Music We Trust|access-date=2007-10-10}}</ref> After a slow period in 2005, Sharp contemplated what to do next, considering either a new solo album or starting a new collaborative partnership. The possibility of him rejoining Weezer was also an option;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.therentals.com/return/diary/|title=Diary: Day One 10-24-05|last=Sharp|first=Matt|date=24 October 2005|publisher=TheRentals.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706144837/http://www.therentals.com/return/diary/|archive-date=July 6, 2007|access-date=2009-10-12}}</ref> although this did not happen, in a 2006 interview, Sharp credited these conversations with Cuomo as giving him the idea to return to writing pop music, which eventually led him to re-form the Rentals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/06-05/12.shtml|title=Exclusive: Matt Sharp Talks Rentals' Return|last=Phillips|first=Amy|date=12 May 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060521021205/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/06-05/12.shtml|archive-date=May 21, 2006|url-status=dead|access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> These ideas particularly strengthened after meeting [[Sara Radle]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/the-new-friend-of-p-6378977|title=The New Friend of P|last=Machkovech|first=Sam|date=18 May 2006|website=Dallas Observer|access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacurrent.com/sanantonio/back-in-residence/Content?oid=2281541|title=Back in residence|last=Parker|first=Chris|date=12 September 2007|website=San Antonio Current|access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> In 2005, six years after 1999's ''Seven More Minutes'', the Rentals re-formed; the new lineup included original backup vocalist [[Rachel Haden]], Sara Radle, Ben Pringle of [[Nerf Herder]], Lauren Chipman, and Dan Joeright. Sharp and the Rentals toured North America in the summers of 2006 and 2007.

The Rentals released ''[[The Last Little Life EP]]'' on August 14, 2007. Between Rentals tours, Sharp returned to work in early 2007 with Tegan and Sara on their next album, ''[[The Con (album)|The Con]]'', later appearing at their concerts in 2008 to play bass in a cover of Weezer's "Tired of Sex".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKa-ZvxXBPs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/hKa-ZvxXBPs| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Tired Of Sex w/ Matt Sharp + Sexy Time Please|last=Tegan and Sara|date=18 October 2008|website=YouTube|location=[[The Fonda Theatre]], Los Angeles, CA|others=wojo4hitz|access-date=20 May 2019|quote="Last night was one of the scariest moments of my life when we play this song, and I feel considerably stronger and more confident tonight . . . I said it last night, but seriously, it's even better tonight"}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

After the three releases in the ''Songs About Time'' series in April, July, and October 2009, Sharp and the Rentals went on hiatus. In October 2010, Sharp sold most of his equipment from his Weezer and Rentals days on [[eBay]]. His [[Orange Music Electronic Company|Orange]] Matamp Lead 200 was purchased by Greg Veerman, bassist of Canadian rock band [[San Sebastian (band)|San Sebastian]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2019}} In November 2010, Cuomo mentioned in an interview with ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' that "the idea came up" of having Sharp rejoin the band for their "Memories Tour", in which they play ''The Blue Album'' and ''Pinkerton''. Cuomo said: "I think we left that idea behind pretty early on. I don't remember. I wasn't involved in the discussion so I don't know what the issues were."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2010/11/rivers-cuomo-theres-so-much-pain-my-voice/|title=Rivers Cuomo: 'There's So Much Pain in My Voice'|last=O'Donnell|first=Kevin|date=2 November 2010|website=Spin|access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref>

In 2011, Sharp provided guest vocals on the song "FAQ" by [[Berri Txarrak]], a Basque band whose live album ''Zertarako Amestu'' (2007) had significant influence on ''Songs About Time''. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://magnetmagazine.com/2009/09/15/from-the-desk-of-the-rentals-matt-sharp-berri-txarra/|title=From the Desk of the Rentals' Matt Sharp: Berri Txarra|last=Sharp|first=Matt|date=15 September 2009|website=Magnet Magazine|access-date=19 September 2022}}</ref>

==Discography==

===Weezer===
* 1994 – ''[[Weezer (Blue Album)|Weezer (The Blue Album)]]''
* 1996 – ''[[Pinkerton (album)|Pinkerton]]''

===The Rentals===
* 1995 – ''[[Return of the Rentals]]''
* 1999 – ''[[Seven More Minutes]]''
* 2007 – ''[[The Last Little Life EP]]''
* 2009 – ''[[Songs About Time]]''
* 2011 – ''[[Songs About Time|Resilience: A Benefit Album for the Relief Effort in Japan]]''
* 2014 – ''[[Lost in Alphaville]]''
* 2020 – ''[[Q36 (album)|Q36]]''
* 2022 – The Rentals Present: The Midnight Society Soundtrack (A Matt Sharp / Nick Zinner Score)

===Solo===
* 2003 – ''[[Puckett's Versus the Country Boy]]''
* 2004 – ''[[Matt Sharp (album)|Matt Sharp]]''

===With Homie===
* 1998 – "American Girls" from the ''[[Meet the Deedles]]'' Soundtrack

===With Tegan and Sara===
* 2004 – ''[[So Jealous]]''
* 2007 – ''[[The Con (album)|The Con]]''

===With Berri Txarrak===
* 2011 – "FAQ"

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{Citation |last=Luerssen |first=John D |title=Rivers' Edge: The Weezer Story |date=2004 |isbn=978-1550226195 |publisher=ECW Press }}.

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031005165247/http://www.mattsharp.net/ Official web site]
* [http://www.gloriousnoise.com/features/2003/glorious_noise_interview_with_2.php In-depth interview with Glorious Noise]

{{Weezer}}
{{The Rentals}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharp, Matt}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American rock bass guitarists]]
[[Category:American male bass guitarists]]
[[Category:Weezer members]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American rock songwriters]]
[[Category:American rock singers]]
[[Category:The Rentals members]]
[[Category:Power pop musicians]]
[[Category:Musicians from Bangkok|Matt Sharp]]
[[Category:Musicians from Arlington County, Virginia]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Virginia]]