Matt Pike | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Pike performing in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1972-06-03)June 3, 1972 (age 52) Southfield, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1989[1]–present |
| Member of | High on Fire,Sleep |
| Formerly of | Asbestosdeath,Kalas |
| Website | highonfire |
Matthew Lance Pike[2] (born June 3, 1972) is an American musician best known as the guitarist ofstoner/doom metal bandSleep and the vocalist and guitarist ofHigh on Fire. With High on Fire, Pike won the 2019Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for the song "Electric Messiah".
Pike was born inSouthfield, Michigan.[3] He moved toCalifornia after spending time in military school while living with his mother inGolden, Colorado.[3] Arriving inSan Jose, he realized thehardcore punk andheavy metal scenes were more active than the ones in Colorado. He made friends, attended shows, and eventually joined thesludge metal bandAsbestosdeath. When playing around the Bay Area they developed a much heavier and slower sound more akin todoom metal. The quartet soon gained a following and changed their name toSleep.[4]
When fellow Sleep guitaristJustin Marler quit the band, Sleep became apower trio. The band's second album,Sleep's Holy Mountain, illustrated Pike as a youngTony Iommi, playingBlack Sabbath-styled riffs.
As a result of the increased press, the band's demographic and following widened greatly, and major label deals soon began surfacing. However, instead of following a path to mainstream exposure, the band fled further underground, turning down countless major label deals[citation needed] and submitting the one-song, full-length recordJerusalem in mid-1996. In 1997, the band called it quits afterLondon Records refused to release theDopesmoker/Jerusalem recordings and the pressure the members were experiencing became unbearable. Pike couldn't come to terms with the break-up and became depressed. He soon realized that his career as a musician was far from over, and began inviting people to jam in his garage. Deciding to work in a power trio again, he brought in Desmond Kensel (drums) and an old friend George Rice (bass) to play in his new band. Within six months, the jams were headed to fruition andHigh on Fire was developing from a simple need to play guitar again.[5]
While Pike's guitar tone remained largely the same in his new band,High on Fire, he began playing faster and more aggressively than he had in Sleep. Pike handles both guitar and vocal duties in the band, as well as writing a bulk of the material.[6]
Pike was the frontman of the Bay Area psychedelic-metal band Kalas (formerly Scum Angel) that featured members ofEconochrist,Samiam, and Cruevo. Pike set aside the guitar for Kalas, as they already featured two guitarists; his vocals were surprisingly melodic,[according to whom?] especially compared to his snarling growls in High on Fire. After only releasing a self-titled album, Kalas split by October 2006.[7]
As a guest star, Pike provided the voice of a Klokateer in theAdult Swim rock comedyMetalocalypse.[8]
In 2012, Pike made his problems with addiction public as he dropped off theRockstar Mayhem Festival during the summer and went into rehab. He cited health problems caused by his heavy consumption of alcohol as the reason. He admitted to having "fallen off the wagon" a few times since. In addition to this, he has admitted to suffering frombipolar disorder, and has sustained bodily injuries from relentless years of touring.[9]
In 2018, Pike's bandHigh on Fire announced they would be cancelling their upcoming tour due to Pike needing a partial amputation of one of his toes.[10] Again on January 7, 2019, they announced via theirInstagram that High on Fire would be cancelling their 2019 Electric Messiah tour because of Pike's risk of losing his big toe or part of his foot, due to complications fromdiabetes.[11]
On August 17, 2019, Pike married musician and tattoo artist Alyssa Maucere in a small ceremony in Las Vegas.[citation needed] He also has a daughter from a prior relationship. Through her, he has one granddaughter.
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