Paul Matters (14 October 1952 – 14 October 2020) was a bassist for the Australian rock band

AC/DC AC/DC are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1973. Their music has been variously described as hard rock, blues rock and Heavy metal music, heavy metal, although the band calls it simply "rock and roll". They are cited as a formativ ...

in 1975, joining the group after the recording of their debut album ''

High Voltage High voltage electricity refers to electrical potential large enough to cause injury or damage. In certain industries, ''high voltage'' refers to voltage above a certain threshold. Equipment and conductors that carry high voltage warrant sp ...

''. He was fired by lead singer

Bon Scott Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott (9 July 1946 – 19 February 1980) was an Australian singer who was the second lead vocalist and lyricist of the hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980. In the July 2004 issue of ''Classic Rock (m ...

several weeks after joining the group and replaced by Mark Evans.

Career

Born in Toronto, New South Wales, Matters was the bassist of Newcastle band Armageddon until parting ways with the group in 1974 over what drummer Les Gully described to AC/DC biographer Jesse Fink as "musical differences". Matters was hired by AC/DC and performed live on tour in

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

, and

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

, but had not taken part in the recording of the group's debut album, which was recorded before his recruitment, and was then sacked from the group. According to Gully, Matters "didn't fit the values of the Young rothersoligarchy. ... He didn't really fit, had strong opinions and sensitivity, and played just what he liked." Matters only gave one press interview following his sacking by AC/DC in 1975, to Fink for the book ''Bon: The Last Highway'', in which he claimed that he was "a bit lazy" and "a bit cranky" but did not have enough money to eat: "I didn't have any food in my stomach. They anagementdidn't give us any money to buy food or anything." Matters quit music after his departure from AC/DC in 1975. He lived on a disability pension for the rest of his life.

Death

Matters died of heart disease in his hometown of Toronto on 14 October 2020, his 68th birthday.

Career

Death

References

Further reading