Matt Wachter
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| Matthew Walter Wachter | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 5, 1976 |
| Alias(es) | Matt, Dr. Wachter, Matticus Prime |
| Genre(s) | Alternative Rock, Progressive Rock, Emocore |
| Affiliation(s) | 30 Seconds to Mars |
| Notable guitars | G&L Bass L-2000 Series |
| Years active | 2001 - 2007 |
| Official site | 30 Seconds to Mars Official website |
Matthew Walter Wachter (born January 5, 1976 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania) is the former bassist for alternative rock group 30 Seconds to Mars. He was with the band from 2001 to 2007.
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[edit] Biography
Matthew "Matt" Walter Wachter was born January 5, 1976 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. As a child he spent most of his time with his family in New Jersey and Boston. An active child, Matt participated in baseball and soccer, taking up swimming as well. His interest in music bloomed when he was around five years old, and between the ages of five and eight, Matt experimented with various instruments, focusing primarily on the piano and drums.
Matt reached the peak of his musical interest around high school and spent most of his time playing in bands. He picked up the bass, he stated, because he "wanted to play in a band, and the band needed a bass player." Matt had no previous experience with the bass, the closest being experimenting with the guitar.
Matt joined Jared Leto, Shannon Leto, and Solon Bixler, rounding out the 30 Seconds to Mars line-up, in 2001.
Wachter often stands in a "pigeon-toed" stance (both feet turned in toward each other) when he plays his bass, and stares down at his feet. He says doing this allows him to focus on what he's playing and keeps him from being distracted by fans.
[edit] Tour-Related Injuries
In the early days of 30 Seconds to Mars, Wachter complained of consistent headaches after performing, but no pain while he was on stage. After a visit to the hospital and a CT Scan, it was discovered that he developed a concussion from frequent head-banging on stage. This prompted his mother to suggest he "wiggle his hips like Elvis", as mentioned in the fan yearbook. The head-banging has since stopped.
The first two dates of the 2006 "Forever Night, Never Day" headlining tour had to be postponed after Matt hurt himself. The injury resulted from changing one of his car's headlights, pushing the tour back an additional two weeks. The band issued this press release to fans on March 2nd:
By 30 Seconds to Mars
Posted Thursday, March 2, 2006
Due to an unfortunate accident this morning, we regret to inform you that we will have to re-schedule the first two shows of the tour to a later date... [Salt Lake City, UT on March 4, and Denver, CO March 5] Our beloved bassist Matthew Walter Wachter, cut his finger to the bone requiring a visit to the hospital... He will be just fine, but needs a little extra time to heal....
While on tour in El Paso, Texas, on March 1, 2007, Jared Leto announced to the arena that Matthew would be playing his last show with the band. He dedicated the final song of the show, Attack, to Matthew. The group, with the exception of Matthew then signed autographs for the El Paso fans.
[edit] Love and Marriage
Wachter married long-time sweetheart Libby Lawson in early August 2006. He and Lawson met while he was on tour with another band eight years ago. While the two married in Boston and went on their honeymoon, the remaining three members of 30 Seconds to Mars went on to play the Warped Tour, enlisting the help of bassist Tim Kelleher from My Darling Murder to fill in for Wachter. The Used bassist and friend, Jeph Howard, filled in for Matt when the band performed on the August 4th airing of The Tonight Show. Matt returned two weeks later to resume play with the band and finish out the summer festivals. Wachter, an avid Boston Red Sox fan, said he briefly toyed with the idea of getting married at Fenway Park, but didn't bother to ask his wife, knowing she'd say no. He also didn't believe he had the kind of "pull" to get hitched in a ballpark.
[edit] Tattoos
Wachter is a big fan of body art, and claims to have over 20 tattoos. Some of these include "Rock-n-Roll" in script on his stomach, two swallows on both pectorals, a winged bomb on his right arm, and a switch blade with latin quotation on his right side. These particular tattoos were done by artist Josh Hoffman at Olde City Tattoo in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [1] He also has Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead skulls tattooed on each foot, as well as numerous other inkings in various locations. He and his wife have identical skeleton key tattoos.
[edit] Trivia
- Wachter serves as an occasional guest host on Get the Fuck Up (GTFU) Radio. The radio show is hosted by two of his friends, Aaron Farley and Jeremy Weiss and is featured on Little Radio, out of Los Angeles.
- Wachter was rumored to have worked in a slaughter house, but confessed in a KAOS2000 Magazine interview that he and his band mates made up the story to stir up an otherwise dull interview.[2]
- Wachter was musically influenced by Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Kiss and The Sex Pistols as a kid.
- Wachter's favorite food is macaroni and cheese. He also enjoys Kobe Steak Burgers and curly fries.
- Wachter is a certified Massage Therapist.
- Wachter is said to have a signature walk - closer to a strut - that allows him to be identified from far away.
- Wachter and his wife own a Boxer, which Matt likes to dress up for Halloween.
- Wachter is a die-hard fan of the show 24 (TV series) and the show's main protagonist, Jack Bauer.
- Wachter loves video games, his latest addiction being Guitar Hero II.
- When asked of Matt's thoughts when he first met his future wife, he responded, "I didn't think. I felt."
