Matt Hoopes
| Matthew Hoopes | |
|---|---|
 Matthew Hoopes performing with Relient K in 2008 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Matthew Ryan Hoopes |
| Also known as | Blanche |
| Born | February 15, 1981 |
| Origin | Canton, Ohio, U.S. |
| Genres | Christian rock, pop punk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Associated acts | Relient K |
| Website |
www |
Matthew ("Matt") Ryan Hoopes is the lead guitarist of Relient K, a Christian rock band that was formed in 1998. Hoopes has played guitar and performed backing vocals for Relient K for fifteen years. Hoopes has slowly developed into the band's lead guitarist over the years, despite Matt Thiessen playing lead a lot in the band's early days. Thiessen is playing more piano for the band now, whereas Hoopes' primary duty for the band is guitar.
Biography
Along with Matt Thiessen and Brian Pittman, Hoopes co-founded the band during his junior year of high school at Canton McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio. He met Thiessen when they were in the Church choir together in second grade. Matt Thiessen once said in the book The Complex Infrastructure Known as the Female Mind that Hoopes and Brian Pittman were the athletes in high school, and while they were friends with Thiessen, they were also probably considered cooler than Thiessen. While lead singer Matt Thiessen writes almost every song, Hoopes wrote the song "Those Words Are Not Enough" on The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek. Marilyn Manson, also a native of the Canton, is subject of their song "My Girlfriend" although they are not acquainted.
Relient K was named after Hoopes' car, the Plymouth Reliant K, and it is said that he still owns it. The car is currently sitting on cinder blocks in the driveway of the house owned by his younger brother, Scott, in North Canton, Ohio. When they started in 1998, Hoopes originally did not want to do any singing in the band. However, Matt Thiessen pushed him to do it, saying that he had a great voice. Hoopes has been the primary backing vocalist for the band ever since.
Besides playing for Relient K, Hoopes has also done backup vocals for certain Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes songs, and has been a guest guitarist at concerts for the band My Red Hot Nightmare. Hoopes has said he is currently learning to play lapsteel, which would probably be used for the band.
While the band refers to him as "Blanche" to keep from confusing the two Matts,[1] some fans refer to him as "Matty H", or just "Hoopes". Matt Thiessen has said that they can either usually tell who is being asked for when someone says "Matt", or they tend to use a lot of last names. This goes for Jon Schneck and John Warne as well.
Matt Hoopes normally plays his guitar in one position (as seen in the picture on the right), so much so that certain fans have called it the "Classic Hoopes Stance". He has said he enjoys root beer, and playing golf.
For several months in 2010, Matt Hoopes did not travel with Relient K. However, he remained very active as a team member and band-mate. He still practiced with the band and managed their record label, Mono Vs Stereo. He produced the "Deas Vail" album, for the Mono Vs. Stereo label.[2]
Hoopes resumed touring with Relient K in May 2011, as he performed with the band for their acoustic concerts before the Vans Warped Tour.
Personal life
Hoopes was married but is now divorced.[3]
References
External links
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