Matt Wong

Matthew Wong (born January 12, 1973 in Hilo, Hawaii) is a bassist and one of the founding members of the California-based ska punk band, Reel Big Fish.^[1] He left Reel Big Fish on June 26, 2007.^[2]

Wong plays a candy red Music Man Sting Ray five bass with a trademark black pickguard with a piezo pickup.

Appearing on most RBF music videos, his absence from "Don't Start A Band" confused many fans. Matthew could not attend filming of this video because he had to attend his grandfather's funeral in Hawaii.

His younger sister appears on the cover of the band's first album, Everything Sucks, with a dog's snout in her mouth.

In an extra feature on the DVD included on Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album, Wong states that he came up with the name "Real Big Fish". The band had not had a name until their first demo. The demo was entitled, "the Fisher King: Reel Big Fish," after the movie. The band's lead singer, Aaron Barrett, decided on Real Big Fish, and he changed the a in the word "Real" to an 'e'. Matthew said it was the most embarrassing thing he'd ever done in the band. They planned to change it when something cooler came along but it never happened.

In June 2007, Matthew decided to leave the band in favor of fatherhood and his family. His last time performing was during the 2007 Europe Tour; however, his last appearance with the band was at the August 1st show in Orange County during the Shout It Out Loud Tour, to give good wishes to his bandmates and fans. He was replaced by Derek Gibbs.

Wong plays the MMORPG City of Heroes, along with Trombone player Dan Regan.

He currently resides in Westminster,California.

References