Exclusive LAUNCH Artist Chat

04/05/2001 9:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Lyndsey Parker

Canada may not always be renowned for its music (Loverboy, anyone? How about Bryan Adams, Glass Tiger, Corey Hart?), but it's brought us some great comedy over the years: Ren & Stimpy's Jon K., SCTV, The Kids In The Hall, to name but a few examples. Now, Canadian singer-songwriter Matthew Good is bringing us great music--in the form of his band's U.S. debut album, Beautiful Midnight--and great comedy, in the form of this hilariously witty chat. Whether he was answering questions about the devil, monkeys, art school, Tae Bo, Our Lady Peace, Temptation Island, or protons, electrons, and neutrons, his recent LAUNCH chat was a laugh riot. One chatter was even inspired to ask, "Where do you come up with such witty banter?" You'll have to read on to get the answer. Yuk it up with the following word-by-word transcript...

launchguest_matthew_good: Hey guys, how ya doin'?

DudeLove721: I was wondering what the band felt about the new U2 album. I know Matt has said that he grew up listening to some U2 himself. I was just wondering what he thought as a fan about their new album and newfound success.

launchguest_matthew_good: I thought it was fantastic; for me it was very nostalgic, because it was a very mature record. They needed to make a mature record because of where they were in their careers, and they did that. It's a very venerable, venerable-sounding record.

berk24: Why are only 35,000 copies of Loser Anthems going to be put out?

launchguest_matthew_good: Because I said so. Ha ha ha.

Quickiegirl1: What will be on the cover of Loser Anthems?

launchguest_matthew_good: A giant panda flying over metropolitan Toronto.

jkanakis2: What aspect of US history most fascinates you?

launchguest_matthew_good: Hmmm, I would have to say internationally, as far as U.S. involvement, would be the second World War; domestically, definitely the Civil War.

thechickenwas: Can anybody tell me what the beeping in your songs is? (Everything is Automatic, Rico, FXR)

launchguest_matthew_good: The beeping....um....in "The Future Is X-Rated" it's a telephone; in the others, I can't recall, probably a keyboard or something. But neither of those songs have keyboards on them.

hello_ticking_time_bomb: Matt, your acting abilities are evident in your many music videos, especially "Strange Days" and i was wondering if you had the opportunity to do any acting out side of music videos, would you?

launchguest_matthew_good: Put it this way: If Robert Altman could find five minutes for me somewhere, I'd be very appreciative; besides that, I'm not going to do Thriller Killer 6.

hifargone: Will loser anthems be availible online?

launchguest_matthew_good: I'm not sure. I'm not quite sure, actually. Since there's a limited number, it may or may not be...

ir0nicmaiden: hey matt! I have several questions. What's the first song you ever wrote? How old were you when you wrote it? Do you have any advice for kids who wanna start their own band?

launchguest_matthew_good: The first song I wrote was f--king really bad! (That's not the title, it's the truth!) I was probably about 20. As for advice, try to move to a country where people actually appreciate decent music! Because most people in these parts seem to be stunned!

jkanakis2: What do you think the biggest challenge is for canadian artists in the US?

launchguest_matthew_good: I think Canadian artists in the U.S. have a stigma attached to them for being Canadian--we're kinda looked down upon, unlike the British, who everyone says, "Oooh, they're British!" The funny thing is, you go to the U.K. and listen to the radio, and it's f--king terrible! Because we just get the best of their stuff, like Radiohead and Blur, and the music that's British in the past has really left quite a benchmark00look who you're talking about, Beatles to Led Zeppelin. Canadian bands, though...Americans say, "Well, they're just Canadian," and American radio tends to play American bands before anyone else unless it happens to be of the aforementioned English category. And not to sound like an ass, but Canadian audiences are somewhat more intelligent.

babygirl1971_99: How have you found your reception to be in America?

launchguest_matthew_good: It's been great--the shows we've been played have been really fun and packed, so I can't complain.

mechanical_musings: Matt, your manifesto's always inspired me to be a better writer, will there ever be new ones again?-Lissa from ON

launchguest_matthew_good: I have a book coming out in the fall which will contain most of that material and some new stuff, but I doubt that I'll just do it on the Internet ever again.

stiqs2k: Matt, is it true you found your current bassist working as a valet when you discovered him?

launchguest_matthew_good: No, that's horsesh-t. We've all known Rich for about 10 years.

nickleback_2000: Matt. What inspires your lyrics? everyday events or personal experiences?

launchguest_matthew_good: Usually personal experiences. That and twins... ha ha ha.

jen_and_longhairedgirl: whats up with black market surgery, is it comming out in september?

launchguest_matthew_good: Affirmative.

azraelfate: whats the story behind "so long mrs smith"

launchguest_matthew_good: The devil--they're all about the devil. Anyone asks that question, just put, "The devil."

deannamgb: what is your favourite song off of your really old recording, such as History Teacher?

launchguest_matthew_good: First of all, "History Teacher" is a f--king bootleg, and I have sued the guy who put it out! It is not endorsed by this band, so I have no comment!

knomeyness: Matt, what do you do when you're bored out of your mind?

launchguest_matthew_good: I'm a pretty big film buff...and...hmm...according to my girlfriend, I clean.

marketjd: I'll start with ... You guys ROCK!!! I read an interview you did with 17. You said that OLP was a manufactured band and Americans knew it. Did you mean it, or was it a shot at the obvious readership?

launchguest_matthew_good: OLP is clean and refreshing and has less calories than we do.

Precious_Jewels_Falling: Since you don't like your band name, what would you call yourselves if you had the chance to rename the band?

launchguest_matthew_good: Gandolf.

twocv: how did you come up with the name ghetto astronauts?

launchguest_matthew_good: How did I come up with that name? I can't remember, really...I think I was high on cold syrup at the time...ha ha ha.

matty_gibby: are you gonna release any songs from luser anthems on napster?

launchguest_matthew_good: No. No intentions to.

hockeystar_07: when I call the number that is displayed at the bottomm of the screen on the video for "future is x-rated" I get a recorded message. do you actually call people back"

launchguest_matthew_good: Not usually, no. Though my mom called once, so I called her back...or at least she SAID she was my mommy! Ha ha. I'm calling from Vancouver, by the way.

vemilionskyes: What exactly made you decide to rid of the internet?

launchguest_matthew_good: I was sick and tired of getting a bunch of bullsh-t emails from people bitching about things, and I have a pretty good set of encyclopedias, It lacks accountability. Somebody's gotta keep those Funk & Wagnalls f--kers in clothes!

do_odd: Matt is it true you took off the manifestos because you felt the Americans wouldn't truly understand their meaning?

launchguest_matthew_good: Get your head outta your ass! Where do you people come up with this sh-t?!

eulogistic: First, thanks to our intelligent *and* good looking Yahoo Chat Host. And matt, what has been your favourite recent movie? launchguest_matthew_good: Easily Dancer In The Dark, genius!

deannamgb: it said on you're website not to ask about your car, so being the antagonist that I am...how is your car doing?

launchguest_matthew_good: It's fine. I just had a bumper replaced...

slowdivergirly: what do you say in the Hello Time Bomb song around 2:15? you sound muffled

launchguest_matthew_good: I think that's...you'd have to play that backwards...

tygue: No no no... what aspect of CANADIAN history most fascinates you?

launchguest_matthew_good: Hmm...uh, hmm, that's a...that's f--king tough one...obviously I'd have to go with first and second World Wars....the War Of 1812 was a high point...

ir0nicmaiden: matt. do you recommend any books for me to read?

launchguest_matthew_good: Let's see, I haven't read anything lately. I just read The Idiot by Dostoyevsky; Pugilist by Tom Jones is pretty good, too. Memoirs Of A Biker Gang Cookout by Jennifer Meischl...

sno_chick18: Whens your book coming out?

launchguest_matthew_good: We answered that already: In the fall.

ry_ry_1: if you were a car what kind would you be?

launchguest_matthew_good: Oooh....tough call. I'd probably be a BMW M5 or a 1967 Ferrari Marinello.

Puffalump6: Hey Matt, what are your favorite bands/artists that you look up to?

launchguest_matthew_good: Ones that are taller than me!

thebonzz: Hey guys, i'd like you to see our documentry on you guys. It's pretty Funny. I met you guys at the bowery with my MGB hoodie. Where do you get your samples from guys?

launchguest_matthew_good: He's got a documentary about us? But I've never been interviewed for it. I'm always interested to see how stupid I can be...As far as samples, we grab samples out of thin air. Email Rich at the website about it.

sayde23: have you been to any good concerts lately?

launchguest_matthew_good: No, but AC/DC's coming up! Actually, I just saw Limblifter about an hour and 15 minutes ago.

marketjd: You have stated that you don't use drugs. I would imagine that there is a lot of drug use in the industry. What made you take the stance that you have?

launchguest_matthew_good: Because I spent from the ages 15-21 completely loaded....it's called rehab! There's better things to do, like hedonism.

furtunecokie: when rolling stone asked you to be on the cover of the magazine, what was your reaction?

launchguest_matthew_good: What are you talking about?!

ir0nicmaiden: Name 3 words to describe your relationship with the band!

launchguest_matthew_good: Elephant dance party.

babygirl1971_99: What are your tour plans?

launchguest_matthew_good: It's much better when it's a surprise.

thetroubledclub1971: Is there a real major difference between the energy from the crowd in Canada than the US?

launchguest_matthew_good: No, they're pretty much both made up of protons, electrons, and neutrons...

veryrancidpeanut: If Polycorp(from apparitions)was a real establishment,what would your position be?

launchguest_matthew_good: I would be the janitor, obviously, wouldn't I?

sno_chick18: Why did yah think art school was a load of sh-t, what were you interested in oil, water colour ect.

launchguest_matthew_good: I liked painting pretty flowers, I like fingerpainting and paint-by-numbers, but my favorite is log cabin scenes with wild life on the periphery! And I always enjoy taking instruction from disgruntled, middle-aged people who couldn't actually pull it off themselves.

yaz10ca: Matt....Is Ken planning on staying on to do the sound?

launchguest_matthew_good: Of course. Why would Ken leave? He owes me money.

Quickiegirl1: Which is the better Devil name? Beelzebub or Lucifer?

launchguest_matthew_good: Oh, I gotta go with Lucifer. Lucifer sounds classier. It's more of a shirt-and-tie name...

whereissuperman: Can you release BM on vinyl so we can play it Hello Time Bomb backwards?

launchguest_matthew_good: That's a good idea, actually...

phinaboos: Hi Matt! How do you feel about putting yourself out there in this type of forum such as chat?

launchguest_matthew_good: Uh....it's a great way to scan all of your hard drives...ha ha.

cosmo_puppy: What is your guitar of choice?

launchguest_matthew_good: That'd have to be a Gibson ES335.

fourwood0: Do you plan on doing more piano-driven songs, like Running For Home? If so, do you plan on ever publishing the piano music?

launchguest_matthew_good: That's a surprise, and that's a surprise...

bigboy_9999_ca: would you consider being the voice behind a revolution?

launchguest_matthew_good: Yeah, if that revolution were revolutionary, sure. There's a lot of cheap talk.

pathetisad: have you had any parental complaints about your use of language?

launchguest_matthew_good: Not particularly, no, because I don't think I do it unintelligently. I'll be the last person to use profanity if it's unwarranted--in music. In my day to day life, on the other hand...

iluvscott_33: how does Dave get his hair to stay like that?

launchguest_matthew_good: Ooooh, I'd have to say, tough one....just go with Tchaikovsky. Great hair! That's a secret, talk to Dave, I'm not telling you.

angelique_444: Who's your girlfriend anyone famous?

launchguest_matthew_good: She's the most famous girl in the world, as far as I'm concerned! I recognize her everywhere I go!

thecrazyfroggy: why are you so fascintaed with the devil matt?

launchguest_matthew_good: Hmm...because God is boring....ha ha ha ha ha ha!

millpool1: Did you ever take singing lessons when you were younger?

launchguest_matthew_good: No.

salsoca: If you could beat anyone to death with a bag of oranges legally,who would it be?

launchguest_matthew_good: That's a good one! Um...you? Ha ha ha ha ha.

vemilionskyes: If you could be any character from Star Wars, who would you be and why?

launchguest_matthew_good: Han Solo, easy!

pagirl0507: How do you suggest that I get a copy your new LP if you're only selling 35,000 copies. What can I do to get one?

launchguest_matthew_good: Line up, EARLY in the morning. This is an EP. I always put EPs out between records and limit the edition--collect 'em, trade 'em. The last one, I put out only 5,000 and now they're worth 600 bucks on eBay...

KimmieScalzo: In the Apparitions video, was the "shooting the security guard" scene filmed in a downtown Toronto office building lobby? And if so, which one?

launchguest_matthew_good: No, it was filmed in Vancouver.

fearandloathingindallas: Do many people confuse your band for the Dave Matthews Band?

launchguest_matthew_good: Not in Canada! In the States, um...I don't know, I really haven't run into it much.

conwayhi: Matt, I was told backstage in NYC that you don't drink either, is that true. Than why are you holding a wine bottle at the end of "The future is X-Rated"?

launchguest_matthew_good: I don't drink--it had water in it. And the reason being is because it made the whole drunken, out-of-control, rock star thing all the more convincing.

s_oneschuk: Do you prefer playing to over eighteen crowds, or all ages?

launchguest_matthew_good: Usually I prefer to play to over 18, because I get sick and tired of getting arrested by angry fathers when they showed up at the door of the bus....HA HA HA HA!

reaganannebeataman: who's head would be on your ultimate PEZ dispenser?

launchguest_matthew_good: That's a good question...um, lemme think, I don't really know...

thebigbrioski: Where do you come up with such witty banter? i'm guessing superior genes.

launchguest_matthew_good: Mmm, yeah. I get it from my mom.

the_trick_of_his_trade: How does it feel to be referred to as a "sexy bitch"? haha

launchguest_matthew_good: Ha ha, bizarre as the best of times--kind of like meeting a character in a Hunter S. Thompson novel. Not altogether realistic.

low_kat_loves_matt: why the janitor why why ?

launchguest_matthew_good: Stress-less.

sayde23: what would you choose as your last meal?

launchguest_matthew_good: Porkchops with Campbell's mushroom soup as sauce, and white rice.

afterglow_apparition: i heard that you guys might be putting on something like edgefest with moist, the tea party and salon, is it true?

launchguest_matthew_good: It's not incorrect, but not with any of those bands.

lexieluca: whats the one album you couldn't live without?

launchguest_matthew_good: Laughingstock by Talk Talk.

keenz1: what are you saying to the girl in the strange days vid?

launchguest_matthew_good: "Let's do this one more time, look at the camera, look at the truck, look at the camera, don't look at the camera, look at the camera..."

dr_money: Hey Matt? How do you get through the hardships of being on the road constantly? Any self saving things you do to relieve the stress?

launchguest_matthew_good: Tae Bo. He he he.

hammeredcat: Matt. Decribe yourself in one word or less.

launchguest_matthew_good: Less.

booyah_27: What is your Favorite Pixies Song?

launchguest_matthew_good: "Motorway To Roswell," or "Bird Dream Of The Olympus Monds."

millpool1: Why do you make reference to monkeys so often?

launchguest_matthew_good: They're kin.

salsoca: Half empty or Half full?

launchguest_matthew_good: The glass is mine!

knomeyness: in regards to your shirt "I hear Matt Good is a real a------" is there anywhere where people can buy it, or is it yours exclusivly?

launchguest_matthew_good: Oh ,you can buy it online and at our show: www.matthewgoodband.com. Just because people have preconceived notions about what people are like, I thought it'd be fun to make a shirt about what they think...

iluvscott_33: how long have you been playing guitar?

launchguest_matthew_good: 10 years.

acarrero_ii: Which of your videos do you like the most?

launchguest_matthew_good: "Future Is X-rated," probably.

i_ate_me_shoe: How does the band feel about the Vancouver bus strike? I am slightly bitter myself...

launchguest_matthew_good: It's hell on traffic, that's for sure.

hello_ticking_time_bomb: is todd kerns doing backup vocals on the new record?

launchguest_matthew_good: He may; he hasn't so far, but he may before it's done.

vemilionskyes: What kind of things did you do as a teenager?

launchguest_matthew_good: Pinball, lots of pinball!

metalmilk: Why do you guys chant 595

launchguest_matthew_good: 'Cuz it's the Playboy Channel.

duffy1331: I just finished Breakfest of champions, and i have noticed that you and Mr. Vonnegut have a very simialr writing style. Is he one of your major insparations for the manifestoes as well as your song lyrics?

launchguest_matthew_good: Yes, I consider him to be one of the best authors in the world, one of MY favorites.

vemilionskyes: Do you ever get to watch TV? If so, what's your favourite show?

launchguest_matthew_good: Would have to be Temptation Island.

monkey_poo4: who is the cleanest in the band? the DIRTIEST?

launchguest_matthew_good: I'd be the cleanest, the dirtiest...I don't really know...oh, I'd be the dirtiest too.

sayde23: Do you get a lot of your shirts custom made or do you just find very cynical ones all the time?

launchguest_matthew_good: I have them made,

melon_collie_contd: who is your favourite figure of the 20th century?

launchguest_matthew_good: Oh, that's a hard one, I'm not really sure...That's too general, I can't pick just one person.

hinks899: Did you hate high school?

launchguest_matthew_good: Yeah, I did, actually.

bigboy_9999_ca: In Mattopia, is there a god and a devil? if so who would they be?

launchguest_matthew_good: No, I'd have to go with atheists.

conwayhi: Matt, what is with the burning of the stuffed animals?

launchguest_matthew_good: They won't let me burn live ones--plus live ones struggle too much.

thetroubledclub1971: Exactly did Rich get hit by a Zamboni? I know it was on the site but is that true?

launchguest_matthew_good: No, it's not true; he fell backstage on New Year's.

Precious_Jewels_Falling: matt, if you were prime minister, what would you do about the can-con regulations on music? get rid of 'em? or support them even more?

launchguest_matthew_good: I would support them, I think they're important.

thebigbrioski: When you were a child, did you think you would ever be this cool?

launchguest_matthew_good: Ha ha, no--hell no! Thanks for coming out! And I apologize for being so vague, but it's my lot in life. Shady is better than exact.