Matt Skiba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matt Skiba
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Skiba performing at Warped Tour in 2010
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Matthew Thomas Skiba |
| Born | February 24, 1976 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Origin | McHenry, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1992–present |
Matthew Thomas Skiba (born February 24, 1976) is an American musician. He is famous as the main singer and guitarist for the punk rock band Alkaline Trio. He also played as the co-lead singer and guitarist for Blink-182 from 2015 to 2022. Matt Skiba's songs often tell stories about deep feelings and sometimes have a darker mood.
Alkaline Trio started in 1996 with Skiba as the leader. Over more than 20 years, the band has released ten full music albums. Skiba also made albums with other music groups, like Heavens and the Hell. He also released two solo albums with his band, the Sekrets.
In 2015, after Tom DeLonge left Blink-182, Skiba joined the band for a few shows. He later became a full member. He recorded two albums with Blink-182: California (2016) and Nine (2019). Tom DeLonge returned to Blink-182 in 2022.
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Early Life and Family
Matt Skiba was born in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in McHenry, Illinois. He started playing piano and drums when he was very young. His first concert was a band called Public Image Ltd. In 1996, he worked as a bike messenger. Around that time, he decided to switch from playing drums to playing guitar. Before that, he played in bands like Blunt, Jerkwater, and the Traitors.
His mother, Joan Skiba, teaches fourth and fifth grade at Woods Creek Elementary School. This school is in Crystal Lake, Illinois. His father, Thomas Skiba, is a dentist who specializes in oral surgery, also in Crystal Lake. Matt Skiba has two younger twin sisters.
Music Career
Alkaline Trio's Journey
Skiba studied design at Columbia College Chicago in Chicago. But he left in 1996 to start the band Alkaline Trio. He formed the band with drummer Glenn Porter and bassist Rob Doran.
After the band made their first demo and a song called "Sundials", they recorded an EP (a short album) called For Your Lungs Only. During this time, Rob Doran left the group. Dan Andriano then joined the band and played bass on the EP.
The band's lineup changed again in 2000. Glenn Porter left, and Mike Felumlee, who used to be the drummer for Smoking Popes, joined. Their album From Here to Infirmary came out in the spring of 2001. In 2002, Jade Tree Records released a special EP that featured both Hot Water Music and Alkaline Trio. Both bands contributed new songs and covered each other's music.
After a tour and throat surgery for Skiba, the band recorded Crimson in 2005. They also released a collection of songs called Remains in 2007. Agony & Irony was their first and only album with Epic Records. It was released in July 2008. In January 2010, they released This Addiction on their own label, Heart & Skull, with Epitaph Records. In July 2011, they released Damnesia, a mostly acoustic album. It celebrated their 15 years as a band. Their eighth album, My Shame Is True, came out on April 21, 2013.
In 2014, the band went on a special "Past Live Tour." They played their first eight studio albums completely over four different shows. After five years without a new studio album and another throat surgery for Skiba, the band released their ninth album, Is This Thing Cursed?, on August 31, 2018. They released a short album called E.P. on March 19, 2020. The band's tenth studio album, Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs, was released on January 26, 2024.
Time with Blink-182
In 2015, Tom DeLonge left Blink-182. Mark Hoppus announced that Skiba would "fill in" for the band. Skiba played two club shows and a festival called Musink in March 2015. Later that year, the band said Skiba was an official member. He would be on their next album. That album, California, was released on July 1, 2016. Skiba also appeared on the band's eighth album, Nine, which came out on September 20, 2019. However, he was not on the band's 2020 song "Quarantine". This was because he did not have a proper home recording studio.
In July 2022, Skiba said on Instagram that his future with Blink-182 was not clear. He also said he was thankful for his time with the group. In October 2022, Blink-182 announced that Tom DeLonge had officially returned to the band. Skiba was not in the new promotional pictures, which showed he had left. DeLonge sent Skiba a message on Instagram to thank him. Skiba also shared some of the new song's promotional material on his Instagram. He congratulated the band on their classic lineup getting back together. He also said he was grateful for his time in the band.
Other Music Projects
In 2001, Matt Skiba went on his first solo tour. It was called The Plea for Peace Tour. He mostly played acoustic versions of Alkaline Trio songs. Sometimes, he had drums and bass playing with him.
His first solo music was released in 2002. It was a split album with Kevin Seconds from the band 7 Seconds. The songs were mostly acoustic. Skiba played drums, bass, and piano on them.
In 2005, Skiba contributed a song called "Demons Away" to a special album. It was called Protect: A Benefit for the National Association to Protect Children.
In 2006, Skiba started a band called Heavens. He formed it with F-Minus bassist Josiah Steinbrick. The group released their album Patent Pending on September 12, 2006.
Also in 2006, Skiba helped with the song "Rock 'n' Roll High School". This song was on Brats on the Beat: Ramones for Kids. This was a tribute album released by Go-Kart Records.
In May 2007, Skiba played five shows with Chuck Ragan from Hot Water Music.
In late 2008, Josiah Steinbrick announced that Heavens was no longer active. He said Skiba would keep doing Alkaline Trio music. He also mentioned Skiba might be working on a solo record. A disagreement between Skiba and Steinbrick led to the band breaking up.
On August 10, 2010, Skiba released a solo album called Demos on Asian Man Records. People said this album was a preview for a future Alkaline Trio album.
In January 2012, Skiba released an EP with Atom Willard. Willard was a drummer for Angels and Airwaves and The Offspring. Their project was called The Hell. Their first EP was named Sauve Les Requins.
Skiba's second full solo album, Babylon, came out on May 8, 2012. On this album, Skiba led a band called Matt Skiba and the Sekrets. The band included AFI bassist Hunter Burgan and My Chemical Romance's former touring drummer Jarrod Alexander. The song "Voices" became popular on radio on May 1, 2012.
In early 2013, Matt Skiba told Mike Park of Asian Man Records to release The Smith Street Band's first two albums in America. Skiba had met the band's guitarist, Lee Hartney. He really liked his personality and guitar sounds. Blink 182 and The Smith Street Band played together in 2017 at Hurricane Festival in Germany.
Skiba has confirmed he is working on a new solo record. He is also writing a movie script and a punk record for children with Mark Hoppus.
In March 2015, Matt Skiba and the Sekrets announced their second album, Kutz. It was released on June 1.
In May 2023, Skiba released new music with a band called Lektron. They also released it through Asian Man Records.
Musical Gear
Guitars
Matt Skiba used to play Gibson Les Paul guitars a lot. Now, he mostly plays Fender Jaguar HH guitars. In the past, he also played Gibson Les Paul Juniors, Gibson SGs, Fender Stratocasters, and Fender Jazzmasters.
He has two special signature instruments:
- GPC made a limited number of Matt Skiba Signature guitars. These guitars have the Jaguar body shape, and only 200 were made.
- Fender released a signature acoustic guitar called the Malibu. This guitar was shown on the cover of Alkaline Trio's acoustic album Damnesia.
Amps
- Diezel VH4
- Bogner Shiva
- Orange Rockerverb 100
- Fender Supersonic 22
- Kemper Profiling amp
Skiba used a Kemper profiling amp when he was in the studio with Blink-182 and John Feldmann.
Besides his own amps, the sounds that were used included:
- Friedman Browneye
- Hughes & Kettner Statesman
- Vox AC15
- Silvertone 1471
Personal Life
Matt Skiba is a vegan, meaning he does not eat animal products. He also practices Transcendental Meditation. He said in an interview that this meditation helps him have a clear and calm mind. This calm state helps his creative process a lot. He used to think that being a "tortured soul" was better for art. But a book by David Lynch called Catching the Big Fish changed his mind. He now believes a calm mind is more helpful for making art. Matt bought a membership in the Church of Satan when Alkaline Trio was first starting. He said that to him, Anton LaVey (the founder) was "very punk rock."
Skiba moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2001. However, he now lives in Los Angeles. He has the words "Love Song" tattooed on his knuckles. He is a big fan of many bands and artists, including The Cure, The Damned, Green Day, and Nirvana. He is also a huge fan of director David Lynch. Skiba is divorced. He is a close friend of NOFX frontman Fat Mike. Skiba was the best man at Fat Mike's wedding.
Discography
Solo Albums
With Alkaline Trio
With Blink-182
With Heavens
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With the Sekrets
With theHELL
With Lektron
Guest Appearances
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See also
In Spanish: Matt Skiba para niños
