Matt Gorney: Bass, Drums, Guitars, Keyboards, Lead and Backing Vocals
(Updated: 12/98)

birthdate: 4/3/72
height: 5'10"
weight: 170 lbs
eyes: green
hair: blonde, but getting darker
hometown: Jersey City, NJ
current town: Wyomissing, PA
all-time max bench: 255 lbs
instruments played: vocals, bass, guitar, keyboard, piano
fav. song: Could've Been Mine
fav. albums: Blow it Out Your Amp!!!/Hairy
fav. Shitar member: me
fav. band(besides Shitar): Kiss
fav. Kiss member: Gene Simmons, the god of plunder
fav. non-Shitar song: Shout it Out Loud-Kiss
fav. non-Shitar album: Alive II-Kiss
fav. law firm: Peatmark & Stuart
fav. food: turkey & cheese
fav. beer: Sam Adams, and plenty of it please
fav drink(alc): Captain Morgan's and coke
fav. drink(non-alc.): water(really)
fav. movie: The Godfather
fav. tv show: The Simpsons
fav. baseball team: NY Yankees
fav. football team: San Diego Chargers
fav basketball team: NY Knicks
fav. hockey team: none
fav. NASCAR driver: are you kidding??
lust woman of the moment: Liv Tyler
fav. sexual position: entry level
person I admire most: Dad
person in history I'd like to meet: Batman, the dark Knight


Heart of the Band
If Mark Mistysyn is the musical guts of Shitar, and John Gorney the soul, Matt Gorney is definitely the heart of the band.  Matt, along with his much older cousin John, founded Shitar in 1987 to fill a gaping void in the music world. He contributes a dynamic stage presence, musical virtuosity, a singing range that would make Robert Plant jealous, a sharp wit, and of course, an air of
humility.  What began as a hobby so many years ago has evolved into a way of life for the young musician.  He lives, breathes, sleeps, drinks, eats, and regurgitates Shitar.  After twenty seven albums and numerous crises, Matt and Shitar are still going strong, ensuring that they will thrive well past the millenium.

Coming of Age
Matt has been the guiding force in Shitar over the last few years, partly due to the distance between band members, more likely due to the fact that he has nothing better to do.  His love of music is unparalleled and his penchant for songwriting (and volume of songwriting) unapproached.  Matt came of age in the 1980's, and that style of music is heavily reflected is his work.  He never
met a power ballad he didn't like (o.k., there was that one by Stryper). Lately, Matt has shown maturity in his songwriting and contributed some of his best material as evidenced in Life is Too Short, Autumn, and the epic journey Alive.  Still, the fans demand See You Around and Dusty, songs that are still endearing and will always be timeless classics.

Son of Ray
Though not blessed with lightning fast hands, Matt has turned himself into quite a musician.  In the past year, he completed work on a solo album, the first of it's kind by a Shitar member.  Its release has been delayed by record company wishes to have all three members complete solo projects.  Matt wrote every word and played every note on Son of Ray, an album that was conceived when the other members of Shitar demanded he not bring an overwhelming twenty songs to the table, as he did for the Plaid/Re-Plaid sessions.  Of course, all of the songs were stellar.

Other Projects
Matt has been involved with several side projects over the years, including the internationally known cover band, Bad Dog (a.k.a. Crash Landing), which included Mistysyn on guitar, and percussion-god Mark Maffei on drums.  It was in Bad Dog that Matt honed his frontman skills alongside of the Marks brothers.  There are currently rumors flying that the much-anticipated Bad Dog reunion has come to fruition.

Gifted Athlete
Matt is also a gifted athlete, as evidenced by his MVP trophy in Scranton football intramurals when he (along with all-star wideout Mistysyn) quarterbacked his team to an upset win over the Denver Broncos.  His softball team, The Fun Bunch, was crowned world champions this September.  Matt was 6 for 7 in the series, playing on one leg, to raise his average to .603.

Statement!!!
Matt counts Kiss, Led Zeppelin and Van Halen among his biggest influences, and longs for a day when theatre is reunited with rock and roll, when self-loathing drug addicts who shun the limelight are no longer deemed icons and heroes and thrust upon pedestals so they can tell us how miserable their lives are as they cash checks for millions.  My time is now.

Mark, how was that?  Please include everything.  The fans demand it.  Also, you should include a section with possible song titles for the upcoming Shitar album.  Here are mine:  Blessing and a Curse; Lovesick, Forgive Me, Forget Me, Litigate (the PM&S tune.)

Matt, I left the last paragraph in there just to give our readers some perspective!!!