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Matt Heafy

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Matt Heafy

Matthew Kiichi Heafy (born January 26, 1986 in Iwakuni, Japan) also known as Matt Heafy is the vocalist and guitarist for the band Trivium. He is the main songwriter in the band, and is also responsible for composing a lot of the music. His father, Brian Heafy, is white while his mother, Yoshiko Heafy, is of Asian descent, they met while Brian was serving in the military. Heafy's father works as a co-manager of the band alongside Justin Arcangel.[citation needed]

Trivium

In the 10th grade he joined Trivium after members of the band witnessed him at a talent show at Teague Middle School in Altamonte Springs, Florida at the age of 14. He attended high school at Lake Brantley High School. He was also the guest vocalist for the band Capharnaum.

Matt's debut with Trivium included his compositions of Fugue, Demon, Requiem, Sworn and The Storm. He has also composed the songs and lyrics for their Ember to Inferno album and most of the Ascendancy album. Paolo, Corey and Matt had an equal involvement in the recording of The Crusade.

Trivium has garnered a large following in North America and the UK; they are now trying to achieve the same success in the rest of Europe.

Trivium toured the UK with their album The Crusade, supporting Iron Maiden, in 2006. They toured Europe, the UK and Ireland in early 2007 with supporting acts Annihilator, Gojira and Sanctity. The Crusade was released in October of 2006.

In Guitarist magazine Matt Heafy said I only started screaming in the first place because I was such a terrible singer. It goes on to say back when I was 14 my voice was like (feigns breaking voice) and I could only sing low - I was trying to sing like I do now, but it sounded horrible so I started screaming , but now I'm done with that , if we play our old stuff that calls for screaming, Corey (Beaulieu) does that.

Roadrunner United

In 2005, Roadrunner Records released Roadrunner United: The All-Star Sessions to celebrate its 25th birthday. Four "team captains" were chosen: Joey Jordison (Slipknot), Robert Flynn (Machine Head), and Dino Cazares (ex-Fear Factory) as well as Matt Heafy of Trivium. Heafy also wrote the lyrics and sang the lead vocals to 'The End', captained by Dino Cazares. He and fellow band mate/guitarist Corey Beaulieu recorded the song 'In The Fire' as well, this song included singer King Diamond, bassist Mike D'Antonio and drummer Dave Chavarri. He also wrote and played guitar on the track, "Dawn Of A Golden Age", and "Blood And Flames", also contributing vocals to the latter.

Trivia

  • Matt has constantly praised Dream Theater's John Petrucci as a major influence to his playing, he has said that he uses John Petrucci's Rock Discipline DVD, has memorized it and practices before every gig. He said in an interview with Total Guitar that he first warms up by doing the weird sounding exercises without a metronome, then chords, then he goes through the whole book with a metronome and ends off with some sweeps. He also owns one of his signature seven-string models, that is used on a few of the Crusade's songs.Total Guitar Magazine. April 07. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  • At the 'Metal Hammer Golden God Awards 2006' Matt won the 'Golden God Award'.[1]
  • Recently it was announced that there will be run of Matthew K. Heafy Signature model guitars by Dean Guitars. Heafy describes the shape as a combination of other well known guitar bodies, including a Gibson Explorer, Dean ML and Jackson Randy Rhoads. [1]
  • He used to play guitar for Orlando black metal band 'Mindscar' alongside Mike Radford.
  • His last name is usually pronounced /hifi/, but in fact it is pronounced /hɛfi/ (as in "ha-fee").
  • Matt, like most other guitarists, has a pre-show warm up. Four hours before the show he works out; three hours before he eats dinner; two hours before he warms up on guitar (both 6-7 strings) and vocals; and one hour before he changes into his gig clothes and stretches.
  • In Metal Hammer magazine, it reveals that the tattoo on his left forearm, depicts a famous japanese mythological scene by the 19th century master painter Yoshitoshi, which tells the story of a demon that terrorises rashomon gate, whose only match is a famous samurai warrior.

Discography

Trivium

Capharnaum

  • Fractured (2004)

Other

Equipment

Guitars

Matt's current guitar line up is as follows as of 7/21/07

  • Dean Timecapsule MLF (Main guitar-standard tuning)
  • Dean Custom White Razorback (Back up Standard tuning)
  • Dean Trans Black ML (Main Drop-D tuning)
  • Dean Razorback V (Back up Drop-D tuning)
  • Dean MKH Prototype 7 string (Main-Standard tuning)
  • Dean Razorback 7 String Import black w/yellow bevels (Back up Standard)
  • Dean Hardtail (Used on recording of The Crusade only)
  • Ernie Ball/Music Man John Petrucci 7 String (Used for backstage warm-up and album only)
  • Dean Dimebag Rust Tribute Razorback (Used until May 2007)

Matt left Gibson after friend Rita Haney-Abbott introduced Dean Guitars to Matt and fellow guitarist Corey Beaulieu in December 2005.

  • Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty
  • Gibson Les Paul Supreme (Alpine White-Was sold on Ebay, for a charity, in January of 2006)
  • Gibson Voodoo X-plorer (Used during Trivium practices before recording Ascendancy)
  • Washburn Stealth (Used during the writing of Ascendancy and for some live shows)
  • Hohner Headless Guitar (Matt's first guitar)
  • Ovation Celebrity Acoustic Electric (used for acoustic work)
  • Ibanez RG7621
  • Unknown Classical Acoustic (Used for Ember to Infernos Intro and Outro)

Picks

Misc

Amplifiers

Matt uses the following as of August 24,2007

  • Peavey 6505+ Heads - Currently Used
  • Marshall 1960BV cabs - Currently Used
  • Mesa Boogie Roadster head and Rectifier cabs(used In March 2007-May 2007)
  • Marshall JCM2000 DSL Heads (The Crusade)
  • Marshall 1960BV Cabs (used in Ascendancy and The Crusade era; no longer used)

Pickups

  • EMG 89 Neck Pickup
  • EMG 85 Neck Pickup
  • EMG 81 Bridge Pickup
  • EMG 707 Pickup
  • DiMarzio Air Norton Neck Pickup(used in late 2006)
  • DiMarzio D Sonic Bridge Pickup(used in late 2006)
  • Seymour Duncan Dimebuckers (Used from December 2005-November 2006)
  • Seymour Duncan Alnico IIs (For acoustic work)
  • Seymour Duncan 1959 Reissue Neck Pickups (Used from December 2005-November 2006)
  • EMG 89 Neck Pickup(used in Ascendancy era)

Matt recently made a switch back to EMG pickups during February 2007 on the Lamb of God tour.

All of Matt's Dean guitars until February 2007 featured a Seymour Duncan 59' Reissue pickup or Alnico II pickup in the neck and a Dimebucker Pickup in the bridge. Matt's Dean guitars now feature a EMG 81 in the Bridge and 85 in the neck position.

Pedals & Electronics

Matt uses the following as of August 24,2007

  • ISP Decimator Noisegate (To be replaced with Dunlop noisegate soon)
  • Wireless Receiver
  • MXR GT-OD OVERDRIVE
  • Rocktron Super Hush
  • Furman PL-Pro Rack Power

References

  1. ^ Golden God Award citation
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