Matthew Ray "Matt" Shultz (born October 23, 1983) is the lead singer and occasional guitarist for the American rock band Cage the Elephant. He also plays guitar on the bonus track "Cover Me Again" from their self-titled album.
Matt Shultz was raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky, along with high school friends and other band members, his older brother Brad Shultz (guitar), Daniel Tichenor (bass, backing vocals), Lincoln Parish (ex lead guitar), and Jared Champion (drums, percussion).
Shultz's stage persona is remiscent of and inspired by punk pioneers such as Iggy Pop.
Video Matt Shultz (singer)
Musical influences
Shultz cites bands such as the Pixies as influential on his vocal style, explaining that he discovered them alongside other punk bands while living in England during the recording of Thank You, Happy Birthday.
Maps Matt Shultz (singer)
Previous career
Before starting Cage the Elephant, Shultz worked in construction as a plumber. He said in an interview with "Rock it out! blog" for Consequence of Sound that he felt if he didn't quit that job, he would be stuck there for the rest of his life. He therefore did quit and worked at a sandwich bar with his brother, Brad, who had previously worked in telemarketing.
Personal life
Shultz grew up in Bowling Green, Kentucky, with his brother, Brad, who is a year older and also in Cage the Elephant. They came from a poor background and were sometimes teased for this. Brad was called "Poor Boy" by kids at their school. Their father, a musician, is also named Brad. Their parents separated when the brothers were young. After the divorce, their mother dated Matt's football coach, leading him to quit the team and play music as an act of rebellion.
Shultz married his fiancée Juliette Buchs, French actress and model, at the beginning of 2014 in a civil ceremony in the Warren County Courthouse, Bowling Green. They celebrated the marriage in August of the same year with family and friends in Rennes, France, where Juliette is from, and had a later celebration in America in October.
References
External links
- http://www.cagetheelephant.com/biox/?pagename=Bio