Matt Finish

[2][3] From 1979 to 1980, like their contemporaries Midnight Oil, Flowers/Icehouse and INXS, Matt Finish played regular residencies in clubs and pubs around Sydney most nights of the week, often double-gigging on weekends.

In January 1980, Matt Finish's line-up changed when Clayton contracted hepatitis and was replaced on bass guitar by Rick Grossman (ex-Eric Gradman's Man and Machine) who had attended Sydney Boys High School with Prior.

[2][5] In mid-1980, Matt Finish recorded at ABC Sydney Studio 221, from which radio station 2JJ also broadcast, with the songs "Indicator" and "Red Lights" becoming underground hits.

In July that year, Matt Finish recorded a live five-track extended play, Fade Away at PACT Theatre in the old Corn Exchange building in Sussex Street, Sydney.

In November 1983, Clayton, Prior and Moffitt released the EP Matt Finish which was followed in May 1984 by their second album, Word of Mouth – co-produced by the band and Colin Freeman.

[2][3] It was recorded by UK producer Nicky Graham with session musicians Pete Glennister, Felix Krish, Simon Climie and Rob Fisher.

[2][8] The line-up of Moffitt and Paul Dawkins with Eliot Reynolds (guitar) and Justin Leef (drums) released the singles "Blue" (September 1993) and "Will I Ever Know?"

From late 2000 the band Fire Hand Ember with Moffitt and Grossman joined by Joseph Calderazzo (guitar and vocals) and Wayne Grech (drums) performed 20 shows.

[11] Also that year, Matt Finish line-up with Moffitt and Grossman released the limited edition compilation CD entitled, Just a Short Note.

[12] His funeral, on what would have been his 47th birthday, 20 August, was attended by hundreds of people including Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil), Don Walker (Cold Chisel), Doc Neeson (The Angels), Scott Johnston Rose Tattoo, Swanee (aka John Swan) and Grossman.

In 2004, ScreenSound (National Film & Sound Archives) released a compilation CD album called Running in the Shadows: Oz rock rarities 1983-1994 featuring Matt Finish.

In December that year, Parrish Muhoberac (guitar and vocals) joined Matt Finish and the band completed a new album at Prior's Unity Gain Studios in Erskineville on Christmas Eve.

In June that year, Guy Le Claire rejoined and the group embarked on a tour with saxophonist Dale Barlow, who had previously attended South Strathfield Public School with Prior.

In February, the EP New Frontier was released, featuring David Adams (vocals/guitar), Brus, Dieter Kleemann (guitar), Le Claire, Prior, Victor Rounds (bass).

In July, the band released two retrospective CDs, Short Note Remastered and Civic Hotel and in September they issued Fade Away Sessions and Word of Mouth.

In January 2013, Matt Finish headlined three days at the Thredbo Blues Festival featuring Elliot Weston on vocals, Nick Meredith on guitar, Peter Astley on bass and John Prior on drums.

[15] In 2014 and 2015, Prior promoted a number of shows around Australia titled The Oz Rock Roadshow, featuring Matt Finish, with Ric Herbert on vocals, Dai Pritchard guitar, Justin Bianchi bass and Prior on drums, plus special guest vocalists Mark Gable, Angry Anderson, Mick Pealing and Steve Mulry, and guitarist Bob Spencer.

The band have performed a number of sold out shows around Australia with Empire Touring, including Enmore Theatre in Sydney, Wagga Wagga and Gosford Racecourses, Goulburn Workers Arena, WIN Entertainment Centre Wollongong, Roche Estate Hunter Valley, Sandstone Point Queensland, and Parramatta Park on Australia Day 2019 attended by more than 20,000 people.