Matt Moffitt

Matt Finish were a popular live band, which had a top 20 hit on the Kent Music Report singles chart with "Short Note" (1981).

[1] In his teens Moffitt formed a Blue Mountains-based band, Rum Jungle, which performed cover versions of rock musicians; their "gigs sometimes turned into bloodbaths.

His musical influences included NYC-based blues, soul and jazz groups; the Australian rock of Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs; and work by the Beatles and Led Zeppelin; and one of his inspirations was Jack Bruce's "Rope Ladder to the Moon".

[1] By 1977 the line-up of Rum Jungle included James Black (ex-Tymepiece) on guitar, Phil Colson, Mark McDonald, Bruce Sandell and Joe Sudouskas.

[2] In late 1978 and early 1979 at The Observer Hotel in The Rocks, Sydney, Moffitt played in a short-term funk band, Matt Finnish, with Brian Alcorn on bass guitar and Tony Georgeson on drums.

In mid 1979 Moffitt and multi-instrumentalist John Prior formed Matt Finish as a rock group with Brian Alcorn on bass guitar.

[2][3] Clayton rejoined by mid-1980 and the group issued their debut single, "Mancini Shuffle" in November via Peter Dawkins' label, Giant Records.

"[7] Matt Finish had developed a reputation for high-quality song writing and passionate, high energy performances, including national tours supporting U2, Midnight Oil, INXS, Ramones, Split Enz, XTC, Cold Chisel, Bryan Ferry and the B-52's.

According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, "[they] played a melodic brand of guitar-based pub-rock that garnered critical acclaim and a wide fan base.

In 1990 Moffitt returned to Sydney and formed a band, Blue Max, with Barrett on guitar and vocals, Christian Dunha, Bill Heckenberg on drums, and Glen Muirhead.

In June 1992 the group were signed to Mushroom Records and released a single, "One Day at a Time", in that month, which was produced by Peter Blyton (The Radiators, Machinations).

[1][13] His funeral on 20 August 2003 was attended by family, friends and key Australian music figures, including John Prior and Rick Grossman from Matt Finish, Don Walker (Cold Chisel), Doc Neeson (The Angels), Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil), John Swan (Swanee), Bernie Cannon (producer of GTK on ABC TV) and Rob Scott (Triple J).