Mattyluv Guestbook

I never met Matty but he will always be one of my favorite songwriters. Him dying is a waste of pure genius and talent.

The year was 1994. I was in a punk rock band called 9 Iron. A friend of ours said that he had gotten two bands from San Francisco (yee haa! the big city!) to come play in Tulsa. I had only heard punk rock on records and tapes. You could actually write them and they would come play your city? I was excited. We hadn't had visitors to the apartment yet. Mind you, we had two apartments on the same floor of a four-plex and about 8 people living there. The expected arrival was noon and, right on time, at noon, they arrive. I had never met a punk rock band before. It was Hickey and All You Can Eat. In Tulsa. We had never seen anything like them. I remember every single person like it was yesterday (if yesterday was 8 years ago). I made fliers for the show at Kinkos and spelled Hickey as "Hickeys" because I didn't have all the information I needed. As I was making these fliers, a gentleman in his 60's told me I must me having quite a party becauwe I had All You Can Eat, Hickory and Refreshments (which was a local band). I was thanked by everyone for making the effort to make fliers. I was happy. The entire show was magical. I watched the bands in awe. I had never seen anything like it. Both bands came back to the house and made ramen and drank beer. They were amazed by the fact the fact that you could buy beer 24-7 in Oklahoma until it was impressed upon them that the beer in question was 3.2. There were paint-filled condoms thrown at giant fake cow across the street. I had alot of fun and I didn't even drink then. I remember seeing Matty like a lion. Quiet yet strong. Everything he said was not for the sake of hearing his own voice. When he spoke, it was something that made you think. Then there was that loud-mouthed Florida Jew who would not shut up....
I speak of Hickey because Hickey is what impressed me. And Hickey would not be Hickey without Matty. I never told anyone what an effect they had on my life bacause I thought everyone would think I was being hokey. Hickey completely changed the way I thought about music and the impact it had on people. I never fathomed the idea that you could take your band on "tour", sleep at other people's houses and meet really neat people. I quit my job the next day and hoped I could get in the van with the other stinky people and go all around the U.S. I would learn all sorts of stuff like how many dildos you can legally have in your van in the state of Texas (is it 5?) and that nipple clamps helped keep you awake while driving. I'd have Caroline show me how to sell merch. And I'd have a great time. But I never did. Tulsa was graced many other times, where I was in charge of taking Aesop to Sam's to buy lots of shirts for printing. That's where I learned to screen shirts. Many things I know now, I owe to Hickey. I feel guilty writing all this since I haven't seen any of them in years, but I don't want it to not be known what an impact this band had and everyone involved. Thank you for giving me the space to write. Tulsa loved you Matty Luv and Hickey and all the Naked Cult ideas you brought with you that stayed.

Ever since I heard of what happened to Matty I have wanted to write something about my (very short) relationship with him. I was hoping to have an online journal by now, but since it has not come together yet, here goes.


The first time I officially met and spoke with Matty was at Aaron Probe's wedding. He was looking rather nice, with a suit that he wore from some trial that he had. At the time I heard about him having troubles with the law and with his girlfriend in Florida, but what I heard was all rumors so I didn't care.
Even though that wedding was not that long ago, I remember that day so vividly, from start to finish.
I snapped a photo of Matty, my brother and Aesop in Aaron's parent's backyard. It came out really well; the look that all three of them had was very natural. I still have it hanging on my door. After the ceremony we all went to where the reception was. Matty, my brother and I sat at the same table with Craig, Brad and Joe.
At the time, I recently purchased my first theremin. My brother told me that Matty knew what a theremin was, and I couldn't believe it. I had to talk to him.
So, after eating some people decided to dance, Craig assumed the role of official wedding DJ, and others sat around and talked. I think my brother was having a conversation with Matty when I weaseled my way in there. I forget if I spoke first, but all of a sudden we were having this amazing conversation. He was so easy to speak with, and he knew SO MUCH. About everything.
The day after the wedding I was going to go to the Rod Stewart concert at shoreline. I grew up listening to him, and my first concert (at nine years old) was a Rod Stewart show.
I remember Matty telling me that he liked the song Forever Young. Personally, I like the really old R.S. songs, but how often do you meet a punk rocker who likes Rod Stewart? I was amazed! He said he wasn't sure if it was an originally written piece or not, but it was a good song. (for the record, Stewart did write that one)
Before I left the wedding, I said bye to Matty. He told me to have fun at the concert. I did.
I saw Matty fairly often after that, since he was in the same band as my brother. For some reason, I felt dumb going up to him and saying something like "remember me? from the wedding? we talked about theremins!" I know this is not true, but Matty had such presence, I felt like I would be bothering him if I said hello.
People always tell me that I look like I have too much on my mind, and I hate it. It's true that I worry a lot, but I think my expressionless face has more of a frown to it rather than a smirk. When Matty walked, he looked like he definitely had a destination; he didn't look around at the people around him, just at he ground or straight ahead. I do the same thing. I wish that I would have talked to him more. He was an amazing guitar player, and my brother would always tell me about the cool effects pedals that he had (and I wanted). The more I heard about him, the more I think we were alike.
Driving home after his funeral, I had a Rod Stewart album in my car stereo. I put it on track 14, Forever Young. I had been choked up all day, but I heard the words I just lost it. Fuck you if you think its corny but the lyrics were so fitting. It was like a final goodbye. I definitely regret not knowing Matty earlier or at least talking to him when I had the chance.I guess its something that I will have to live with.

I'll miss you Matty.

Ben

I mean uh too bad you weren't there with your camera bring there were here yeah.

Whoa you got photos of the dwarf! The dwarf followed us back to mission records after the wake and someone bought him a 40 and he was hitting on all the ladies. Too bad you didn't bring you weren't there with your cameraa.

I've put up some photos I took at Matty's wake here:

http://www.photoshowoff.com/alleevallee/photo/index.php?cat=13

Hey all, I'm working on a painting that has to do with my friend Matty Luv. If you were close to him I would like to have you in the painting. I'm planning on going to SF this Saturday. If you can make it to mission records for the photo that would be great. I plan on being there around 3pm. Please pass this on to anyone that you feel was a good friend.

I've been a bit out of it lately. Finally got a chance to see how the site was coming along. Looks great.

I'm working on a new painting and it's dedicated to Matty of course. If anyone has pictures of the memorial I would love to see them. I'm going to be going to SF on tuesday I think. Going to try and get better pictures of those close to him. I really need a good photo of his guitar.

Matty keeps showing up in my dreams. it's really odd but nice. The first time I was like, Shit Matty you died. And he was like " No that was a mistake. I woke up a little while after everyone left the viewing." And then everything was ok and he's been shoing up ever since just randomly hanging out.

I wrote a song about him. If anyone would like a copy send me your address - joe

i was really sad to hear the news. he was a great guy and did so much. he will be missed by all who knew him.

wow mattyluv.com i never would have imagined such a thing...

i guess the first memory wich jumpes to mind right now is the time Matty, my then girlfriend Jen and i broke into the carosel in golden gate park. It was Jen's birthday and we had been drinking for quite awhile at the Nightbreak. we were all pretty drunk and high and as the bar was closing, Matty decided we should go and ride the carosel. This sounded like fun to Jen so we started off into the park around 3amish. I was convinced we were being fallowed, but then again i was pretty paranoid back in those days. Matty has spent many a night convincing me not to be afraid of the "shadow people". anyways we got to the carosel and of course it was locked up, so Matty and I used a small pocket knife and carefully removed the rubber seal around one of the windows. i remember talking about how it was gonna be hard to replace the window when we were done but we decided to worry obout that when the time came to it. We crawled inside and noticed the alarm console. Matty and i took turns trying random numerical codes just hoping we would get lucky before the alarm went off. (it seemed to make sence at the time) of course that didnt work. the alarm started screaming and we ran. not to far away the three of us jumped into some bushes to hide and watch to see if anyone was comming. I remember i was totally freaking out and Matty told me over and over not to worry because the cops wouldnt be looking for any white kids. im not sure how long we stayed in the bushes but i do remember that later that night i climbed a tree in some sort of panic and Matty and Jen just sat at the base of the tree for a very long time just talking and waiting for me to calm down. Matty was always very patient.

Random HICKEY trivia:
On the HICKEY/All You Can Eat tour in 1994 we were driving through Wyoming when we all sorta noticed a cloud formation that beared an uncanny resemblance to the Danzig skull. Better yet, the sun was setting and it looked like it was on fire. Unfortunately, by the time I fished my camera out the moment lost it's luster - but in Cool Kids Attacked By Flying Monkeys when Matty says "Bad skies over Wyoming/Should have been some kind of omen" these were the bad skies.

Hearing of Matty's passing is quite a quite heavy on my heart. He was a class act.

A fond memory for me was to sing with the Fuckboyz on a holloween show dressed as GG Allin, this would be one of their last shows as the Fuckboyz.

I remember the Fuckboyz playing the Dinuba Embassy and partying down.

I also remember seeing Matty on my doorstep one night, he had rode his cruiser from San Francisco to San Jose.

Though it has been years since we had seen each other, I will miss him, he was one of a kind.

"this next song is a sing along , but you 'd have to be able to read the lyrics in order to sing along with it and being that mississippi is one of the most uneducated and poorest states in the union––uh... it will be okay if you guys just hum. " a matty quote from the first time i witnessed a hickey show.. loved them. always looked forward to seeing them again and again. matty was much loved in mississippi. it was a terrible lost. but what a great ride it was. yeeeeehaw motherfu*ker!!

Matty showed me how to dance the doo-doo brown. And he used to dance in the kitchen all the time to the Kingsmen. Daamn.

sorry about that double entry.... i was stoned

I met Matty and ace about 11 years ago. If it wasnt for them, i never would have moved to SF... i wouldnt be the guy i am today... thanx for the luv everyone... CHUB

I met Matty and ace about 11 years ago. If it wasnt for them, i never would have moved to SF... i wouldnt be the guy i am today... thanx for the luv everyone... CHUB

News still travel pretty slow to Mobile Home Alabama. I just found out about Matty passing away and there is a tear in my cheap beer. Hickey meant alot me since the first time I saw them at some house party in San Francisco. My first image of Matty was him butt naked with a plastic dixie cup over his privates. I didn't know who he was then, but ran into him not long after when they came to play with my band les Turdz at some hick ass bar in Mississippi. As often when these two bands got together the owner of the bar vowed to never let another rocknroll band walk through his door. And that was the good thing about Hickey, the guarantee of a kick ass show in which all the shitty intrusions of daily life could forgotten. Matty and hickey were honest and real. Let the naked cult live on. Burrito.

I'm glad something like this is up so others who didn't know Matty (such as myself) can enjoy his many creations... and also to find many original songs that fed the creative juices of other bands I would not have ever heard.

YAY
ah i read about that fuckboyz tribute record, i gotta get me a copy of that..