Matt Shultz

Matthew Ray Shultz (born October 23, 1983) is an American musician, best known as the lead singer for the rock band Cage the Elephant.[1]

For other uses, see Matt Shultz (disambiguation).

Matt Shultz
Shultz performing in 2017
Shultz performing in 2017
Background information
Birth nameMatthew Ray Shultz
Born (1983-10-23) October 23, 1983
OriginBowling Green, Kentucky, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar

Early life

Matthew Ray Shultz was born on October 23, 1983, and raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky, alongside high school friends and future bandmates including his older brother Brad Shultz (guitar), Daniel Tichenor (bass, backing vocals), Lincoln Parish (lead guitar), and Jared Champion (drums). Shultz and his brother came from a poor background and were sometimes teased for this, with his brother being called "Poor Boy" by children at their school. Their father is also a musician and also named Brad. Their parents separated when the brothers were young. After the divorce, their mother dated Shultz's football coach, prompting him to quit the team and play music as an act of rebellion.

Before starting Cage the Elephant, Shultz worked in construction as a plumber. He said in an interview that he felt if he didn't quit that job, he would be stuck there for the rest of his life.[2] He therefore quit and worked at a sandwich bar with Brad, who had previously worked in telemarketing.

Personal life

Matt Shultz married Eva Ross in early February 2020.[3] Eva Ross is an actress, dancer and musician.[4] They met in Kentucky where they are both from. "Love's The Only Way" was a song written by Matt for Eva while they were dating. Eva announced on December 1, 2021, that the couple had separated and were filing for divorce.[5] Shultz was previously married to Juliette Buchs from 2014 to 2018.

On January 5, 2023, Shultz was arrested in New York on charges of felony firearm possession. Shultz was staying at The Bowery Hotel in Manhattan, where a hotel employee reportedly saw him carrying a firearm into the bathroom and called 9-1-1.[6][7][8] In a plea bargain, Schultz pled guilty to three charges in exchange for avoiding jailtime.[9][10]

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. His stage persona is inspired by punk pioneers such as Iggy Pop.[11]

Art

Matt Shultz began his art career as the lead singer and a founding member of Perfect Confusion in 2001. Later, he would also do the same with Cage The Elephant.[12] While continuing his musical career, Shultz has gone on to explore a vast array of artistic mediums, including dance, fashion design, visual art, and performance art.[13][14][15]

In March 2019, Shultz released a Boot Collection with The Frye Company.[16]

In August 2019, Shultz threw his debut art show in Greenpoint, Brooklyn with New York artist Danny Cole, Beck, and other friends. The event was captured by Rolling Stone in a photo journal.[17]

Accomplishments

Cage the Elephant's first nomination came in 2011, when the music video for "Shake Me Down" was nominated for the Best Rock Video at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. In 2014, Cage the Elephant was nominated for the Best Alternative Music Album for Melophobia, at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. In 2016, Cage the Elephant won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album for Tell Me I'm Pretty, winning again in 2019 for Social Cues.[18][19]

References
  1. True, Chris. "Biography: Cage the Elephant". AMG. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  2. "Rock it out! blog" for Consequence of Sound
  3. "Instagram".
  4. "Instagram".
  5. "Instagram - Eva Daire December 1, 2021". www.instagram.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  6. Shanfeld, Ethan (6 January 2023). "Cage the Elephant Singer Matt Shultz Arrested for Gun Possession in New York". Variety. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  7. Mier, Tomás (6 January 2023). "Cage The Elephant's Matt Shultz Arrested for Gun Possession". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  8. Graves, Wren (6 January 2023). "Cage the Elephant Singer Matt Shultz Arrested on Gun Charges". Yahoo News. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  9. Mier, Tomás (3 June 2023). "Cage the Elephant's Matt Shultz Avoids Jail Time With Gun Charge Plea Deal". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  10. "Cage the Elephant's Matt Schultz Takes No-Jail Plea Deal for Gun Charges". Peoplemag. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  11. Q&A: Matthew Shultz of Cage the Elephant, an Interview with Shultz on sfstation.com, retrieved 2013
  12. "Cage the Elephant". 9 April 2017. Archived from the original on 9 April 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  13. "Matt Shultz Designs Boot Collection With Frye". Essential Homme Magazine. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  14. "Cage the Elephant's Matt Shultz On Why He No Longer Feels Defeated". Billboard. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  15. Lecca, Sacha (20 August 2019). "Matt Shultz, Beck and Friends Throw an Art Party in Brooklyn". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  16. Feitelberg, Rosemary (12 February 2019). "Cage the Elephant's Matt Shultz Teams With the Frye Company". WWD. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  17. Lecca, Sacha (20 August 2019). "Matt Shultz, Beck and Friends Throw an Art Party in Brooklyn". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  18. https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/matt-shultz , retrieved 2018
  19. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3068908/awards , retrieved 2018
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