[ art matthews ]
 
Born: Discovery Hospital, Roodepoort South Africa 23rd March 1975
Named: Ard (not long or short for anything...) after the Afrikaans word Aarde which means Earth by father Dries. Still official spelling but have always told ppl to call me Art to avoid having to explain that every time I meet someone new...

1975-1982: Lived in Kempton Park. Went to Louter Kabouter pre-primary school and spent my first year of school at Kempton Park Primary.

1983: Begged my mom to live closer to the sea so we moved to The Bluff, Durban. Stayed right on Ansteys Beach, Marine Drive and went to Bushlands Primary.

1988: was made Head Prefect (not very rock n' roll but anyway...), got offered scholarships to go to DHS or Glenwood High School.

1989: Decided to stay on the Bluff and went Grosvernor Boys High School instead.

1991: Mom decided to move back to Johannesburg... started going to Rand Park High School.

1992: Started playing drums in Christian death metal band called Abhorrence. Thought we would save the world with a message of hope delivered on a plate of rage... hmmm...

1993: Started toying with the idea of singing and playing a bit of guitar after being given an old nylon string guitar by the schools music teacher. Bought a chord book and started to learn a few songs by Cat Stevens, Rodriguez etc. Matriculated/Graduated High School... had wanted to be an attorney up to this point but didn't get the marks I would need for scholarships etc so... hmmm... what now?

1994: I know... I'll study drums for a year!!!! Attended Groove Class near Cresta centre and studied with drum guru and mentor Andre Luke (011) 678 8808. 4hrs/day and another 4 hrs of practice... for one year. Wasn't making any money however so I decided to try my hand at being a one man band. Started concentrating more on guitar and learning more songs... Got my first few gigs in local restaurants singing covers. Also started trying my hand at song writing...

1995: Wrote Shallow Waters on Jan Smuts Ave outside a gig of mine after split with High School sweetheart went bad. Decided to go to London to try get over her, and to see the world. Came back 6 months later with Abhorrence band mate Bruce Fulford after busking on the streets of London and Paris. Decided we would upgrade our street show and start playing local clubs in SA. Called ourselves 'Cat Chambers' and played all over Jhb…especially at the Randburg Waterfront.

1996: It was there that we first met/saw Brent Harris, Verny Scholts and Tuxx Mothome in their cover band called 'Tri Funk Era'. At the same time Brent used to come and watch our show where he got to hear a few of my original songs. Later that year he asked me to join the band so we could start playing original music only... Bruce moved to America to marry his fiancé and we started gigging extensively as a cover/original band under the name 'Funk Era'. Later that year renamed the band "Just Jinger" (meant to be similar to 'just dandy' or 'just fine'), got a deal with BMG Africa and recorded first album "All Comes Round"

1997: Denholm Harding joined the band. Toured the album extensively all over SA... 5-6 nights/week.

1998: Recorded and released 2nd album..."Something For Now".

1999: Recorded and released 3rd album..."Here's to You".

2000: Band relocated to London with new guitarist Danie Van Rensburg and piano player Anthony Galatis ...lived in a House in Hounslow ...ouch!!!

2001: Almost signed with Island Records ...wrote and recorded Home, Speak Your Mind and Care About Him. Best recordings of our careers at that stage...

2002: Took matters into my own hands and decided to move to Los Angeles, California to seek out a record deal for the band. Later that year arranged to play one song in Capitol Records President office ...flew the whole band out a week later for another showcase and offered us a development deal ...Alec Bridges joins band on guitar.

2003: Signed to Capitol, relocated to Springfield, Virginia for 6 months. Toured the East coast and played New York several times. In September drove across the country to LA. Took 8 days ...arrived at Highland Garden Hotel, Hollywood. Stayed there for 1 month while we looked for a more permanent place to stay, recorded She Knows at A&M Studios and started gigging around town.

2004: Let go by Capitol Records in January…reason still unknown. Alec decides to pursue his own music career - Simon Bailey replaces him on guitar. Head to SA in March to promote new album while touring with The Counting Crows. Bootleg Album in stores in SA (and on website) as of March. Played 2 record attendance gigs at Walkabout, Shepherds Bush, London. 2000 people…2 nights!! Back in LA playing 3 nights/week (see gig guide on site) ...making great contacts, writing and playing lots of new songs ...big plans for the future.