Sam Matlock

Sam James Matlock{{Cite web |title=MATLOCK SAM JAMES |url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/writer/591133067/MATLOCK%20SAM%20JAMES |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=www.ascap.com}} was born on 16 March{{Cite tweet |number=1371871414861578240 |user=SadBoiAnime |title=It's my birthday so I'm leaking demos |first=Sam |last=Matlock |date=16 March 2021 |access-date=17 February 2025 |language=en}} 1993{{cite web |last=Moody |first=Melissa |date=30 January 2018 |title=Dead!'s Sam Matlock on being a DIY band and The Golden Age of Not Even Trying |url=https://riveronline.co.uk/deads-sam-matlock-on-being-a-diy-band-and-the-golden-age-of-not-even-trying/ |access-date=17 February 2025 |website=The River}} and is the son of a music publicist{{Cite web |last=Madden |first=Emma |title=Wargasm: Nu-Metal-Loving, Riot-Grrrl-Spirited U.K. Duo Are "Fire and Fire" |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/wargasm-nu-metal-loving-riot-grrrl-spirited-uk-duo-are-fire-and-fire/ |access-date=12 January 2025 |website=Revolver |language=en-US}} and Glen Matlock, the bassist for the Sex Pistols, who in May 2022 were described by Matt Mills of Metal Hammer as "one of rock's most infamous bands".{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Matt |date=17 May 2022 |title=10 new bands featuring the kids of famous rock stars |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/10-rock-star-kids-bands |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=louder |language=en}} He and his brother Louis{{Cite web |title=Classic Rock - issue 01/2025 |url=https://www.yumpu.com/news/en/issue/175709-classic-rock-issue-012025/read?page=61 |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=yumpu.com |language=en}} both attended Ryde School{{Cite web |date=14 September 2014 |title=Glen Matlock: 'Leaving the Sex Pistols cost me millions of pounds' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/fameandfortune/11092419/Glen-Matlock-Leaving-the-Sex-Pistols-cost-me-millions-of-pounds.html |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=The Telegraph |language=en}} and Southampton Solent University. He was introduced to guitar music via Nirvana{{Cite web |date=27 October 2023 |title=Wargasm: Thank you for the Venom - Dork |url=https://readdork.com/features/wargasm-hype-cover-october-2023/ |access-date=12 January 2025 |website=readdork.com |language=en-GB}} and formed Dead! with Louis, Sam Chappell, and Alex Mountford while at university; the band signed to Infectious Records in May 2016{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Sally |date=11 May 2016 |title=Isle of Wight band Dead! sign to Infectious Music |url=https://onthewight.com/isle-of-wight-band-dead-sign-to-infectious-music/ |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Isle of Wight News from OnTheWight |language=en-GB}} and had moved to London by the following year.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Jasmin |date=1 June 2016 |title=Track Review: You're So Cheap // Dead! |url=https://www.indiependent.co.uk/track-review-youre-cheap-dead/ |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=The Indiependent |language=en-GB}} They released the 2018 album The Golden Age of Not Even Trying,{{Cite web |last=Moody |first=Melissa |date=2 February 2018 |title=Dead! shows why The Golden Age of Not Even Trying is now - |url=https://riveronline.co.uk/dead-shows-why-the-golden-age-of-not-even-trying-is-now/ |access-date=11 January 2025 |language=en-GB}} which charted at No. 11 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart,{{Cite web |date=4 February 2018 |title=DEAD |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/52940/dead/ |access-date=9 January 2025 |website=Official Charts |language=en}} before announcing that they would split up following a gig in October 2018.{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=5 June 2018 |title=Dead! To Split |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/dead-to-split/ |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews |language=en-GB}}

Straight after Dead!'s dissolution, Matlock direct messaged the band's photographer Milkie Way. At the time, he was working behind a bar{{Cite web |date=16 February 2022 |title=WARGASM: "We stand for chaos" |url=https://www.kerrang.com/wargasm-interview-milkie-way-sam-matlock-cover-story |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}} and was looking to form a project with a riot grrrl attitude and female vocals;{{Cite news |date=24 July 2022 |title=Meet the rising NI heavy metal star who caused 'topless' stir at awards ceremony |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/news/meet-the-rising-ni-heavy-metal-star-who-caused-topless-stir-at-awards-ceremony/41862744.html |access-date=11 January 2025 |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}} this became Wargasm, who launched in August 2019.{{Cite web |date=20 April 2021 |title=Ten Minutes With Milkie Way {{!}} Rokit Vintage Clothing |url=https://www.rokit.co.uk/features/ten-minutes-with-milkie-way |access-date=12 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420113955/https://www.rokit.co.uk/features/ten-minutes-with-milkie-way |archive-date=20 April 2021 }} They began producing pop punk{{cite web |title=WARGASM on creating their spiky brand of electro-rock in AltPress issue #402 cover story |url=https://www.altpress.com/wargasm-interview-issue-402/ |access-date=29 July 2024 |publisher=Alternative Press}} but soon pivoted to nu metal.{{cite web |date=16 October 2023 |title="Someone said that they were in a Portaloo while we were on stage, and the bass rumbled some excrement out of them." Getting to know Wargasm, the genre-splicing, Fred Durst-approved duo making major waves in modern metal |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/wargasm-uk-interview-2023-metal-hammer |access-date=29 July 2024 |publisher=LouderSound}} During the COVID-19 lockdown, both moved in with Way's parents. The pair released the mixtape Explicit: The Mixxxtape (2022) and the album Venom (2023),{{Cite web |last=Shutler |first=Ali |date=27 October 2023 |title=Wargasm: Thank you for the Venom |url=https://readdork.com/features/wargasm-hype-cover-october-2023/ |access-date=10 August 2024 |website=Dork |language=en-US}} which respectively charted at number 19 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart and number 88 on the UK Albums Chart.{{cite web |title=Wargasm |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/63334/wargasm/ |access-date=29 July 2024 |publisher=Official Charts Company}} One track from Venom, "Bang Ya Head",{{Cite web |date=25 October 2023 |title=Wargasm - Venom - Dork |url=https://readdork.com/albums/wargasm-venom/ |access-date=12 January 2025 |website=readdork.com |language=en-GB}} was written about Matlock's experiences working behind a bar.{{Cite web |date=8 September 2023 |title=Wargasm unleash new song "Bang Ya Head" featuring Fred Durst: Stream |url=https://consequence.net/2023/09/wargasm-bang-ya-head-fred-durst/ |access-date=12 January 2025 |website=Consequence |language=en}}

File:Sam Matlock in 2022.jpg in 2022]]

In May 2021, Matlock joined Jamie Lenman for his Separation Event livestream, a live playing of his pandemic King of Clubs mini-album, deputising for PENGSHUi's Illaman on "Summer of Discontent".{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Jack |date=31 May 2021 |title=LIVE(STREAM) REVIEW: Jamie Lenman @ Seperation Event |url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/livestream-review-jamie-lenman-seperation-event/ |access-date=12 January 2025 |website=Distorted Sound Magazine |language=en-GB}} In July 2024, he featured on Crashface's "Maniac", a track about the extracurricular requirements of musicians,{{Cite web |date=31 July 2024 |title=CRASHFACE drop new single with WARGASM's Sam Matlock |url=https://www.kerrang.com/crashface-drop-new-single-with-wargasms-sam-matlock |access-date=12 January 2025 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}} which later appeared on their third EP Life and Death in the Wasteland.{{Cite web |last=Cosgrove |first=Jo |date=13 September 2024 |title=EP REVIEW: Life And Death In The Wasteland - Crashface |url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/ep-review-life-and-death-in-the-wasteland-crashface/ |access-date=12 January 2025 |website=Distorted Sound Magazine |language=en-GB}} Between October 2023 and August 2024, Matlock co-wrote Harpy's "Inside Out",{{Cite web |date=6 October 2023 |title=Harpy unleashes new single that "sounds like Adele's Hello, but... |url=https://www.kerrang.com/harpy-new-single-video-inside-out-wargasm-sam-matlock |access-date=12 January 2025 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}} Bambie Thug's "Doomsday Blue",{{Cite news |title=Who is Bambie Thug? The Irish 'goth gremlin' leaving Eurovision fans 'speechless' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/eurovision/eurovision-2024-bambie-thug-ireland-doomsay-blues-lyrics-b2543317.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718080336/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/eurovision/eurovision-2024-bambie-thug-ireland-doomsay-blues-lyrics-b2543317.html |archive-date=18 July 2024 |access-date=12 January 2025 |work=The Independent |language=en-GB |url-status=live }} and Bex's "Taste Better".{{Cite web |date=19 August 2024 |title=Watch the video for BEX's explosive new single, Taste Better |url=https://www.kerrang.com/watch-the-video-for-bexs-explosive-new-single-taste-better |access-date=12 January 2025 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}}

Two days after performing at Scala at their Face Down club night on 5 November 2021,{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=8 November 2021 |title=Wargasm Protest Scala Bouncers' "Unnecessary" Use Of Force |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/wargasm-protest-scala-bouncers-unnecessary-use-of-force/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108103832/https://www.clashmusic.com/news/wargasm-protest-scala-bouncers-unnecessary-use-of-force |archive-date=8 November 2021 |access-date=19 July 2024 |website=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews |language=en-GB}} Matlock uploaded to social media a picture of large red marks he had sustained to his back and arms. In his post, he alleged that three security guards had verbally abused Wargasm's female tour manager and had responded to him challenging them by dragging him into a toilet, bashing his head against a toilet seat, and holding his head in a toilet bowl.{{cite web |date=8 November 2021 |title=Wargasm singer's head 'held down backstage toilet by bouncers' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-59208362 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108141610/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-59208362 |archive-date=8 November 2021 |access-date=8 November 2021 |website=BBC News}} He also stated that he only escaped after another member of his touring party intervened,{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Will |date=8 November 2021 |title=Wargasm accuse Scala bouncers of "unnecessary use of force" against member Sam Matlock |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/wargasm-accuse-scala-bouncers-of-unnecessary-use-of-force-against-member-sam-matlock-3089797 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204121507/https://www.nme.com/news/music/wargasm-accuse-scala-bouncers-of-unnecessary-use-of-force-against-member-sam-matlock-3089797 |archive-date=4 December 2022 |access-date=19 July 2024 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} that they had been attempting to contact the venue over the weekend regarding the matter, and that said bouncers' continued employment meant that they did not consider the club a safe venue, especially for women. The Security Industry Authority confirmed that they had received a complaint. After investigating, Scala fired two of the bouncers involved,{{Cite news |date=9 November 2021 |title=Scala bans bouncers after Wargasm frontman assault claim |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-59222640 |access-date=19 July 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} with Wargasm later posting to social media that the third had also been fired.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Damian |date=11 November 2021 |title=Scala bans third bouncer after Wargasm assault claims |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/scala-bans-third-bouncer-after-wargasm-assault-claims-3093260 |access-date=19 July 2024 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} A week and a half after the incident, the venue set out a number of planned security measures for its subsequent performances.{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Will |date=15 November 2021 |title=Face Down nightclub and Scala set out new security measures following Wargasm incident |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/face-down-nightclub-and-scala-set-out-new-security-measures-following-wargasm-incident-3095760 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208192110/https://www.nme.com/news/music/face-down-nightclub-and-scala-set-out-new-security-measures-following-wargasm-incident-3095760 |archive-date=8 December 2021 |access-date=19 July 2024 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}

{{Main|Dead!#Discography|Wargasm#Discography}}

• "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (2022, with Hyper & Jack Trammell){{Citation |title=Smells Like Teen Spirit (Hyper's Seattle Deconstruction) |date=25 March 2022 |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/0qUlyFr3wrBwF8yef1s3Yh |access-date=12 January 2025 |language=en}}
• "Maniac" (2024, with Crashface){{Citation |title=MANIAC |date=31 July 2024 |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/3ZmmCt7cIgFr0DuEvsb9aJ |access-date=12 January 2025 |language=en}}

• "Summer of Discontent" (2021, as part of Jamie Lenman's Separation Event - Live){{Citation |title=Separation Event (Live) |date=10 September 2021 |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/3lxFICyomL2UQ5GnPNDMco |access-date=12 January 2025 |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Matlock, Sam}}

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century British guitarists

Category:21st-century English male singers

Category:English electronic musicians

Category:English male guitarists

Category:English punk rock guitarists

Category:English punk rock singers

Category:Nu metal singers

Category:Post-hardcore musicians

Category:1993 births