Artist description Greek American pop rock, quite melodic with hints of Pete Townshend, Roy Wood, Ray Davies and Early Raspberries. Barrett usually performs live unaccompanied but his recorded music rocks.

Music Style Beatlesque

Musical Influences Move, Ray Davies, Beatles, Free , Phil Ochs, Don Dixon, NY Dots, MC5, Velvet Underground, FREE, Greek Rembetika

Similar Artists Parthenon Huxley, Del Amitri, Who, Move, Kinks,

Artist History Singer songwriter Matt Barrett began playing with Rick Miller, aka Parthenon Huxley in Athens Greece in 1969. Their band CC Blues King was perhaps one of the first punk bands in existance, a cross between the Stooges-Velvet Underground-MC5 and early Doors. The band broke up in 1972. In 1974 Barrett and Huxley turned up in Chapel Hill North Carolina where they were discovered by producer Don Dixon and recorded the classic RP The Ruse, featuring the hit 6-Pack which became a local radio favorite due to constant playing on the new WXYC Radio station at the University of North Carolina. In 1980 they formed the power pop band the Dads with Drummer-scientist Dr. Scott Schwartzwelder, a Keith Moon style player and bassist Zoe Lagergrin, former lead guitar player and front man for The Obvious Question. The Dads high energy hooh oriented and profoundly danceable rock and roll made them a rapid success in the triangle and even were invited to play the graduation dance at the Corcoran Art School in Washington DC. The band did several mini tours with their friends the Bad Brain and the NY Dots. Sadly enough the band broke up on the verge of national success and the musicians went their seperate ways. Partheon Huxley began his own solo career, putting out several excellent albums and producing. He is currenlty the singer-guitarist for Electric Light Orchestra. Matt Barrett spent his time playing between Chapel Hill, New York and Athens Greece, where he developed a following as a folk rock solo artist, releasing "Live at An" recorded in Athens, Greece sold through the Thessaloniki based magazine Rolling Under.In 1984 he released the 45 IS THIS IT B/W NOTING AT ALL TO WRITE HOME ABOUT which received rave reviews and quickly sold out but was never reprinted. In 1989 with the help of producer wizard Paul price he recorded THE PRICE OF ILLUSION which was released only on cassette and again received rave reviews, not only locally but worldwide.In 1998 with the help of Holden Richards Barrett recorded the HELENA MERIKANA tapes with Greek American musicians Chris Chamis, Ted Zarras, Leigh Sioris, Adonis Eklesias and Parthenon Huxley. Barrett still plays a rare benefit but has become something of a musical recluse much like his father Syd.

Group Members Matt Barrett: Guitar and vocalsLeigh Sioris: bassParthenon Huxley: lead guitarChris Chamis: drums

Press Reviews The Ruse see http://www.greektravel.com/ruse.htmlIs This It see http://www.greektravel.com/isthisit.htmlPrice of Illusion see http://www.greektravel.com/price.htmlSolo Shows see http://www.greektravel.com/reviews.htmlCC Blues King and the Dads see http://www.greektravel.com/dads.html

Location Carrboro, NC - USA

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