Biography

Matthew Jeremy "Matt" Katz-Bohen is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer. Since 2008, he has been the keyboardist for the rock band Blondie.

Katz-Bohen was born in Manhattan, New York. He started playing piano and then guitar in elementary school. He then attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School (the "Fame" School) in New York City, where he studied violin and composition. He then attended Bard College.

As a guitarist, Katz-Bohen has backed performers Boy George, Ashford & Simpson, Jody Watley, Lady Miss Kier, John Cameron Mitchell, Debbie Harry (as a solo artist), the Toilet Böys, and Princess Superstar. He joined industrial legends Psychic TV (PTV3) on bass guitar for their 2008 European tour. Psychic TV en Madrid 2008– Papal Breakdance. He was Music Director and lead guitarist at Misstress Formika's NYC weekly "Area" party from 2005–2010. As a keyboardist, in 2013 he performed on a single; Every Empire – Change (Beep Beep) In 2015, Katz-Bohen accompanied Harry during a two-week residency from March 24 - April 4 at the Café Carlyle. From 2015-2017, he served as substitute music director (substituting for Justin Craig) in the Broadway production of Hedwig And The Angry Inch, and performed in the production on both keys and guitar. When the production began its national tour October 2016, Katz-Bohen assumed the role as Associate Conductor through the end of the tour in mid-2017. In late 2018 and continuing into 2019 when Blondie is not touring, Katz-Bohen often performs on keys with Cyndi Lauper.

After Katz-Bohen met his future wife, Laurel Barclay, in elementary school, they began composing and performing songs, forming Variety City in 1996. Playing primarily in NYC, the couple performed under that name with a changing line-up of musicians through 1998. Then in 1999, they changed the band's name to Daddy. Daddy's members were Matt (guitar), Laurel (vocals, keyboards), James Caputo (bass), and Ben Ritter (drums). Garnering the praise of Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, who told him, "the sounds/arrangements are totally cool...inspired", they received press in a number of New York City magazines such as the Village Voice, Interview Magazine, and the Paper Magazine. Ned Vizzini of the New York Press characterized their sound as, "Cross David Bowie with Black Flag and 'Cabaret' and you get NYC's own Daddy, of course." In 2005, Matt and Laurel won a SESAC Songwriters Hall of Fame Abe Olman scholarship award. Daddy often played the legendary Squeezebox parties, and in 2006–2007, toured the United States and Canada.

GoonSquad was formed with Matt, Laurel, and Guy Furrow. In 2006, Katz-Bohen was frequently playing with Furrow (aka Miss Guy of the Toilet Böys) at the night club "Speed" on 39th street. Furrow was the DJ and Katz-Bohen played guitar in the house band. Different celebrities, artists and performers would come sing with the band. ...

Source: Article "Matt Katz-Bohen" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.