Frenette's love of music started at the age of 5 while playing the bongos and listening to records with his parents. Artists like Perez Perado, Tito Puente, Herb Albert, Johnny Cash and Tom Jones were constantly spinning on the record player. By the age of 10, Matt was learning his rudiments in a marching and concert band. Some of Matt's early influences include Mitch Mitchell, Ginger Baker, Keith Moon, Michael Shrieve, Danny Seraphine,Billy Cobham, and later influences include Manu Katche, Steve Gadd, and Richard Bailey.

Frenette is a founding member of Streetheart and his legacy as the other half of one of rock’s greatest rhythm sections is still a part of Canadian rock legend. Matt’s fierce approach to every song and powerful grooves he created were a big part of the musical foundation that Streetheart built their unmistakable sound on in the early days.

In 1979 Matthew left Streetheart to join Paul Dean’s new band Loverboy. Originally, Matt Frenette played drums for a side-project band, Headpins while Bernie Aubin played drums for a fellow Vancouver band, the soon to be renamed Loverboy. But within months, Aubin and Frenette swapped bands, where each continues to play to the present

Alongside fellow Loverboy founding members Mike Reno, Paul Dean, Doug Johnson, with Ken "Spider" Sinnaeve, Matt Frenette has been "Working for the Weekend" since forming in Calgary, Alberta over 36 years ago. Loverboy has sold more than 10 million albums, earning four multi-platinum plaques, including the four-million-selling "Get Lucky."

In 1982, as a member of Loverboy, Frenette went on to win a "still-record" six Juno awards.

Matt's solid groove, versatile musicality and his visually exciting performance has created a demand for his appearance in many different artists' recordings, videos and tours, such as: Tom Cochrane, Bryan Adams, Kim Mitchell, Colin James and many other talented musicians.

 

Some Things That Came Up: 

-1:30 Rich saw Matt with Loverboy at The El Paso Coliseum, 1985! 

-3:00 Matt broke through the bass drum head! Very memorable

-5:00 Matt has had many drum techs over the years

-5:40 “Turn Me Loose” was a breakout hit! 

-13:00 Evolution of a band 

-14:20 The year that was 2020 

-17:00 Practicing at 2112 drum shop 

-23:00 Started drumming at 5 and never had any other job! 

-24:30 First kit was secured on trade from a retired jazz drummer 

-26:00 Community center marching band grade 8-10

-30:00 The band STREETHEART from Regina

-32:50 The sweetest audition that Dad set up! 

-40:36 Mike Reno on vocals! 

-44:15 The beauty of the drums on “Turn Me Loose” 

-44:50 Recorded live to tape with no click; everyone live on the floor

-45:30 Bruce Fairbairn produced and a young Bob Rock engineered 

-48:30 Gaffed headphones to his head. 

-50:20 Guttural grounding sounds 

-57:50 A mutual friend in Lee Kelley 

-1:05:00 Played everyday to “Tom Jones:LIVE” record 

-1:05:50 The two drunks at the Buddy Rich Big Band show. Buddy lit the fire under young Matt

-1:14:50 Dad wanted Matt to go on the road and NOT finish grade 12! He believed! 

-1:16:00 Historical-=6 Juno Awards+ many others 

-1:18:00 21 years with Yamaha and 42 years with Zildjian 

 

Follow: 

www.loverboyband.com

IG: @loverboyband

FB: @loverboyband

 

The Rich Redmond Show is about all things music, motivation and success. Candid conversations with musicians, actors, comedians, authors and thought leaders about their lives and the stories that shaped them. Rich Redmond is the longtime drummer with Jason Aldean and many other veteran musicians and artists. Rich is also an actor, speaker, author, producer and educator. Rich has been heard on thousands of songs, over 25 of which have been #1 hits!

Check out Rich’s books on Amazon! 

 

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www.richredmond.com

 

Jim McCarthy is the quintessential Blue Collar Voice Guy. Honing his craft since 1996 with radio stations in Illinois, South Carolina, Connecticut, New York, Las Vegas and Nashville, Jim has voiced well over 10,000 pieces since and garnered an ear for audio production which he now uses for various podcasts, commercials and promos. Jim is also an accomplished video producer, content creator, writer and overall entrepreneur.

 

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www.jimmccarthyvoiceovers.com