Matt Starr

Matt Starr is an American-born drummer, singer, songwriter, and producer. He is currently touring with Mr. Big, filling for drummer Pat Torpey on the band's "Defying Gravity" (Frontiers Records) World Tour. Starr performed on the 2017 release, which was produced by Kevin Elson (Journey, Lynyrd Skynyrd),[1] as well as on "...The Stories We Could Tell" (Frontiers Records) World Tour.[2] In 2012 Starr joined guitarist and founding KISS member Ace Frehley.[3][4] He played drums on Ace Frehley's 2014 release Space Invader (eOne Records). Starr was asked to play on the record after performing a few shows with Frehley in 2012. He is the only drummer other than Late Night With David Letterman drummer Anton Fig to play on the entirety of one of Frehley's records. The 2014 release drew comparisons to 1970's KISS and Frehley's 1978 solo album. Starr also performed on Frehley's next release "Origins Vol 1", which featured the Free cover "Fire and Water", with KISS frontman Paul Stanley on lead vocals, as well as appearances by Slash, and others. While remaining with Frehley, in 2013 Starr began playing with Burning Rain, which was formed by Whitesnake guitarist Doug Aldrich and Montrose vocalist Keith St John. Starr has also toured with Rainbow frontman Joe Lynn Turner, Love/Hate, Quiet Riot vocalist Kevin DuBrow, and others.

Matt Starr
Matt Starr performing at a Breast Cancer Can Stick It! charity event near Dallas in October 2015
Background information
Origin	New York City, United States
Genres	Rock
Occupation(s)	Singer, drummer, songwriter, producer
Instruments	Drums, vocals, guitar
Labels	Spitfire, Eagle Rock,
Associated acts	Ace Frehley, Mr. Big, Joe Lynn Turner, Beautiful Creatures, Dizzy Reed
Website	www.mattstarrmusic.com

In 2005, Starr co-wrote and recorded the Beautiful Creatures sophomore release Deuce (Spitfire Records), and toured with the band the same year. The song "Freedom" was used in the 2009 Sandra Bullock film The Proposal.[5] "Anyone", also from Deuce, was used in the FX series Sons of Anarchy that aired on October 8 at 10:00 p.m.[6] In late 2004, Starr formed the band Hookers & Blow with Dizzy Reed (Guns N' Roses) and current Quiet Riot guitarist Alex Grossi. The band toured the U.S. in 2004.[7]

Matt Starr playing drums in Detroit, MI 2012 with KISS guitarist Ace Frehley

In 2007, Starr stepped away from drumming and formed The Automatic Music Explosion as a singer, and spent the next 2 years recording with multi-platinum producer Mike Chapman.[8] The two met after Starr showed up at the producer's East-Coast home and asked him to produce the record.[9] Due to lack of label support, the record never saw a proper release; however, several of the tracks were licensed to various cable television shows and movies, including SpongeBob SquarePants. In the summer of 2012, Starr co-produced the debut release of the hard rock band Hotel Diablo's The Return To Psycho California along with Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke.[4]

In early 2013, Starr was asked to join the band Burning Rain for their 2013 release "Epic Obsession".[10] The band features Whitesnake guitarist Doug Aldrich, former Montrose singer Keith St John, and Dokken bassist Sean McNabb. This also led to Starr touring with Aldrich's other band Steamroller, which included bassist/singer Michael Devin, also of Whitesnake.

In the fall of 2013, Ace Frehley announced on Eddie Trunk's radio show that he had signed a deal with eOne Entertainment, and that Starr would be the drummer on the record.[11]