Matt Freeman

Band: Rancid
Gear: SVT-810E
Website: www.rancidrancid.com

As Berkeley, CA’s premier punk band, Rancid — along with Green Day and The Offspring — is credited with punk’s revivalist movement in the mid ’90s. The band’s infatuation with ska and tightly coiled hardcore punk drew immediate comparisons to The Clash, as did their hard line political stance. But it was Rancid’s 1995 breakthrough album, …And Out Come The Wolves that the band hit a commercial nerve, selling over a million records and reinforcing their indie cred by not signing with a major label.

Critics regard bassist/founding member Matt Freeman as a virtuoso player. Wrapping his bass around hook-impaled political/social rants and irresistible ska rhythms, Freeman blindsides Rancid’s material with bass-led punches of reggae, jazz and adrenaline throbbing punk rock.

Freeman was also the touring bassist for Social Distortion in 2004/2005 and is the bassist/vocalist in Devil’s Brigade, a trash ‘n’ burn psychobilly band featuring several Rancid members.