Matt Hoopes

Matthew Hoopes
Matt Hoopes playing guitar
Background information
Birth name	Matthew Ryan Hoopes
Also known as	Matt, Matt H, Matty H, Hoopes, Blanche
Born	February 15, 1980 (1980-02-15) (age 31)
Origin	Canton, Ohio, U.S.
Genres	Christian rock Pop punk
Occupations	Lead Guitarist and backing vocalist for the Christian rock band Relient K
Instruments	Guitar, Lapsteel, Banjo, Vocals
Years active	1998–present
Associated acts	Relient K
Website	www.relientk.com

Matthew ("Matt") Ryan Hoopes is the lead guitarist of Relient K, a Christian rock band that was formed in 1998. Hoopes has played guitar and performed backing vocals for Relient K for twelve years. Hoopes has slowly developed into the band's lead guitarist over the years, despite Matt Thiessen playing lead a lot in the band's early days. Thiessen is playing more piano for the band now, whereas Hoopes' primary duty for the band is guitar.

Biography

Along with Matt Thiessen and Brian Pittman, Hoopes co-founded the band during his junior year of high school at Canton McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio. He met Thiessen when they were in the Church choir together in second grade.^[1] Matt Thiessen once said in the book The Complex Infrastructure Known as the Female Mind that Hoopes and Brian Pittman were the athletes in high school, and while they were friends with Thiessen, they were also probably considered cooler than Thiessen. While lead singer Matt Thiessen writes almost every song, Hoopes wrote the song "Those Words Are Not Enough" on The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek. Marilyn Manson, also a native of the Canton, is subject of their song My Girlfriend although they are not acquainted.

Relient K was named after Hoopes' car, the Plymouth Reliant K, and it is said that he still owns it. The car is currently sitting on cinder blocks in the driveway of the house owned by his younger brother, Scott, in North Canton, Ohio. When they started in 1998, Hoopes originally did not want to do any singing in the band. However, Matt Thiessen pushed him to do it, saying that he had a great voice. Hoopes has been the primary backing vocalist for the band ever since.

Besides playing for Relient K, Hoopes has also done backup vocals for certain Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes songs, and has been a guest guitarist at concerts for the band My Red Hot Nightmare. Hoopes has said he is currently learning to play lapsteel, which would probably be used for the band.^[1]

While the band refers to him as "Blanche" to keep from confusing the two Matts,^[2] some fans refer to him as "Matty H", or just "Hoopes". Matt Thiessen has said that they can either usually tell who is being asked for when someone says "Matt", or they tend to use a lot of last names. This goes for Jon Schneck and John Warne as well.

Matt Hoopes normally plays his guitar in one position (as seen in the picture on the right), so much so that certain fans have called it the "Classic Hoopes Stance". He has said he enjoys root beer, and playing golf.[1]

For the last several months, Matt Hoopes has not been traveling with Relient K. However, he remains very active as a team member and band-mate. He still practices with the band and manages their record label, Mono Vs Stereo. As well, he recently produced the new "Deas Vail" record, which is under the Mono Vs. Stereo label. He practices with Relient K and plans to return to touring eventually. It is assumed he is using time off to spend with family.[2]

Hoopes resumed touring with Relient K in May 2011, as he performed with the band for their acoustic concerts before the Vans Warped Tour.

Personal life

Hoopes is married to Danielle, the daughter of Mark Lee Townsend, Relient K's primary producer. They have two children, a daughter named Stella Rose and a son named Jasper Zelman. They currently reside in Nashville, Tennessee.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Relient K - Blogs
2. ^ Contend 4 The Faith: Interview with Relient K

External links

• Official Relient K Site

Persondata
Name	Hoopes, Matt
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1980-02-15
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death