Matt Fallon Bio
Matt Fallon (born Matthew Frankel; 30 September 1965) is an American heavy metal singer noted for brief tenures with Anthrax and for fronting the early lineup of Skid Row.
Early Life and Background
Born in Brooklyn and raised in central New Jersey from age eight, Fallon moved to New Jersey with his parents and younger brother. By age 15, he was already playing in a neighborhood garage band with drummer Paul Monroe (later known as Paul Schneiderman), who would go on to play with the Los Angeles-based band XYZ.
Fallon developed an early passion for music, inspired by bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and AC/DC. This foundation in classic hard rock and heavy metal would shape his musical direction throughout his career.
Path to Singer
In the early 1980s, Fallon emerged as a frontman for local bands, most notably Steel Fortune. It was during this time that he met guitarist Dave Sabo, with whom he would collaborate in several musical endeavors. Their Steel Fortune lineup performed alongside Metallica in the New Jersey area in 1983 when Metallica was promoting their first album.
Fallon’s talent and vocal range led to opportunities that would place him in contact with some of the emerging forces in the metal scene. His early work with Steel Fortune and his subsequent connections would open doors to more prominent positions in the hard rock and heavy metal industry.
Matt Fallon Career
Early Career (1980-1984)
Fallon began his professional music career in 1980, fronting various local bands in the New Jersey area. During this period, he developed his vocal style and stage presence, performing in clubs and venues throughout the region. His early work with Steel Fortune established him as a promising vocalist in the burgeoning metal scene.
His big break came when he crossed paths with Scott Ian of Anthrax in 1984. Ian, having heard Fallon perform with Steel Fortune, approached him about auditioning for the lead vocalist position recently vacated by Neil Turbin. Fallon accepted the opportunity, marking his transition from local acts to a nationally recognized metal band.
Breakthrough (1984-1987)
In mid-1984, Fallon joined Anthrax and began writing and recording with the band for their next album, Spreading the Disease, at Pyramid Studios in Ithaca, New York. Although he contributed during the writing sessions for what would become a seminal thrash metal album, Fallon left before recording was completed. He was replaced by Joey Belladonna, but his involvement in the creative process left a mark on the band’s development.
Fallon’s most significant breakthrough came in 1986 when Dave Sabo, his former bandmate from Steel Fortune, contacted him about fronting his newly formed band Skid Row. Fallon accepted and joined the group during their formative period. He co-wrote the song “Midnight/Tornado” with Sabo and performed with the band throughout 1986 and early 1987. During this time, Skid Row recorded a demo at Jon Bon Jovi’s studio in Philadelphia and played in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania area clubs.
In December 1986, Fallon and Skid Row opened for Bon Jovi on their Slippery When Wet tour in Bethlehem and Johnstown, Pennsylvania. This exposure helped elevate the band’s profile in the metal scene. However, Fallon parted ways with Skid Row in 1987, before their rise to mainstream success. He was later replaced by Sebastian Bach, who would lead the band to international fame.
Notable Works and Milestones
Throughout his career, Fallon’s most notable contribution remains his involvement with Anthrax during the creative phase of Spreading the Disease and his work with the original lineup of Skid Row, where he helped shape the band’s early sound and co-wrote one of their early compositions. His solo album, recorded in 1991 and released in 2015 as “Fallon,” represents his independent artistic vision outside of these more recognized metal bands.
Matt Fallon Award Nominations
Throughout his career in music, Matt Fallon has not received any publicly recognized award nominations for his work with Anthrax, Skid Row, or his solo projects.
Matt Fallon Awards Won
During his music career, Matt Fallon has not won any publicly recognized awards for his work as a vocalist with Anthrax, Skid Row, or as a solo artist.
Matt Fallon Family
In 1990, Matt Fallon married Debra Contillo. The couple has one daughter, Brittany Rene, who was born in 1991. Fallon’s family life has remained largely private, with limited public information available about his personal relationships outside of his marriage and daughter.
Personal Life
Outside of his music career, Matt Fallon has maintained a relatively private personal life. He married Debra Contillo in 1990, and they have one daughter, Brittany Rene, born in 1991. Following his active years in music from 1980 to 1995, Fallon has largely stayed out of the public eye, with occasional resurfacing in discussions about early Skid Row and Anthrax lineups.