Paul Matters, bass player with AC/DC in band’s early days

Paul Matters, who played bass guitar with AC/DC in their early days, has died. Matters performed with the Australian rock band, whose late singer Bon Scott spent his early years in Kirriemuir, in 1975 after the recording of their debut album High Voltage.

He was reportedly fired by Scott and replaced by Mark Evans soon afterwards.

Matters lived a quieter life after leaving AC/DC, quitting music altogether.

The death was announced by his friend Rod Wescombe, who said: “Shocked and sad to hear of the passing of Paul Matters.

“When I was living in Toronto (New South Wales, Australia), he would drop into the house in the late hours to party and he loved to party.

“In late 1975, after he departed AC/DC, we played together in a one-off band called Miss Australia Band at a gig on a ferry on Lake Macquarie.

“I moved to Sunshine on the lake further south and Paul would drop in to chill whenever he was in the area.

“I recall he could always make me laugh when he was in the mood.

“After leaving New South Wales I lost contact with him, as did many other people over the years.

“From all reports, he lived a reclusive life in his later years and his early rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle led to ailing health.

“He will be missed by all who knew him.”

Prior to his brief stint in AC/ DC, Matters played bass for the rock band Armageddon, who hailed from Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

He left that band in 1974 over what drummer Les Gully described as “musical differences”.

Mr Gully also said Matters was fired from AC/ DC because he “didn’t fit the values” of the band and that he was “too pretty... had strong opinions and sensitivity, and played just what he liked”.

In a ra r e i n t e r v i e w, Ma t t e r s admitted to biographer Jesse Fink for the book Bon: The Last Highway that he was “a bit lazy” and “cranky”.

He also said he did not earn much money during his time in the band, which had yet to become the international sensation it would with the release of later albums such as Back In Black.

Matters added: “They (management) didn’t give us any money to buy food or anything.”

He performed with AC/DC on an Australian tour to promote High Voltage, but did not record in the studio as bass duties were performed by George Young.

AC/DC are celebrated annually – with the exception of this year because of coronavirus – in Kirriemuir at Bonfest, where fans of the band flock to the Angus town.

Paul Matters, who was reportedly fired by Bon Scott.