AC/DC bass guitarist Paul Matters who quit music after being fired from the band dies 

AC/DC bass guitarist Paul Matters who quit music after being fired from the band dies – as friend reveals he became a recluse and developed health problems due to his rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle

  • Bassist Paul Matters joined AC/DC in 1975 after their High Voltage album 
  • He replaced Larry Van Kriedt but was fired after a few weeks by Bon Scott
  •  His friend Rod Wescombe said the bassist lived a ‘reclusive life in later years’

Former AC/DC bass guitarist Paul Matters has died.

Matters joined the band in 1975 after the release of their High Voltage album. 

He replaced original bassist Larry Van Kriedt but was fired by late lead singer Bon Scott after just a few weeks. 

Matters quit music after his short stint with the legendary Australian rockers, and was quickly replaced by Mark Evans.

Matters’ death was announced by his friend Rod Wescombe on Facebook, who said the musician had lived a ‘reclusive life in his later years’ and that his rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle led to ailing health in older age.

‘Shocked and sad to hear of the passing of Paul Matters,’ he wrote.

Former AC/DC bass guitarist Paul Matters has died after developing health problems related to his rock n roll lifestyle 

‘I first met Paul in 1973 when he was playing bass in “Armageddon” at a gig in Hamilton, Newcastle N.S.W.

‘When I was living in Toronto he would drop into the house in the late hours to party and he loved to party.

‘In late ’75 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.

Left to right: Les Gully (drums/vocals) Steve Cowley (guitar) Peter De Jong (guitar/vocals) Paul Matters (bass/vocals)

Left to right: Les Gully (drums/vocals) Steve Cowley (guitar) Peter De Jong (guitar/vocals) Paul Matters (bass/vocals)

Pictured are Malcolm Young, Phil Rudd, Paul Matters, Angus Young and Bon Scott in the band's early years

Pictured are Malcolm Young, Phil Rudd, Paul Matters, Angus Young and Bon Scott in the band’s early years 

‘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.’

Matters has only given one interview after leaving AC/DC for the 2017 Bon Scott biography The Last Highway: The Untold Story of Bon Scott and AC/DC’s Back in the Black. 

Speaking about how he was sacked Matters said: ‘Bon got out of the back of the truck and told me I wasn’t going back to Melbourne with them.

‘We were up in Sydney doing a concert for school kids. So I didn’t play that day. I just turned around and didn’t say a word to him. I turned around and walked out.’