Portland, Oregon's Heavy Metal act EVIL GENIUS was fronted by vocalist Matthew T. McCourt, a man whose history spanned acts such as RUDE AWAKENING in 1978 with a pre- MALICE Mick Zane as well as THE VIOLATORS and THE RAVERS, both acts coincidently featuring another future MALICE man guitarist Jay Reynolds. Just previous to finding prominence with WILD DOGS, McCourt was singing for DMZ in 1981, reunited with Mick Zane, guitarist Jeff Horton and ranked alongside Pete Holmes - later of BLACK N' BLUE.

Although WILD DOGS scored a degree of notoriety with albums issued through Mike Varney's Shrapnel label. McCourt would decamp to found EVIL GENIUS with a line-up of guitarists Kip Doran and Chris Jacobsen, bassist Ken Goldstein and drummer Ben Linton. EVIL GENIUS recorded an album although it would remain consigned to the vaults. McCourt's next move was to record a 1986 album with MAYHEM and later works with DR. MASTERMIND.

McCourt entered into various band ventures such as EASTSIDE STRANGLER with EVIL GENIUS guitarist Kip Doran and, for a fleeting spell, Deen Castronovo. By 1992 the singer was fronting up MEATHOOK in league with POISON IDEA's Kevin Sanders. McCourt auditioned for JUDAS PRIEST in 1993 but was unsuccessful.

It was not the end of the story though, as McCourt would keep the WILD DOGS flame alive. During August 1999 WILD DOGS acted as support to a DOKKEN and GREAT WHITE double billing, guested for DIO in March 2000 and BLUE OYSTER CULT the following year. An album of demos and outtakes, 'Better Late Than Never', also emerged. Confusingly for a short period the new look WILD DOGS operated as EVIL GENIUS before reverting back to WILD DOGS, this time with Deen Castronovo's son Kyle on the drum stool. The 2002 line-up comprised McCourt, guitarist Jeff Mark, bass player Dann Kurth and drummer Tom Moller.

Besides WILD DOGS McCourt played out the role of Rob Halford in JUDAS PRIEST covers band BRITISH STEEL. In 2006 McCourt forged FATT MATT, also involving guitarist Kurt James, of the NEIL TURBIN band, BLACK SHEEP, STEELER and M.A.R.S., plus drummer Bryce van Patten. The self-financed album 'Atomic Thunder', featuring a cover version of ALICE COOPER's 'Elected', arrived in 2006.