Matt Bowden

Methylone is structurally and pharmacologically similar in some respects to the illegal and neurotoxic drug of abuse MDMA, although its structure falls outside the definition of “Amphetamine analogues” as defined in Part 7 of Schedule C of New Zealand’s Misuse of Drugs Act.

As of July 2016, Matt Bowden relocated to Thailand, and then Europe to continue working in regulatory development after stating an intention to develop safer alternatives to liquor led to a rapid reversal in New Zealand's legislation and an end to his business.

Yesterday, Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said advice from the chair of the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, showed Ease contained a substance called methylone, an “analogue” – similar to – cathinone, which is a Class B amphetamine controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

His musical single Flying, released 29 October 2012, debuted at number five in the NZ Single charts and number 29 in the New Zealand Top 40 Singles charts.

Following this Law Commission report, the New Zealand Government announced in September 2011 that they would follow the advice of the Law Commission and implement a new regulatory regime. The result of this amendment was the introduction of a "Class D" schedule, which moved to "restrict the sale of herbal highs or party pills to people over the age of 18…and places controls on marketing and labelling of the products."

Starboy's Eternity is a 10-minute-3-second music video for Eternity the song of the same name released on November 2011 and directed by Zac Blair.

A submission by Stargate International in April 2010 to the New Zealand Government, as part of their investigation into the control and regulation of drugs in New Zealand, was subsequently recommended by the Law Commission as part of a range of suggestions encompassing non-psychoactive "lifestyle" drugs such as aphrodisiacs, some cosmetics, and the wide and growing range of substances used in athletics and bodybuilding.

Initially a stand-alone music video, the production has expanded into a three-part mini-movie that revolves around a young girl and her fight against the "Strangers" who have invaded her village. The films have been defined as Steampunk by reviewers. Production began in November 2009 with shooting commencing June 2011 in various locations around Auckland, New Zealand.

In 1997 Bowden was involved in the formation of New Zealand's top selling automotive magazine, Performance Car, then went on to become one of the original creators and distributors of party pills. After the death of a family member from ecstasy overdose Bowden worked with a neuropharmacologist and biopsychologist to develop demonstrably safer alternatives to methamphetamine to be used as a substitute therapy.

Bowden was born 10 June 1971 in Auckland, New Zealand. His father was an internet pioneer and his mother was a piano teacher. He studied guitar under Nigel Gavin and played in Gavin's acoustic avant garde jazz ensemble "Gitbox Rebellion." At 18, after studying music at Auckland University, Bowden joined Auckland metal band "The Highwaymen" on lead guitar. Together the band recorded a first album "Torrent of Darkness. After a break-up Bowden played eclectic guitar solos on drummer Gavin Stokes' album Continuum, and worked as a guitar teacher for 7 years.

Bowden's key musical persona 'Starboy' produces classically fused psychedelic rock music, using digital technology to create soundscapes and musical journeys. Receiving a great deal of publicity and media attention around his 40th birthday party, several hundred guests witnessed Starboy's first big outing. It was, says Bowden "the birth of a new persona", a return to the long-dormant ambitions that saw him play in metal bands in his youth.