Matchbox

Matchbox is a British rockabilly band that formed in 1971 and is still active as of 2008.

Career

Formed in 1971 by Iain"Houndog"Terry,Fred Poke,Jimmie Redhead and Wiffle Smith(1).Since 1978, the line-up consists of Graham Fenton (lead vocalist), Steve Bloomfield (lead guitar, vocals) (ex The Count Four), Gordon Scott (rhythm guitar) (ex The Rocking Pneumonia, The Cruisers), Fred Poke (bass guitar) (ex Contraband), and Jimmy Redhead (drums) (ex The Cruisers, Contraband). The original line-up(2) was Wiffle Smith, Steve Bloomfield, Fred Poke, Wild Bob Burgos (drums) and Rusty Lupton on piano and rhythm guitar. Jimmy Redhead left in 1973. Smith left in 1977 and Lupton in 1978 to tour with Chuck Berry, and in came Gordon Scott (ex Cruisers) to cover for Rusty Lupton's departure. Rusty Lupton joined Cadillac to go on tour with Chuck Berry in 1978, after this tour Dick Callan then joined Matchbox on guitar, sax and violin untill approximately 1985, writing many of the band's B-sides.

The band's biggest hits include "Rockabilly Rebel" (Steve Bloomfield 1979), "Midnite Dynamos" (Steve Bloomfield 1980) and "Over The Rainbow" (adapted musical song, 1980). Their last Single "I Want Out" (Brian Hodgson/Ray Peters/Tony Colton 1983) from their album Crossed Line was produced together with Kirsty MacColl.

Band members 1971-2008:

• Line-up 1971-1975: Wiffle Smith, Iain "Houndog" Terry, Fred Poke and Jimmie Redhead(1)
• Line-up 1976-1977: Wiffle Smith, Steve Bloomfield, Fred Poke, Rusty Lupton and Wild Bob Burgos(2)
• Line-up 1977-1978: Steve Bloomfield, Fred Poke, Bob Burgos and Graham Fenton
• Line-up 1978-1980: Steve Bloomfield, Fred Poke, Graham Fenton, Gordon Scott Waters and Jimmie Redhead
• Line-up 1980-1981: Steve Bloomfield, Fred Poke, Graham Fenton, Gordon Scott, Jimmie Redhead and Dick Callan
• Line-up 1982-1985: Graham Fenton, Dick Callan, Jimmie Redhead, Gordon Scott and Brian Hodgson
• Line-up 1985-198?: Graham Fenton, Dick Callan, Jimmie Redhead, Brian Hodgson and Gerry Hogan

In 1989, Graham Fenton put together a band with Iain Terry, Bob Burgos, Howard Gadd and Greg Gadd. They called themselves Graham Fenton's Matchbox. They recorded six albums in the early 1990s. The original Matchbox line-up reformed in 1995. The band has been playing live all over Europe since their comeback, especially in Germany, France, Holland, Spain, Finland and Sweden. On occasions Iain Terry and Dave Dix are used as replacements for Bloomfield and Poke.

They have recorded only one album since their 1995 reunion.

Discography

• 1976 - Riders in the Sky
• 1978 - Settin' the Woods on Fire
• 1979 - Rockabilly Rebel(aka MATCHBOX)
• 1980 - Midnite Dynamos
• 1981 - Flying Colours
• 1982 - Crossed Line
• 1985 - Going Down Town
• 1998 - Comin`Home

If you want to know more over Matchbox please visit their own website.

^[update]