Matchbox (Band)

Matchbox is a British rockabilly band that was founded in 1971. They apply in addition to the Stray Cats (New Rockabilly ) than the fathers of rock 'n' roll revival the mid / late 1970s. In addition to rock ' n ' roll, the band moved repeatedly pop - oriented song material into their repertoire with a. In the eighties, the group get five Top 20 hits, including Rockabilly Rebel (1979 ), " Midnite Dynamos " (1980) and "Over The Rainbow" ( adapted musicals, 1980). Their last single I Want Out (1983 ) from the album Crossed Line was produced together with Kirsty MacColl.

Band History

The instrumental of the band members always remained similar through the years, but it took place several times personnel changes. In the early days (1971) and on the first album ( Riders in the Sky, 1977), the group still from Wiffle Smith (vocals ), Steve Bloomfield (lead, rhythm, steel- guitar), Rusty Lupton (piano acoustic guitar ), Fred Poke (bass) and Bob Burgos (drums ). The following year, Smith was (for the ' Hellraiser ' by then) replaced by Graham Fenton, who remained until the 1980s, the lead singer. Lupton resigned. Had her breakthrough as the band accompanied by Bo Diddley and as support from Carl Perkins. In 1979, " Matchbox " was known to the wider public with the eponymous album in Germany. The new Rockabillywelle began. In addition to Bloomfield, Fenton and Poke were now Gordon Scott ( rhythm, acoustic guitar ) and Jimmy Redhead (drums ), to hear both of the " Cruisers ". Bloomfield sat now like also the mandolin; Rockabilly for a rather untypical instrument, which may well be understood as a trademark for " Matchbox ". 1980 increased thickness Callam ( lead guitar) the occupation. In 1981, the music style gradually changed. The album Flying Colours tends gradually toward pop, just as the last album Crossed Line ( 1982). On this disc are Steve Bloomfield and Fred Poke no longer be heard, Brian Hodgson took over the bass.

The name of the band goes back to an old title of Carl Perkins and presses the reminiscence of the classic rockabilly style of the 1950s made ​​. By the end of 1970 Matchbox expressed this solidarity also through their style of dress and hairstyles; Fred Poke lurched (similar to Lee Rocker at the Stray Cats ) with a big bass across the stage.

Since 1995 " Matchbox " is back in a kind of original line-up together ( Bloomfield, Poke, Fenton, Scott, redhead) and has also released a new album.

Discography

Albums

  • Riders In The Sky (1976 )
  • Settin ' The Woods On Fire (1978 )
  • Matchbox (1979 )
  • Midnight Dynamos (1980 )
  • Flying Colours (1981 )
  • Crossed Line ( 1982)
  • Coming Home (1998)
  • Four Greatest Hits (2001)
  • 26 Original Hits (2003)
  • The Platinum Collection (2006)
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