Matchbox (band)


Matchbox are an English rockabilly band that formed in 1971, and is still active.

Career

Matchbox were formed in Middlesex, in 1971 by Iain "Houndog" Terry, Fred Poke, Jimmy Redhead and Wiffle Smith. After 1978, the line-up consisted of Graham Fenton, Steve Bloomfield, Gordon Scott, Fred Poke and Jimmy Redhead. Redhead had left in 1973, Smith in 1977 and Lupton in 1978 to tour with Chuck Berry. Dick Callan joined Matchbox on guitar, saxophone and violin until approximately 1985, writing many of the band's B-sides. The band appeared in the 1980 film Blue Suede Shoes which detailed the revival of 1950s rock 'n' roll music scene at the time.
The band's biggest hits include "Rockabilly Rebel", "Midnite Dynamos", a cover of The Crickets' "When You Ask About Love", and "Over the Rainbow". In Australia, the band and album were dubbed Major Matchbox to prevent confusion with an Australian band of a similar name. Their last single, "I Want Out" from their album, Crossed Line, was produced together with Kirsty MacColl.
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 most popular Matchbox line-up reformed in 1995. The band have been playing live all over Europe since their comeback, especially in, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland and Sweden. On occasions Iain Terry and Dave Dix were used as replacements for Bloomfield and Poke.
They have recorded one album since their full 1995 reunion.

Band members

Albums