Matchbox

Matchbox is an English rockabilly band that formed in 1971, and is still active as of 2011.

Career[edit source | editbeta][]

Matchbox was formed in 1971 by Iain "Houndog" Terry, Fred Poke, Jimmy Redhead and Wiffle Smith. After 1978, the line-up consisted of Graham Fenton (lead vocalist), Steve Bloomfield (lead guitar, vocals), Gordon Scott (rhythm guitar), Fred Poke (bass guitar) and Jimmy Redhead (drums). 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's biggest hits include "Rockabilly Rebel" (Bloomfield, 1979), "Midnite Dynamos" (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.

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, 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[edit source | editbeta][]

Line-up 1971-1975: Wiffle Smith, Iain "Houndog" Terry, Fred Poke and Jimmy Redhead
Line-up 1976-1977: Wiffle Smith, Steve Bloomfield, Fred Poke, Rusty Lupton and Wild Bob Burgos
Line-up 1977-1978: Steve Bloomfield, Fred Poke, Bob Burgos,Rusty Lupton and Graham Fenton
Line-up 1978-1980: Steve Bloomfield, Fred Poke, Graham Fenton, Gordon Scott Waters and Jimmy Redhead
Line-up 1980-1981: Steve Bloomfield, Fred Poke, Graham Fenton, Gordon Scott, Jimmy Redhead and Dick Callan
Line-up 1982-1985: Graham Fenton, Dick Callan, Jimmy Redhead, Gordon Scott and Brian Hodgson
Line-up 1985-198?: Graham Fenton, Dick Callan, Jimmy Redhead, Brian Hodgson and Gerry Hogan
Line-up 1995-2013: Graham Fenton, Steve Bloomfield, Jimmy Redhead, Gordon Scott and Fred Poke

Partial discography[edit source | editbeta][]

Albums[edit source | editbeta][]

1976 - Riders in the Sky
1978 - Settin' the Woods on Fire
1979 - Matchbox (aka Rockabilly Rebel) - UK No. 44, NZL # 26^[1]
1980 - Midnite Dynamos - UK No. 23^[1]^[2]
1981 - Flying Colours
1982 - Crossed Line
1985 - Going Down Town
1992 - Rockabilly Rebels-16 Classic Tracks
1998 - Comin' Home
2005 - The Platinum Collection
2010 - Live in Bristol 1978

Singles[edit source | editbeta][]

"Rock`n`Roll Band" (1975)
"Please Don't Touch" (1976)
"Only Wanna Rock" (1977)
"Rock Rollin`Boogie" (1978)
"Rockabilly Rebel" (1979) - UK No. 18, AUT # 8, IRL No. 21, NZL # 1, SUI # 9
"Buzz Buzz a Diddle It" (1980) - UK No. 22, AUT # 17, NED # 6, NZL # 37
"Midnite Dynamos" (1980) - UK No. 14, AUT # 15, IRL No. 9, NED # 3, SUI # 4
"When You Ask About Love" (1980) - UK No. 4, AUT # 16, IRL No. 3, NED # 18
"Over The Rainbow - You Belong to Me (medley)" (1980) - UK No. 15, IRL No. 23
"Back Here In Boston" (1980)
"Matchbox" (1980)
"Babe's in the Wood" (1981) - UK No. 46, NED # 41
"Love's Made a Fool of You" (1981) - UK No. 63, NED # 40
"Angels On Sunday" (1981)
"One More Saturday Night" (1982) - UK 63
"24 Hours" (1982)
"Riding The Night" (1982)
"I Want Out" (featuring Kirsty MacColl) (1983)

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