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Matchbox are an English
rockabilly Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the Southern United States, South. As a genre, it blends the sound of Western music (North America), Western musi ...
band that formed in 1971, and are still active .


Career

Matchbox were formed in Middlesex, in 1971 by Iain "Houndog" Terry (born 1950), Fred Poke (born 1948), Jimmy Redhead (born 1954) and Wiffle Smith (born 1948). After 1978, the line-up consisted of Graham Fenton (lead vocalist, born 29 May 1949), Steve Bloomfield (lead guitar, vocals), Gordon Scott (rhythm guitar), Fred Poke (bass guitar) and Jimmy Redhead (drums). Redhead left in 1973 (returning in 1978), Smith in 1977 and Lupton in 1978 to tour with
Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, guitarist and songwriter who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and de ...
. Dick Callan joined Matchbox on guitar, saxophone and violin until approximately 1985, writing many of the band's
B-sides The A-side and B-side are the two sides of vinyl records and cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a single usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or ...
. 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 Hits or H.I.T.S. may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * '' H.I.T.S.'', 1991 album by New Kids on the Block * ''...Hits'' (Phil Collins album), 1998 * ''Hits'' (compilation series), 1984–2006; 2014, a British compilation album s ...
include "Rockabilly Rebel" (Bloomfield, 1979), "Midnite Dynamos" (Bloomfield, 1980), a cover of
The Crickets The Crickets were an American rock and roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by singer-songwriter Buddy Holly in January 1957. Their first hit record, "That'll Be the Day", released in May 1957, peaked at number three on the ''Billboard'' Top ...
' " When You Ask About Love" (their only top five hit), and "
Over the Rainbow "Over the Rainbow", also known as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", is a ballad by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Yip Harburg. It was written for the 1939 film '' The Wizard of Oz'', in which it was sung by actress Judy Garland in her starring role ...
" (adapted musical song, 1980). 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" (Brian Hodgson/Ray Peters/Tony Colton, 1983) from their album, ''Crossed Line'', was produced together with
Kirsty MacColl Kirsty Anna MacColl (, ; 10 October 1959 – 18 December 2000) was a British singer and songwriter. The daughter of folk singer Ewan MacColl, she recorded several pop hits in the 1980s and 1990s, including "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop ...
. 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 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

* 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 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– : Graham Fenton, Steve Bloomfield, Jimmy Redhead, Gordon Scott and Fred Poke


Discography

Riders In The Sky Rockhouse (NL) 1976 Side One: Matchbox (Carl Perkins) All The Boys (Love My Baby) (Steve Bloomfield) Wash Machine Boogie (Bill Browning) Only Wanna Rock (Steve Bloomfield) In The Mood (Raual/Garlana) Crying Heart (Steve Bloomfield) Let's Go Crazy (Steve Bloomfield) Race With The Devil (Sheriff Tex Davis) Three Alley Cats (Rule/Roy Hall) Side Two: Please Don't Touch (Johnny Kidd) Undeclared (Steve Bloomfield) Baby Let's Play House (Gunter) Teenage Boogie (Webb Pierce) It's Only Make Believe (Twitty/Nance) Make Like A Rock'n'Roll (Woody/Simmons) Steelabilly (Steve Bloomfield) It Don't Take But A Few Minutes (Chuck Berry) (Ghost) Riders In The Sky (Jones)


References


External links

*
Another Biography with photos
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Matchbox (Band) English rock and roll music groups English rockabilly music groups Musical groups established in 1971 Magnet Records artists Chiswick Records artists