Matchbox (band)


Matchbox are an English rockabilly band that formed in 1971, and are still active.
WWW rockabillyrebel.co.uk

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 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 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.
Fenton died on 10 August 2025, at the age of 78.

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 1995–2025: Graham Fenton, Steve Bloomfield, Jimmy Redhead, Gordon Scott and Fred Poke
  • Line-up 2025–Present: Steve Bloomfield, Jimmy Redhead, Gordon Scott and Fred Poke

Discography

Riders In The Sky Rockhouse 1976
Side One: Matchbox
All The Boys
Wash Machine Boogie
Only Wanna Rock
In The Mood
Crying Heart
Let's Go Crazy
Race With The Devil
Three Alley Cats

Side Two: Please Don't Touch
Undeclared
Baby Let's Play House
Teenage Boogie
It's Only Make Believe
Make Like A Rock'n'Roll
Steelabilly
It Don't Take But A Few Minutes
Riders In The Sky