The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
| The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Brighton, England |
| Genres | Psychobilly, indie rock, gothabilly, garage punk |
| Years active | 1999–2011, 2012–2013 |
| Labels |
No Death Records Black Records Island Records |
| Associated acts | Vile Imbeciles, Bad For Lazarus, With Scissors, Screaming Tupelo, Dirty White Fever, Piano Wire |
| Members |
Guy McKnight Sym Gharial Tom Diamantopoulo Marc R. Norris Andy Huxley |
| Past members |
Rich Fownes (2005–2008) Tristan McLenahan (2008–2011) Dominic Knight (2011) Rob Ling (2012) |
The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster (often referred to as Eighties Matchbox, 80s Matchbox, TEMBD, TEMBLD or shortened to just Eighties or 80s) were an English rock band from Brighton, England, formed in 1999. They have released three full-length albums, Hörse Of the Dög (2002), The Royal Society (2004) and Blood and Fire (2010).
History
Originally formed in 1999, the band comprised Guy McKnight (vocals), Andy Huxley (lead guitarist), Marc R. Norris (rhythm guitarist), Symren 'Sym' Gharial (bassist), and Tom Diamantopoulo (drummer), until May 2005, in which Andy Huxley "decided to leave due to a decrease in musical similarities"[1] to form the death-jazz band Vile Imbeciles and was replaced by Rich Fownes from With Scissors. In their first few years as a band, they were known for their large black car with red and orange flames on each side. According to Guy McKnight on MTV Two's Gonzo the car has now gone. The band are renowned for their intense live shows, where McKnight regularly leaves the stage during numbers to mingle with the crowd.[2]
They have released three full-length albums, Hörse Of the Dög in 2002, The Royal Society in October 2004 and Blood And Fire in May 2010. The band have released eight singles on various formats, each release has had several b-sides included and so the band have a large amount of songs that cannot be found on their albums. The song "Mister Mental" was featured on the film, Shaun of the Dead, the movie also contained posters and other references to the band.
The band have on rare occasion disguised themselves (dressed up as green bees) as a band called The Boogs, a band that had apparently signed with their old record label, No Death. They released one song as The Boogs which was a B-side on one of their singles. The song is titled "Palomino's Dream". A video was also made for the song, which featured them dressed up as green bees in New York City.[3]
In 2003, Guy McKnight, Tom Diamantopoulo and former member Andy Huxley all became Buddhists after giving up drugs. In an interview, former member Andy Huxley was questioned about his reasons for giving up drugs he said "Because it's irresponsible, and you can't get anything done, and it stifles your creativity, and there's no benefit in it really, apart from its like going on vacation constantly, I can't write any songs when I'm on drugs, I need to be sober".[4]
The band have played at both The Glastonbury Festival and The Reading and Leeds Festivals for several years running. They have also toured and supported many mainstream bands, including; System of a Down, Placebo, Klaxons, Murderdolls, Queens of the Stone Age and Scars on Broadway.
They released their EP, "In The Garden" on 23 July 2009 on digital format, with the hard copy's release being pushed back to the first week of September. The hard copy was released with a bonus live album and Ouija Board. This was the first release from the band since the departure of Huxley in May 2005. A 15 date tour took place to promote the release, starting in Manchester on 23 July 2007 and ending in London on 7 August; this was the first time the band had toured for two years.[5] A mini tour took place during the end of 2007 and the start of 2008, with Christmas, Halloween and New Years shows.
On 7 April 2008, a few days after an announcement that Fownes was joining Nine Inch Nails, it was announced via Eighties's MySpace page that Fownes would be leaving the band. The band stated that they had no intention of splitting up and would begin auditioning for a new lead guitarist.
During gigs in July 2008, Fownes was replaced by friend of the band, Tristan McLenahan. In November, 2008 McLenahann became a full member of the band. It was announced that the band were to travel to France to record their new album. In late 2009 the band posted several snippets of new material on their Myspace page, and on 15 December a re-designed Myspace page stated that they were signed across two labels; No Death and Black Records.[6]
The band released their third studio album, Blood And Fire on 17 May 2010. It was preceded by the single "Love Turns To Hate" on 10 May 2010.
On 17 March 2011, guitarist Dominic Knight officially announced on their official Facebook page that the band had disbanded to pursue other projects. Over a year after splitting, the band received an unexpected boost to their profile when in May 2012 their track Chicken was used in My Time Is Now, a global advert for Nike Football.[7] In June 2012 the band announced that they would re-form with original founding members Huxley and Norris to perform their debut material at three shows. The band are currently recording new material.
On 13 May 2013 the band announced via their Facebook page that they have decided to disband. The reason given was that no shared musical common ground was found when recording new material and the band did not have the strength to carry on. The members will now work individually on future projects.
In 2014, it was announced that Huxley and Gharial had started a new project, Piano Wire. [8] Piano Wire released their debut EP, The Genius Of The Crowd on Demand VInyl in 2015. A stable line-up, with the addition of Sean Duke (guitar) and Tim Venning (drums) recorded single Get A Life with Gil Norton.
released on their own Hanging Houses record label. An album is being recorded Autumn 2016.
In 2015, The Prodigy released their newest album, The Day Is My Enemy, which featured a cover version of the band's 2005 single Rise of the Eagles as a bonus track.
Discography
Albums
- Hörse Of the Dög (20 September 2002; No Death/Island Records; UK No. 144)
- The Royal Society (25 October 2004; No Death/Island Records; UK No. 68)[9]
- Blood And Fire (19 May 2010; No Death/Black Records; UK No. 149)[10][11]
Singles
| Date of Release | Title | UK Singles Chart[9] | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 March 2002 | "Morning Has Broken" | 83 | Hörse Of the Dög |
| 16 September 2002 | "Celebrate Your Mother" | 66 | Hörse Of the Dög |
| 6 January 2003 | "Psychosis Safari" | 26 | Hörse Of the Dög |
| 12 May 2003 | "Chicken" | 30 | Hörse Of the Dög |
| 12 January 2004 | "Mister Mental" | 25 | The Royal Society |
| 28 June 2004 | "I Could Be an Angle" | 35 | The Royal Society |
| 11 October 2004 | "Rise of the Eagles" | 40 | The Royal Society |
| 10 May 2010 | "Love Turns To Hate" | – | Blood And Fire |
Demos, promos and EPs
- Original Two Track Demo (1999; No Death)
- System of a Down Tour Sampler (2005; No Death)
- In The Garden (23 July 2007; No Death)
DVDs
- Eighty Degrees of Separation (DVD)1
- I Could Be an Angle (DVD)
^1 This DVD was intended to promote the "Love Music Hate Racism" campaign. A small number of copies were dispatched to fans, who were instructed to pass them on to see how far they could get it. It has been said that some have reached as far as Japan and Mexico.
Appearances in compilations
| Year | Song | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "Fishfingers" | HMV Playlist, New music – New artist |
| "Giant Bones" | Kerrang, The best of 2002 | |
| "Morning Has Broken" | Sonic Mook Experiment vol.2 (future rock 'n' roll) | |
| Rock save the queen | ||
| 2003 | "Chicken" | Kerrang – Vol.6 (High Voltage) |
| "Whack Of Shit (Demo)" | Bang On Target (Vol 1) | |
| "Psychosis Safari" | Q The Album | |
| X-Ray CD#05 | ||
| Sk8er Rock Vol.1 | ||
| 2004 | "Psychosis Safari" | Acupuncture rocks |
| Music from the TV drama NY-LON | ||
| The Music from and Inspired by Gran Turismo 4 | ||
| "Mister Mental" | Shaun Of The Dead Soundtrack |
Old song names
The band have changed the names of several of their songs from the demo and touring stages to the time of release:
- "Lazy Bones" became "Giant Bones"
- "Mister Fearful" became "Mister Mental"
- "Wild Bull" became "Temple Music"
- "Clonk Chicane" became "Rise of the Eagles"
- "Race to The Rock and Roll Concert" became "The Fool"
- "Year of the Pervert" became "Freud’s Black Muck"
- "Remember the Glory Years" became "When I Hear You Call My Name"
- "Wig Sister" became "I Rejection"
- "Dinner" became "Alone Again"
- "Not In The Field" became "Mission From God"
- "Someone to Eat With" and "Music for Lovemaking" became "Music to Make Love to"
- "Falling Down For You" became "Rise and fall"
Videography
- "Morning Has Broken"[12][13]
- "Celebrate Your Mother" [14]
- "Psychosis Safari" [15]
- "Chicken"
- "Palomino's Dream by The Boogs" [16]
- "Mister Mental" [17]
- "I Could Be An Angle" [18]
- "Rise of the Eagles" [19]
- "In The Garden" [20]
- "Love Turns To Hate" [21]
- "So Long, Goodnight" [22]
Band members
Band members
- Guy McKnight – vocals (1999–2011) (2012–2013)
- Sym Gharial – bass guitar (1999–2011) (2012–2013)
- Marc R. Norris – rhythm guitar (1999–2010) (2012–2013)
- Andy Huxley – lead guitar (1999–2005) (2012–2013)
- Rob Ling – drums (2012–2013)
Previous members
- Tom Diamantopoulo – drums (1999–2011)
- Dominic Knight – rhythm guitar (2011)
- Tristan McLenahan– lead guitar (2008–2011)
- Rich Fownes – lead guitar (2005–2008)
Stand-in members
- Charley Hunt – bass guitar (2008); temporarily replaced Gharial
References
- ↑ "80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster – End of an era. Best hair in the band leaves. Band carry on.". crud magazine. 2005-05-17. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
- ↑ Dyson, Matt (2007-04-30). "The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster @ Underworld, Camden, 30 April 2007". musicOMH. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
- ↑ "YouTube". Retrieved 2008-04-02.
- ↑ "base.ad". Retrieved 2008-04-02.
- ↑ Douglas, Anne-Marie (2007-08-21). "Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster". God is in the tv zine. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
- ↑ "Interview: The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster". Drop-D. 2009-03-08. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
- ↑ "My time is now". Youtube. 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2012-05-20.
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pianowireband
- 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 179. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ↑ CLUK Update 29.05.2010
- ↑ http://zobbel.de/cluk/100529cluk.txt
- ↑ This video was produced by British filmmaker Mr Young
- ↑ "The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Morning Has Broken". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
- ↑ migzav. "Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Celebrate Your Mother". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
- ↑ "Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Psychosis Safari". YouTube. 2006-11-22. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
- ↑ "The Boogs (Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster) – Palomino's Dream". YouTube. 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
- ↑ "80's Matchbox B Line Disaster". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
- ↑
- ↑ "80'S Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Rise Of The Eagles". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
- ↑ "The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – In The Garden". YouTube. 2007-07-25. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
- ↑ "The 80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster *OFFICIAL VIDEO* for Love Turns To Hate". YouTube. 2009-07-15. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
- ↑ "The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster -SO LONG *OFFICIAL VIDEO*". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-05-10.