Matchbox

Genres:	Pop / Rock
Descriptive "tags":	rockabilly • rock and roll • 80s • rock • pub rock
Decades Active:	1980s • 1990s • 2000s

Biography

Named after a Carl Perkins’ classic, Matchbox were one of several 70s rock ‘n’ roll revivalist bands from the UK to make the jump from club favourites to chart stars. The band was formed in 1971 by two former members of Contraband - bass player Fred Poke and his brother-in-law Jimmy Redhead. They were joined by an old schoolfriend of Poke’s called Steve Bloomfield. Capable of playing almost any stringed instrument, Bloomfield had made a living as a session player for Pye Records and was on several Mungo Jerry hits. Matchbox’s debut single came out on Dawn in 1973, after which Redhead’s departure left a line-up of Wiffle Smith (vocals), Rusty Lipton (piano), Bob Burgos (drums), Bloomfield (guitars), and Poke (bass). They subsequently recorded Riders In The Sky for Charly (they had previously recorded a Dutch-only album on Rockhouse). Smith and Lipton then departed, and former Cruisers vocalist Gordon Waters joined. The band was signed...

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