The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
OriginBrighton, England
Genres
Years active1999–2011, 2012–2013
Labels
MembersGuy McKnight
Sym Gharial
Tom Diamantopoulo
Marc R. Norris
Andy Huxley
Past membersRich 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, formed in 1999. They released three 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 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 were renowned for their intense live shows, where McKnight regularly left the stage during numbers to mingle with the crowd.

They released three albums, Hörse Of the Dög in 2002, The Royal Society in October 2004 and Blood And Fire in May 2010. The band also released eight singles on various formats, each release has had several B-sides included, and so the band have a large number of songs that cannot be found on their albums. The song "Mister Mental" was featured in the film Shaun of the Dead, which also contained posters and other references to the band.

The band 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.

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".[2]

The band played at both The Glastonbury Festival and The Reading and Leeds Festivals for several years running. They 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.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5]

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. 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.[5]

On 13 May 2013, the band announced via their Facebook page that they decided to disband. The reason given was that no shared musical common ground was found when recording new material, and that the band did not have the strength to carry on. It was also announced that members would now work individually on future projects.

On the 5th October 2022, it was announced that a limited edition vinyl re-release of Hörse Of the Dög was being produced to commemorate 20 years since the band's debut album. Also included in the bundle is a second vinyl with all B-sides from the album's singles and liner notes from Edgar Wright, who directed the music video for "Psychosis Safari" and included "Mister Mental" in his film, Shaun of the Dead.

Musical style and influences

The music of Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster incorporated elements of rockabilly, gothic rock, garage punk, heavy metal[6] and surf music.[7] Trebuchet wrote, "Their sound is hard to pigeonhole but they have been described as 'gothabilly'".[6] NME described the band's playing as being driven by "gothabilly surf guitars that would make the Beach Boys spit blood",[7] as well as categorizing the band as "Britrock's great weird hopes", "Buddhist shock-rock troops" and a psychobilly band.[8] The Argus called the band "one of the most exciting and unpredictable rock 'n' roll bands around."[9] The Independent called the band "swamp-rock berserkers".[10] Time Out said that "Brighton's gothic, surf- and rockabilly-toned psychedelic punks – mix up the Cramps, Birthday Party, Dead Kennedys and Misfits to marvellously ominous effect."[11] theQuietus called them a "gnarly punk/rockabilly" band,[12] and the Manchester Evening News classified them as a gothic rock band.[13]

Legacy

Diamantopoulo became a fine artist.

In 2015, Huxley and Gharial announced they had started a new project, Piano Wire. The band broke up in 2018.

In 2018, following a move to Liverpool, McKnight formed the synth-pop band The DSM IV.[14]

In 2019, Norris - now based in Germany - formed The Famous Painters.

Also in 2019, Gharial started recording under the name Primitive_Ignorant.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Date of release Title UK Singles Chart[15] Album
4 March 2002 "Morning Has Broken" 83 Horse of the Dog
16 September 2002 "Celebrate Your Mother" 66 Horse of the Dog
6 January 2003 "Psychosis Safari" 26 Horse of the Dog
12 May 2003 "Chicken" 30 Horse of the Dog
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
11 October 2010 "So Long Goodnight" – Blood and Fire

EPs

DVDs

^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.

Compilation appearances

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

Song title changes

The band changed the titles 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"
  • "Celebrate Your Mother"
  • "Psychosis Safari"
  • "Chicken"
  • "Palomino's Dream by the Boogs"
  • "Mister Mental"
  • "I Could Be an Angle"
  • "Rise of the Eagles"
  • "In the Garden"
  • "Love Turns to Hate"
  • "So Long, Goodnight"

Band members

Band members

  • Guy McKnight – vocals (1999–2011) (2012–2013)
  • Sym Gharial – bass (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 (2008); temporarily replaced Gharial

References

  1. ↑ "80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster – End of an era. Best hair in the band leaves. Band carry on". crud magazine. 17 May 2005. Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
  2. ↑ "base.ad". Archived from the original on 1 April 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2008.
  3. ↑ Douglas, Anne-Marie (21 August 2007). "Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster". God is in the tv zine. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
  4. ↑
  5. 1 2 "The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster". www.ukfestivalguides.com. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  6. 1 2 Corbett-Batson, Sarah (11 September 2012). "Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster: Electric Ballroom". Trebuchet Magazine. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster : Brighton Concorde 2". NME. 12 September 2005. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  8. ↑ Emily Mackay (13 May 2010). "Album Review: The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – 'Blood & Fire' (Black)". NME.
  9. ↑ "The Eighties Matchbox B-line Disaster, Hanbury Ballroom, Brighton, Thursday, Sept 1". The Argus.
  10. ↑ "Album: The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, Blood & Fire (Black Records)". Independent. 16 May 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster". Time Out. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  12. ↑ "Eighties Matchbox Appear In Nike Ad". The Quietus. 19 May 2012.
  13. ↑ "OPINION: Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster - In The Garden". Manchester Evening News. 17 April 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  14. ↑ "PREMIERE: The DSM IV - 'Racist Man'". The Quietus. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  15. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 179. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  16. ↑ "Chart Log UK" (PDF). Zobbel.de. 29 May 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
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