The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Brighton , England |
| Products | Studio albums, singles, EPs |
| Website | myspace |
The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster—commonly referred to as Eighties Matchbox, 80s Matchbox, TEMBD, or simply Eighties—was a rock group originating from Brighton, England, established in 1999. Their discography includes three studio albums: Hörse of the Dög (2002), The Royal Society (2004), and Blood and Fire (2010).
History
The band formed in 1999 with founding members Guy McKnight on vocals, Andy Huxley handling lead guitar, Marc R. Norris on rhythm guitar, Symren 'Sym' Gharial playing bass, and Tom Diamantopoulo on drums. In May 2005, Huxley departed due to artistic disagreements and went on to create Vile Imbeciles, with Rich Fownes of With Scissors stepping in as his replacement. Known for their energetic and intense live shows, McKnight frequently interacted closely with audiences during performances.
Over their career, they produced three albums alongside eight singles, many of which included unique B-side tracks that extended beyond their main album releases. Their track "Mister Mental" gained additional exposure by featuring in the movie Shaun of the Dead, which also incorporated visual nods to the band.
At times performing under the alias The Boogs while dressed as green bees, they released the B-side "Palomino's Dream," accompanied by a music video filmed in New York City.
In 2003, after deciding to stop using drugs, members McKnight, Diamantopoulo, and Huxley embraced Buddhism; Huxley noted that maintaining sobriety was crucial for fostering creativity and enhancing productivity.
Their festival appearances included prestigious events such as Glastonbury Festival and Reading and Leeds Festivals, and they supported well-known bands like System of a Down, Placebo, Klaxons, Murderdolls, Queens of the Stone Age, and Scars on Broadway.
The 2009 EP In the Garden marked their first release following Huxley's exit and was supported by a 15-date tour. When Fownes left in 2008 to join Nine Inch Nails, Tristan McLenahan took over lead guitar duties. The band recorded their third album in France and signed with No Death and Black Records.
Their final album, Blood and Fire, launched on 17 May 2010, preceded by the single "Love Turns to Hate". On 17 March 2011, guitarist Dominic Knight declared that the group was disbanding so members could explore other ventures.
In May 2012, their song "Chicken" was featured in Nike Football’s worldwide campaign "My Time Is Now," increasing their visibility. The band briefly reunited in June 2012 with original members Huxley and Norris to perform material from their debut album but dissolved again in May 2013 due to diverging musical interests.
Following the breakup, Diamantopoulo pursued a career in fine art based in Brighton. In 2015, The Prodigy covered their track "Rise of the Eagles" for the album The Day Is My Enemy. Meanwhile, Huxley and Gharial formed Piano Wire, releasing an EP and a full-length album before disbanding in 2017.
McKnight went on to create the synth-pop project The DSM IV in Liverpool in 2018, releasing several singles through to 2020. Norris relocated to Germany where he formed The Famous Painters, issuing EPs between 2019 and 2020. Gharial embarked on solo work under the name Primitive_Ignorant starting in 2019, collaborating with various artists and releasing his debut album Sikh Punk in 2020 featuring contributors from IDLES and The Clash.
Band members
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Current lineup
- Guy McKnight – lead vocals (1999–2011, resumed in 2012–2013)
- Sym Gharial – bass guitar (1999–2011, returned in 2012–2013)
- Marc R. Norris – rhythm guitar (1999–2010, rejoined for 2012–2013)
- Andy Huxley – lead guitar (1999–2005, resumed in 2012–2013)
- Rob Ling – drums (joined in 2012–2013)
Former members
- Tom Diamantopoulo – drums (1999–2011)
- Dominic Knight – rhythm guitar (active in 2011)
- Tristan McLenahan – lead guitar (2008–2011)
- Rich Fownes – lead guitar (2005–2008)
Temporary members
- Charley Hunt – bass guitar (2008); served as a temporary substitute for Gharial
Studio albums
- Hörse of the Dög (Released 20 September 2002; No Death/Island Records; UK chart peak: 144)
- The Royal Society (Released 25 October 2004; No Death/Island Records; UK chart peak: 68)
- Blood and Fire (Released 19 May 2010; No Death/Black Records; UK chart peak: 149)
Singles
| Release date | Single title | UK Singles Chart position | Associated 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 |
| 11 October 2010 | "So Long Goodnight" | – | Blood and Fire |
EPs, demos, and promotional releases
- Original Two Track Demo (1999; No Death)
- System of a Down Tour Sampler (2005; No Death)
- In the Garden (23 July 2007; No Death)
Video releases
- Eighty Degrees of Separation (DVD)
- I Could Be an Angle (DVD)
Compilation contributions
| Year | Track title | Compilation 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 |
Changes in song titles
Throughout their demo and live performance stages, the group altered several track names prior to official release:
- "Lazy Bones" was renamed to "Giant Bones"
- "Mister Fearful" became "Mister Mental"
- "Wild Bull" changed to "Temple Music"
- "Clonk Chicane" retitled as "Rise of the Eagles"
- "Race to the Rock and Roll Concert" updated to "The Fool"
- "Year of the Pervert" revised to "Freud's Black Muck"
- "Remember the Glory Years" adjusted to "When I Hear You Call My Name"
- "Wig Sister" became "I Rejection"
- "Dinner" renamed as "Alone Again"
- "Not in the Field" changed to "Mission from God"
- The songs "Someone to Eat With" and "Music for Lovemaking" were merged into one titled "Music to Make Love to"
- "Falling Down for You" retitled as "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
External links
- Articles with short description
- British psychobilly musical groups
- English rock music groups
- Gothabilly groups
- Rock music groups from Brighton and Hove
- Musical groups established in 1999
- Musical groups disestablished in 2013
- 1999 establishments in England
- 2013 disestablishments in England
- English musical quintets