The International Swingers
| Company type | Supergroup |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Rock music |
The International Swingers was a rock supergroup with American and British roots, headquartered in Los Angeles. Established in late 2011, the ensemble comprised Clem Burke on drums, Glen Matlock handling bass and vocals, James Stevenson on lead guitar and vocals, and Gary Twinn as lead vocalist and guitarist.
History
Each member had previously earned acclaim through involvement with notable bands: Burke with Blondie, Matlock as part of the Sex Pistols, Stevenson contributing to Chelsea, Generation X, and Gene Loves Jezebel, while Twinn was known for his work with Supernaut and Twenty Flight Rockers. Although these musicians had collaborated in other contexts, they had not united as a single group until 2011. That year, Australian promoter Bicci Henderson prompted Twinn to assemble a new band for an upcoming tour, which led him to bring together Stevenson, Burke, and Matlock. The positive dynamic during rehearsals and touring motivated the formation of The International Swingers as an ongoing project. Between 2012 and 2014, the band toured extensively across the United States and notably sold out a London performance in 2013.
Initially, their live sets featured popular tracks from their former bands, but they soon transitioned to composing original songs including "FBI"—which appeared on the Homefront soundtrack—"Gun Control," a reimagined Twenty Flight Rockers track addressing American gun legislation, and "Live Wire."
Their debut full-length self-titled album was financed through the crowdfunding platform PledgeMusic and recorded at Studio 606 in Los Angeles, a facility owned by the Foo Fighters. The mixing duties were handled by producer Peter Walsh, recognized for his work with acts such as Simple Minds, Pulp, and Scott Walker.
Clem Burke
Clem Burke is primarily recognized as Blondie's drummer since 1975, participating in their reunion phase and tours from 2009 to 2011. During Blondie's inactive periods in the 1980s and 1990s, he performed alongside artists including Bob Dylan, Eurythmics, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Wanda Jackson, Nancy Sinatra, and The Romantics. Additionally, Burke temporarily took on drumming responsibilities for the Ramones in 1987 and again in 2004 under the pseudonym "Elvis Ramone."
In 2006, Burke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Blondie. He was also honored with an honorary doctorate from the University of Gloucestershire in July 2011 for his research project exploring both physical and psychological impacts of drumming.
Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock is famously known as the original bassist for the punk outfit Sex Pistols, credited with co-writing ten out of twelve tracks on their seminal album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols. He departed the band in 1977 to establish the new wave power pop group Rich Kids. Matlock’s collaborations extend to artists such as Iggy Pop (on Soldier), The Damned (on Not of This Earth), and musician Robert Gordon. He also reunited with the Sex Pistols for multiple reunion tours during 1996, 2002, 2003, 2007, and 2008.
Matlock was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 together with fellow original members of the Sex Pistols.
James Stevenson
James Stevenson is recognized as a guitarist in the punk and alternative rock genres, notable for his collaborations with bands such as The Cult, The Alarm, Gene Loves Jezebel—where he co-wrote popular tracks including "Jealous"—Gen X, and Chelsea. He played a role in the creation of Kim Wilde's first two albums, Kim Wilde and Select, and featured in several of her early music videos, including the iconic "Kids in America".
Gary Twinn
Gary Twinn launched his musical journey in Australia as the lead vocalist for the glam/punk ensemble Supernaut, gaining chart recognition with the hit "I Like It Both Ways," alongside a gold-certified album and numerous television accolades. After relocating back to the United Kingdom, he established Twenty Flight Rockers with Mark Laff from Generation X. Subsequently, Twinn became part of the California-based rock group Honeydippers and teamed up with Rat Scabies, Glen Matlock, and Bob "Derwood" Andrews to form Dead Horse. Additionally, Twinn and Derwood collaborated to create the alternative country outfit Speedtwinn.[1]