The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band

Infobox Musical artist
Name = The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band


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Alias = Matchbox
Origin = Melbourne, Australia
Genre = jug band
Years_active = 1971 - 1980
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Past_members = Mic Conway, Jim Conway, Fred Olbrei, Dave Flett, Geoff Hales, Jim Niven, Mick Fleming, Jon Snyder, Eric McCusker

The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band was an Australian band, active throughout the 1970s. It was based in Melbourne and centred around singer and multi-instrumentalist Mick Conway ("Captain Matchbox") and his brother Jim Conway, who is widely regarded as one of Australia's finest exponents of the blues harmonica.

Inspired by early jazz recordings and the jug band music they heard on reel-to-reel tapes as teenagers, they formed a band which grew within a couple of years from an underground art school band to a national icon, with film and television appearances and regular appearances in the charts. The brothers continued with many lineup changes until a tragic truck crash while on tour in 1979 ruined the band financially and emotionally, and after paying off their debts they disbanded.

Mick Conway continues to record and perform regularly, both as a solo artist and with his National Junk Band. Jim Conway has also worked on many musical projects and remains a sought-after soloist, although in recent years his health has been significantly affected by the onset of Multiple Sclerosis. He now uses a wheelchair.

Band Members

*Mick Conway (vocals, Washboard, Phonograph, Horn, Ukulele, Jug)
*Jim Conway (Harmonica, Kazoo, Whistles, Vocals)
*Fred Olbrei (Violin, Vocals)
*Dave Flett (Bass, Vocals, Harmonies, Ukulele)
*Geoff Hales (drums, Washboard, Tap Dancing)
*Jim Niven (keyboards)
*Mick Fleming (Banjo, Mandolin)
*Jon Snyder (Guitar)
*Eric McCusker (Guitar)

Discography

Singles
*1972 - "My Canary Has Circles Under His Eyes / Nagasaki"
*1973 - "I Can't Dance (Got Ants in My Pants) / Jungle Dance"
*1974 - "Your Feets Too Big / Wait for Me Juanita"
*1974 - "Hernando's Hideaway / Down Undergroundsville"
*1974 - "Wangaratta Wahine / Go Down Adam"
*1975 - "Australia / Christopher Columbus"
*1977 - "If I Can't Hav-Anna in Cuba / Chiropodist Shop" (as Soapbox Circus)
*1978 - "Sleep / Victims of Circumstance" (as Matchbox)
*1978 - "Love is Like a Rainbow / Slow Down Speedy" (as Matchbox)

Albums
*1973 - "Smoke Dreams (Australia & US)"
*1974 - "Wangaratta Wahine (Australia)"
*1975 - "Australia (Australia)"
*1976 - "Makin' Whoopee (Australia)"
*1976 - "The Great Stumble Forward (Australia)" (as Soapbox Circus)
*1979 - "Slightly Troppo (Australia)" (as Matchbox)

External links

* [http://www.milesago.com/artists/matchbox.htm Brief but very informative history of the band]
* [http://www.micconway.com Mic Conway's personal website]
* [http://www.jimconway.com.au Jim Conway's personal website]