Credit: Found On Internet

“Intention. Commitment. And belief.”

That’s what Guy McKnight, frontman of the peerless Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, stoically states as the reason why both his band and their fans haven’t been put off despite numerous setbacks in the last two years. Guy is not the kind of man to waste words. Throughout our interview, the vocalist often pauses to make sure he gets exactly the message he means across.

“I think can speak for us all when I say that this is really what we all want to do; this is our passion, not just a hobby. For me personally, I fell like singing these songs and performing feels like one of the most natural things for me to do. I feel really in my element when I’m onstage. It’s been a real pleasure, really natural to get back into it. It’s been far too long.”

In 2005, Island Records decided that their relationship with Eighties Matchbox had come to an end. But that wasn’t the only obstacle facing the macabre five-piece. Since then, what have Brighton’s darkest sons been up to?

“Writing mainly. I’d say that 2005 was probably the worst year of my life – there we were, with a shared breakdown…but I think 2006 was probably the best year of my life.” Guy reflects. As well as being dropped by their label, 2005 was the year that founder member and guitarist, Andy Huxley, quit the band for his own project, Vile Imbeciles. “[His] leaving the band has been a real catalyst for a new energy. I’ll always be grateful for him leaving, because actually he put me in a corner where I have to write songs, instead of relying on him and whoever else to write music, and then myself just to add vocal melodies and lyrics. Now me and Sym [Gharial, bass], are writing all the time, and I love it.

“Being out of the limelight, and not having a deal has given us ample opportunity to forge a sound. We’ve been writing so much, we’ve discarded so many tunes, but we’ve got about 40 now that we’re pleased with. We’ve got a few albums worth. The EP we’ve just released is getting back to our original intentions, energy-wise.”