Matadors

1) Czech beat band The Matadors., active from 1965 until 1968. The members were Otto Bezloja (bass guitar, leader), Radim Hlad?k (lead guitar), Jan "Farmer" Obermayer (organ), Miroslav "Tony Black" Schwarz (drums) as well as Karel Kahovec (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Vladim?r Mi??k (vocals, bluesharp). The latter two have been replaced in late 1966 by ex-Flamengo Viktor Sodoma jr. (vocals). The Matadors formed in early 1965 from Fontana (The Fontanas), with members from Pra-Be and Komety (The Comets).

The Matadors formed in early 1965 from Fontana (The Fontanas), with members from Pra-Be and Komety (The Comets). Fontana's manager (and until early 1965 also their drummer) Wilfried Jelinek secured a promotional deal with an East German manufacturer of sound equipment and music instruments. Since the group began to use an electronic organ named Matador, they changed their name accordingly to promote it. The Matadors performed exclusively in East Germany until April 1966, their live repertoire consisted mostly of cover versions from popular beat groups like The Who, The Kinks or The Small Faces.
The original Czech edition cover of 1968's album The Matadors.

Between 1966 and 1968 Supraphon released two Matadors singles and two EPs, another two tracks appeared on an album compilation. The earlier original compositions were sung by Kahovec ("Sing A Song Of Sixpence", "Snad jednou ti d?m") or Mi??k ("Malej zvon co m?m", "Don't Bother Me", "Old Mother Hubbard"). With lead singer Sodoma they recorded their only album in May and June 1968. The Matadors has been released as Supraphon 0130493 (mono)/1130493 (stereo), an export edition with a different sleeve has been released as Supraphon/Artia SUA ST 53992 (stereo) and SUA 13992 (mono). The material on the album includes instrumentals as well as vocal tracks sung in English. They recorded their own songs and covered R&B standards like "I Think It's Gonna Work Out Fine" or Junior Walker's "Shotgun". The Matadors also covered Smokey Robinson's "My Girl" and Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" in Them's soulful arrangement. Original material includes "Hate Everything Except Of Hatter" [sic], "Indolence" and "Get Down From The Tree", which is featured on Rhino Records' Nuggets II compilation. Hlad?k, the most inventive Czechoslovak rock guitarist of that time, was hailed as the "Czech Eric Clapton".

The most successful Matadors line-up broke up in summer 1968. Radim Hlad?k then established Blue Effect (later also known as Modr? Efekt or M Efekt) with the original Matadors lead singer Vladim?r Mi??k. Jan Obermayer joined Petr Nov?k's George & Beatovens. Viktor Sodoma jr. pursued a solo career as a pop singer, backed by various groups and orchestras. Best remembered was his 1971-1973 collaboration with Shut Up, later known as the Franti?ek Ringo ?ech Group, with whom he recorded numerous "bubble-gum" singles and one side of his only solo album.

Otto Bezloja and Tony Black briefly reformed the Matadors, joined by ex-Komety lead singer Milo? "Reddy" Vokurka, Ji?? Matou?ek on organ and Petr Netopil on guitar. In fall 1968 they left to Munich, West Germany where they worked as the house band of a German edition of the Hair musical. In the early seventies the nucleus of that band evolved to the Germany-based progressive rock group Emergency.

The Matadors reunited in 1991 and made rare public appearances until 2008. Otto Bezloja died in 2001.
2) Swedish Stoner rock/tango/country/punk rock act.

From the ashes of legendary stonerrock act Ridge - who recieved 4K/ 5 in Kerrang for their debut album, Matadors have become a monster reactivating the rock industry!

The band has existed since fall 2001, and when Andreas Bergstr?m (vocals and Fender Telecaster Custom guitars) and Jonas J?nsson (drums, percussion, keys) accomplished with the bass player/singer Johan Anderberg from world famous Deranged and Murder Corporation, the band was completed.

Due to the rectification that exist in modern rock today Matadors are trying to break new barriers with a blend of dirty-tango twisted with some ol?country-twang in their robot? roll! With the same attitude as bands/persons like Queens Of The Stone Age and Johnny Cash- that everything is possible, are Matadors now trying to bring the rock a new hot dynamic blend.

Matadors has a reputation as a hard-rockin?, intense and diverse live act. They have played with bands like Brant Bjork, Bigelf, Hellfueled, The Chuck Norris Experiment and have recieved great reviews for their shows.

Members:
ANDREAS BERGSTR?-M -
lead vocals, lead and rhytm Fender Telecaster Custom guitars, acoustic guitars and handclaps

JONAS J?-NSSON -
drums, percussion, keys, back vox and handclaps

JOHAN ANDERBERG -
Gibson Thunderbird bassguitar, vocals, handclap and diverse interventions

LARS ANDERSSON -
Exquisite lead guitarra from the deep deep swamp...


3) Matadors are an English Alt rock band from Heaton, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
They formed in late 2009 and the band currently consists of Alex Blamire (lead vocals, guitar), Joe Sowter (guitar), Liam Clarke (bass guitar) and Joss Elder (drums, backing vocals). The Band currently attend Heaton Manor School, where they first got together to play at the local band night. In Late 2009 they wrote and recorded a demo CD. In late 2010 the band recorded more demos, which are available to download from the soundcloud.

Members:

Alex Blamire (Vocals and guitars)
Joe Sowter (Guitars)
Joss Elder (Drums and backing vocals)
Liam Clarke (Bass)

4) Leeds super-group featuring members of Buzzkill, The Magnificent, The Horror and that Derby band that Adz used to be in. Their debut album will be available soon and it's nothing short of brilliant. Garagey punk rock for fans of Hot Snakes, The Night Marchers, Obits etc.