Demob Happy are an English alternative rock band, formed in 2008 in Newcastle upon Tyne and now based in Brighton. The band is composed of singer-bassist Matthew Marcantonio, drummer Thomas Armstrong and guitarist Adam Godfrey.

Demob Happy
Demob Happy live at SXSW March 2016
Demob Happy live at SXSW March 2016
Background information
OriginNewcastle upon Tyne, England
GenresAlternative rock, indie rock, stoner metal
Years active2008 (2008)–present
LabelsSo Recordings
Taste & Tone
Milk Parlour Records
MembersMatthew Marcantonio
Thomas Armstrong
Adam Godfrey
Past membersMathew Renforth
Websitewww.demob-happy.com

Originally a four piece, the band's original lead guitarist Mathew Renforth left the band in mid-late 2016.

History edit

 
Demob Happy at the Village Underground - Thursday 14th September 2023
 
Demob Happy at the Village Underground - Thursday 14th September 2023

The band toured locally around their native Newcastle, before relocating south to Brighton a couple of years later[1] as "there’s not enough of a music scene in Newcastle, so bands don’t get a lot of attention, although it’s a musical city".[2][3] The band released their digital-only debut EP You Shook the Soul in May 2011 and follow up single Rattlesnake in February 2012.[4][5]

They released their first physical release in the form of the 7" single Succubus in November 2014 via their own label Milk Parlour Records.[6][7] In April 2015 the band released their first EP for new record label So Recordings in the form of the limited edition Record Store Day release Young & Numb EP on 10" vinyl.[8] The band released their debut album Dream Soda in October 2015.[9][10] The band co-own the Nowhere Man cafe in Brighton which is run by Marcantonio's brother Andrew where they also rehearse in the basement.[11]

In October 2016, the band embarked on a co-headline tour with fellow-Brighton based band Tigercub as a three piece.[12][13] Lead guitarist Mathew Renforth's absence was not mentioned prior to or during the tour. The band officially confirmed their status as a 3 piece via Facebook when they uploaded a new press photo without Renforth present.[14] The band released their new Tom Dalgety-produced single Dead Dreamers on 5 May 2017 via Atlantic Records imprint Taste & Tone.[15][16]

On 23 March 2018, the band released their second album Holy Doom, which was preceded by the singles Be Your Man[17] and Loosen It.[18][19]

The band supported Jack White on the UK leg of his Boarding House Reach world tour in October 2018.[20]

On 2 April 2021, the italian rapper Caparezza announced a featuring with Matthew Marcantonio in Canthology, the first track of his album Exuvia.[21]

Band members edit

Current members edit

  • Matthew Marcantonio – lead vocals, bass
  • Thomas Armstrong – drums, vocals
  • Adam Godfrey – guitar, vocals

Former members edit

  • Mathew Renforth – lead guitar

Discography edit

Studio albums edit

  • Dream Soda (2015), So Recordings
  • Holy Doom (2018), So Recordings
  • Divine Machines (2023), Liberator Music

EPs/Singles edit

  • "You Shook the Soul" (2011), Milk Parlour Records
  • "Rattlesnake" (2012), Milk Parlour Records
  • "Succubus" (2014), Milk Parlour Records
  • Young & Numb EP (2015), Milk Parlour Records
  • "Dead Dreamers" (2017), Taste & Tone
  • "Be Your Man" (2017), SO Recordings
  • "Fake Satan" (2017), SO Recordings
  • "Loosen It" (2018), SO Recordings
  • Holy Doom Unplugged EP (2018), SO Recordings
  • "Less Is More" (2019), SO Recordings
  • "Autoportrait" (2019), SO Recordings
  • "Mother Machine" (2020), SO Recordings
  • "Sympathy Boy"(2021), SO Recordings
  • "Hades, Baby (Orchestral Version from Abbey Road)" (2021), SO Recordings
  • "Voodoo Science" (2023), Liberator Music
  • "Run Baby Run" (2023), Liberator Music

References edit

  1. ^ Kidd, Adam. "Demob Happy – Dream Soda". www.brightonsfinest.com. Retrieved 1 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Q&A: Demob Happy". brightonnoise.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Demob Happy - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 1 May 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Demob Happy - Grunge - Brighton - Listing". Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ "Demob Happy". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Demob Happy unveil terrifying new 'Succubus' video". DIY. 20 November 2014. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Brighton bunch Demob Happy deliver gritty and grubby garage rock on debut". thelineofbestfit.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  8. ^ Day, Record Store. "DEMOB HAPPY". recordstoreday.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Demob Happy detail debut album Dream Soda, plot UK shows". thelineofbestfit.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  10. ^ "Listen To Brighton Grungers Demob Happy's Hook-Heavy Debut Album 'Dream Soda' - NME". nme.com. 1 October 2015. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  11. ^ "New Artist Of The Week – Demob Happy Are The Brighton Grungers Attacking Commercial Culture - NME". nme.com. 7 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Demob Happy / Tigercub Co-Headline at Patterns: Review". spbx.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  13. ^ "Demob Happy". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  14. ^ "Demob Happy". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Demob Happy". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Demob Happy unveil new single 'Dead Dreamers' - premiere". independent.co.uk. 3 May 2017. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  17. ^ Johnson, Laura. "Demob Happy Release New Single Be Your Man - Stereoboard". stereoboard.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  18. ^ "Demob Happy Reveal New Single 'Loosen It' + Announce Dates for April 2018 UK Headline Tour - The Music Site". themusicsite.com. 26 January 2018. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  19. ^ "Demob Happy announce new album 'Holy Doom'". DIY. 22 November 2017. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  20. ^ Subscribe (15 November 2018). "Power of III: Demob Happy hit the road with Jack White". DIY. Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  21. ^ "CAPAREZZA on Instagram: "Mi sono divertito molto a leggere il vostro toto-feat ma siamo nella selva ed è normale ritrovarsi fuori strada. Ovviamente stimo e ascolto molti degli artisti da voi citati ma la foresta è imprevedibile, gli ospiti dell'album pure: 1 - MATTHEW MARCANTONIO E' il cantante della mia rock band preferita del momento, i Demob Happy. Si tratta del gruppo che ho ascoltato di più durante la stesura del disco, motivo per cui ho voluto assegnare a Matthew la traccia d'apertura. Spero di coinvolgerlo anche sul palco del prossimo tour. ( @demob_happy ) 2 - MISHEL DOMENSSAIN E' una cantautrice messicana molto connessa con la madre terra. Ho scoperto la sua musica mentre andavo alla ricerca di nuovi artisti nel web e la sua voce mi ha catturato dal primo ascolto. Non posso svelarvi altro riguardo a questo brano, uno dei più intensi dell'album. ( @ladomenssain ) Insomma, Matthew e Mishel sono i miei due compagni di viaggio, gentili e di grande talento, e danno voce allo smarrimento e all'incoraggiamento lungo il percorso di EXUVIA."". Retrieved 31 October 2021.

External links edit