The Rumble Strips

The Rumble Strips
Origin	, Devon, England
Genres	Indie pop, Soul
Years active	2004–2010, 2015-present
Labels	Fallout Records (Universal Island Records) Transgressive Records
Associated acts	Vincent Vincent and the Villains Action Heroes
Members	Charlie Waller Henry Clark Tom Gorbutt Matthew Wheeler S. Mansbridge

The Rumble Strips are an English band from , Devon. The band took their name from rumble strips, which are a series of small, continuous lines of bumps alongside a road designed to help prevent inattentive drivers straying off the road. Having known each other since childhood, a precise conception date for the band doesn't really exist. The 4-piece line-up of Charlie Waller, Henry Clark, Tom Gorbutt & Matt Wheeler was present from the first recordings until late 2006 when S. Mansbridge joined to fill out the sound developed during the recording of 'Girls & Weather'. The band were signed to Fallout Records, a subsidiary of Universal Island Records.

Lead singer Charlie Waller was involved in music from an early age, initial inspirations included Lou Reed's Transformer and bands such as Adam and the Ants. He moved to London for art college and played with his band from Devon, the Action Heroes. The Action Heroes included Matthew Wheeler, drums, S. Mansbridge, Guitar & Harry Dwyer on keyboards. (Harry would later go on to direct most of the Rumble Strips' videos). The Action Heroes disbanded in 2002. At this point Waller began writing and playing again with former Tavistock friends Tom Gorbutt, and Henry Clark. These three maintained various residencies at the then local Wandsworth pubs until Matthew Wheeler, rejoined them in 2004. Also during this time, Charlie was one of two frontmen in Vincent Vincent and the Villains with flatmate and fellow singer/songwriter Vincent Vincent. The strain of playing in two bands eventually led to Waller quitting both groups before being coaxed back to the Rumble Strips. Vincent Vincent wrote the song "Johnny Two Bands" about Waller's departure. Old friend and former band mate of all the Rumbles (from the Mother Eating Blackberries and Action Heroes) Sam Mansbridge, returning from overseas spent some time on the road with the band after their return from recording 'Girls & Weather' in LA with Tony Hoffer. The band had been used to Tom Gorbutt alternating between playing the Bass or Sax live however the need for a complete sound with bass guitar and a bass backing vocal led to the natural inclusion of Mansbridge for the live shows. Not taking away from Tom's bass playing Mr Mansbridge introduced the Rumble Drum that became such a feature of the band's live act.

...
Wikipedia