Punk imitators, formed in 1986 with the iconoclastic Wendy James and her boyfriend Nick Christian Sayer as the core of the band. Tex Axile was on keyboards with Pol Burton on drums- bassist Dave Parsons completed the quintet. Their first single 'Revolution Baby' came out at the end of '86, but it was with 'I Want Your Love' that the band came to nationwide fame in the UK, charting at no.5. They had already become popular in Australia, and their first album 'Velveteen' was released in 1989. Modelling themselves on numerous post-punk New Wave bands, Transvision Vamp had neither the elegance or sophistication of Blondie, the clever lyrics of Voice From The Beehive, nor the raw creative talent of The Cramps. However, this didn't stop them from unashamedly cribbing a distinctly 'Detroit New Wave' image derived from trash comics, early 1960s consumer pulp, and bleak post-industrial decline. Even one of their publicity photos is a repeat pose of the cover of Blondie's 'Eat To The Beat' album. In short, they were an unoriginal bunch without an new idea in their heads, who sought to make an impact by copying the syle and persona of groups far more talented and genuine than they were. Their third album 'Little Magnets versus the Bubble of Babble' failed to impress their record label with it's mellower sound, and the band finally disbanded in early 1992. Wendy James has since made several attempts to launch a solo career, none of them succesful.
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Do You Remember Transvision Vamp?
Do You Remember Transvision Vamp?