Transvision Vamp
Transvision Vamp |
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Transvision Vamp was a popular UK alternative rock group. Formed in 1988 by Nick Christian Sayer and Wendy James the band enjoyed chart success from the late 80's through mid-90's. James, the lead singer and focal-point of the group, attracted media attention with her sexually-charged and rebellious image.
Together with Dave Parsons and Anthony Doughty (AKA Tex Axile) made up the band's four permanent members. Additional members Pol Burton, James Piper and Martin Hallett were musicians engaged to play during live concerts: Burton, then later Hallett (AKA Mallet), on drums, and Piper on guitar.[1]
The band was signed by MCA and released a cover single of the Holly and the Italians song "Tell That Girl To Shut Up" in April 1988, but it only reached number 45 in the UK singles chart. A month later the follow-up single "I Want Your Love", with its pop/punk crossover appeal, entered the Top 10, and peaked at number 5 in the United Kingdom. Minor success was achieved with 2 further singles, titled Revolution Baby & Sister Moon, which reached 30 & 41 respectively in the UK singles chart in 1988. The band went on to release the hit album Pop Art in October. It stayed on the album chart for 32 weeks, peaking at number 4.
1989 was the band's most successful year, with the number 3 hit single "Baby I Don't Care" and hit album Velveteen, which went straight into the UK album chart at No.1 and stayed on the chart for 26 weeks
In 1990 MCA refused to release Transvision Vamp's third album Little Magnets Versus The Bubble Of Babble in the UK, reportedly disliking the mellower direction of the music.[citation needed] Wendy James has stated "...it came out in America and did better than the other two albums in America. But then we decided to split up, during which time the English record label had said they weren't convinced about this record, we're going to hold off on it and see how well it does in other countries first. By the time they were ready to release it, we'd already decided to split up, and so it never came out."[2]
James went on to a solo career and in 2004 formed the band Racine.
Band members
- Wendy James – vocals
- Nick Christian Sayer – guitar
- Dave Parsons – bass (would later join Bush)
- Anthony Doughty – keyboards and drums (known as Tex Axile - a pun on "tax exile")
- Pol Burton – drums (only on Pop Art album)
Discography
Singles
- 1987 – Revolution Baby [UK #77]
- 1988 – Tell That Girl To Shut Up [UK #45, US #87, AUS #44]
- 1988 – I Want Your Love [UK #5, AUS #8, SA #1]
- 1988 – Revolution Baby (re-issue) [UK #30, AUS #27]
- 1988 – Sister Moon [UK #41]
- 1989 – Baby I Don't Care [UK #3, AUS #3]
- 1989 – The Only One [UK #15, AUS #30]
- 1989 – Landslide Of Love [UK #14]
- 1989 – Born To Be Sold [UK #22]
- 1991 – (I Just Wanna) B With You [UK #30, AUS #16]
- 1991 – If Looks Could Kill [UK #41, AUS #56]
Studio albums
- Pop Art - 1988 - Universal Records - UK #4
- Velveteen - 1989 - Universal Records - UK #1
- Little Magnets Versus The Bubble Of Babble - 1991 - Universal Records
References
- ^ transvisionvamp.com, unattributed. "The History of Transvision Vamp". Retrieved 2007-05-29.
- ^ ilikemusic.com, unattributed. "Wendy James / Racine interview February 2005". Retrieved 2007-05-29.