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The Vibrators
Posted by Rachel Lux on 18-Feb-08 @ 11:35 AM
FILE UNDER: Fun, endearing first-wave British punkYEARS OF EXISTENCE: 1976-1980, 1982-present RECORD TO START WITH: Pure Mania (EPIC, 1977) AFTER THAT, CHECK OUT: V2 (EPIC, 1978) GO DOWNLOAD: "I Need A Slave," "Nazi Baby," "Feel Alright," "Whips & Furs," "No Heart," "Stiff Little Fingers," "Baby Baby," "War Zone," "X-Files" THE MUSIC, THE MESSAGE: Forgive the rampant use of the word "fun" from here on in, but the Vibrators-starting out in '76 with vocalist/guitarist Knox (Ian Carnochan), guitarist John Ellis, bassist Pat Collier and drummer Eddie-were as fun, energetic, spirited and charming as they were equally adept at unleashing fast and tough rockers ("Petrol," "London Girls," "Stiff Little Fingers," "War Zone") and upbeat poppy affairs ("Sweet Sweet Heart," "Whips & Furs"). They were by no means afraid to get down with slow-dance numbers (the sugary "Baby Baby" is a ballad) or go for huge orchestral touches ("Nazi Baby") and downright somber epics ("Troops Of Tomorrow"), either. While the Sex Pistols were singing about "no future, no feelings, no fun," these guys were having a ball, keeping an irreverent air throughout most of their work, doling out danceable songs dealing with love rather than nihilism or politics. PUNK-ROCK RELEVANCE: Though their catalog is quite vast, the Vibrators' first pair of albums, '77's Pure Mania and '78's V2, contain the long-running band's most illustrious work and are indisputably some of the finest slabs of wax to come out of the era. Covered by many, including U.K. Subs and the Exploited (who actually titled their second album after?and included a cover of?"Troops Of Tomorrow"), the Vibrators' impact on punk is immeasurable. Oh, yeah, some band from Belfast even named themselves after the Vibrators' classic song "Stiff Little Fingers"-maybe you've heard of 'em? CURRENT WHEREABOUTS: After Pure Mania, Collier left and was replaced by Gary Tibbs. Following V2, more lineup changes ensued, with frontman Knox leaving in '78, after which Eddie kept the band alive and released a few records before the Vibrators dissolved in 1980. Two years later, the original lineup reformed, but over the next two decades, they went through a tremendous amount of musicians (with Knox and Eddie remaining the constants), eventually whittling the band down to a three-piece. With the membership seemingly solid now, the band, 30 years in the making, still tour the world and release records. Their last album of all-new material was 2002's impressive Energize, but more recently released was Punk, The Early Years, an all-covers album with the band reworking a few of their own early gems as well as those from other highly influential acts like the Saints, Dead Boys and Motörhead. -Janelle Jones |
