The Vapors

PizzaExpress Live (Holborn)

The Vapors are a New Wave band hailing from Surrey. They had a global hit in 1980 with 'Turning Japanese' which reached No.3 in the UK Charts and No.1 in Australia, taken from their debut album 'New Clear Days' which also featured follow up single News at Ten'. The Vapors are a new wave band who formed in 1978. Discovered by Bruce Foxton of The Jam (who went on to be their co-manager with John Weller), The Vapors released the classic singles Turning Japanese, News at Ten, Jimmie Jones, Prisoners, Waiting for the Weekend, Spiders and two LP’s Magnets and New Clear Days before splitting in 1982.

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Since re-forming the band in 2016, The Vapors have toured to enthusiastic crowds and have supported The Skids, Stiff Little Fingers, and From The Jam amongst others. 39 years after their last LP, The Vapors released a new LP Together in 2020 and have an incredible new single Novocaine.

The band hit the big time in 1980 when 'Turning Japanese' reached number 3 in the UK charts and also hit Number 1 in Australia, Canada and Billboard Top 40 in the USA.

The song was used in hit films such as '16 Candles and Charlies Angels' and regularly features on Punk and New Wave compilation albums.

After a number of other single releases including 'News at Ten and Jimmie Jones' and  two critically acclaimed albums 'New Clear Days' and 'Magnets' the band parted company.

Guitarist Ed Bazalgette went on to become a successful BBC TV director with recent credits including ‘Poldark’ and ‘Dr Who’ whilst lead singer Dave Fenton became a Music Lawyer.

The band reformed in 2016 and since then have played over 100 gigs including a 3 night residency at the Mercury Lounge in NYC and a 22 date run across the USA on the Lost 80 Live tour playing at such prestigious venues like The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

In May 2020 the band released their 3rd studio album entitled 'Together' engineered by legendary BBC Radio 2 Producer Steve Levine.

In 2021 Cherry Red Records released a 4 cd Box set featuring New Clear days and Magnets, a disc of demos and unreleased material and a live gig recorded at The Rainbow whilst supporting The Jam.

In October 2021 both New Clear Days and Magnets were re-released on coloured vinyl. The band continue to tour