(Photo: Steve Harnett)
With a career that's now in its thirty-first year, vocalist/guitarist IAN "KNOX"
CARNOCHAN, bassist PAT COLLIER, guitarist JOHN ELLIS and drummer EDDIE originally
formed the VIBRATORS in February 1976, and their first gig was supporting THE
STRANGLERS at Hornsey Art College in North London. They supported THE SEX PISTOLS
at the 100 CLUB and were one of the bands playing at the now legendary 100 CLUB
PUNK ROCK FESTIVAL, where as well as doing their own set they supported guitar hero
CHRIS SPEDDING. CHRIS recommended the band to his then record company, RAK. The
band's debut single "WE VIBRATE" came out in November (one of the first punk
singles) and was followed two weeks later by CHRIS SPEDDING'S "POGO DANCING" single
with the VIBRATORS as the band on that.
Early in 1977 the band supported
IGGY POP (with DAVID BOWIE on keyboards) on a UK tour, then moved to EPIC RECORDS
and released the classic "BABY BABY" single, followed by their first album "PURE
MANIA" which spent five weeks in the UK Top 75, peaking at number 49. A second
single from the album - but a live version - "LONDON GIRLS", came out in the summer
of 1977 and was promoted by a tour supporting ex-MOTT THE HOOPLE mainman IAN
HUNTER. Bassist PAT COLLIER left soon after and was replaced by GARY TIBBS. The
band released the single "AUTOMATIC LOVER" (March 1978), which not only reached 35
in the charts but also got the band on TOP OF THE POPS. A second LP, "V2" was
released in April and reached number 33 in the British Charts, and is still
regarded today as one of New Waves finest moments. JOHN ELLIS left soon after to
follow a solo career and to work with PETER GABRIEL, and was replaced by DAVE
BIRCH, whilst a fifth member was added with keyboard/saxophonist DON SNOW. However
this line up of the band only recorded the "JUDY SAYS (KNOCK YOU IN THE HEAD)"
single (a UK No 70 single in the summer of 1978). There then followed a new line up
of the band: KNOX - guitar/vocals, EDDIE - drums, with new members BEN BRIERLY -
bass, and GREG VAN COOK - guitar. This again proved to be short lived and KNOX left
to have a go at being a solo artist towards the end of 1978.
EDDIE carried on with the band, as well as drumming for THE INMATES (an R&B band).
In early 1980 a more successful line up : KIP - vocals, EDDIE - drums, IAN WOODCOCK
(ex-EATER) - bass, PHIL RAM - guitar, ADRIAN WYATT - guitar, signed to RAT RACE
RECORDS. They released two singles "GIMME SOME LOVIN'" and "DISCO IN MOSCO", but
the band split up at the end of the year.
The original line up reformed in mid 1982 (KNOX, EDDIE, PAT COLLIER and JOHN ELLIS)
and signed to ANAGRAM RECORDS, releasing a new version of "BABY BABY". This was
followed by a single and album both called "GUILTY" before the band moved to RAM
RECORDS, releasing the singles "MX AMERICA" and "FLYING HOME" and the LP "ALASKA
127" (named after PAT COLLIER'S studio). By mid 1985 the band had signed to CARRERE
RECORDS for whom they recorded the "BABY BLUE EYES" single before moving back to
RAM for the "FIFTH AMENDMENT" LP and "BLOWN AWAY BY LOVE" single. By the time the
band signed to FM REVOLVER in mid 1986, PAT COLLIER had left to pursue a successful
career producing bands, and was replaced by NOEL THOMPSON for the "VIBRATORS LIVE"
LP. JOHN ELLIS then left (to become a full-time member of the STRANGLERS) and was
replaced by MICKIE OWEN, and NOEL THOMPSON left and was replaced by MARK DUNCAN.
The new line up released the "RECHARGED" album, the "STRING HIM ALONG" single and
also the 1988's "MELTDOWN" album. MICKIE OWEN left and was replaced by NIGEL
BENNETT (ex-MEMBERS) for the 1990's "VICIOUS CIRCLE" LP. This line up of the
VIBRATORS toured regularly, and released a string of albums: "VOLUME TEN" (1990),
"THE POWER OF MONEY" (a re-make compilation, 1993), "HUNTING FOR YOU" (1994), and
"UNPUNKED" (an acoustic compilation album, 1996).
In 1996, in their twentieth year, they started with a new line-up: KNOX -
guitar/vocals, EDDIE - drums, with newcomers DARRELL BATH (ex- UK SUBS, CRYBABIES,
DOGS D'AMOUR) - guitar, and NICK PECKHAM (ex- BIG BOY TOMATO) - bass, but by June
that year they had become a three-piece (KNOX, NICK, and EDDIE). The band recorded
the albums "FRENCH LESSONS WITH CORRECTION!" (1997) and "BUZZIN'" (1999). with
the band doing extensive touring, (almost 100 gigs in 1999 - including the USA and
Canada), plus the release of many albums. NICK PECKHAM (bass) left in Sepatember
1999 and was replaced by ROBBIE TART (ex- HEARTBREAK ANGELS).
In 2002 the band released a new compilation of the first two albums the band
recorded, closely followed by a new studio album ENERGIZE, both on Ian Grant's
TRACK RECORDS. In September 2003 ROBBIE TART left and was replaced by PETE from
Finnish band No Direction, and the band toured the US, and then the UK and Europe
with the UK Subs, doing really good business.
In their long career the VIBRATORS have toured with the likes of IGGY POP, IAN
HUNTER, THE FLAMING GROOVIES, and have had their songs covered by THE EXPLOITED, UK
SUBS, GBH, REM, DIE TOTEN HOSEN, to name but a few. Now in 2006, in their
thirty-first year, the VIBRATORS continue touring heavily and releasing
more records. Who's to say we won't see another 30 years of PURE MANIA!
