Punk Rock Road-Trips presents…
THE VIBRATORS (UK)
New Zealand/Australia Tour: June 2010
Considered a pioneering force of the genre, with a career spanning over three decades, The Vibrators are one of the most enduring bands of punk rock. Their journey has seen a hefty swag of albums and relentless touring, and now the band is now charging at 2010 like a bull on steroids with their first ever tour of Australia and New Zealand in June.
With a line-up including Vibrators founders Knox and Eddie, along with long-time bass player, Pete, each show will be an unmissable event.
Formed in 1976, The Vibrators cut their teeth at legendary London venues like the 100 Club and The Roxy, supporting everyone from the Sex Pistols to Iggy Pop. Along with The Damned and the Buzzcocks, they are the only survivors of Malcolm McLaren’s two-night Punk Festival in late 1976.
After recording three sessions for the illustrious John Peel at the BBC, the band signed to Epic Records in early 1977; and released ‘Pure Mania’, one of the finest punk albums ever. Charting in the UK Top 50, ‘Pure Mania’ has appealed to fans and critics alike throughout the duration of the bands lengthy career. The lead single ‘Baby Baby’ -- an infectious slab of energetic melody -- was re-recorded in the early 1980s, and has been covered most famously by R.E.M.
The band’s second album, ‘V2’, was released in 1978, and while it didn’t quite achieve the commercial success of ‘Pure Mania’, but the minimalist brilliance of the band was captured in tunes like ‘Automatic Lover’, the album’s only single. That hit the UK Top 40, earning the band an appearance on the prime-time TV institution, Top Of The Pops.
Largely overlooked by the popular media, these unsung heroes were undeniably influential on many of their more celebrated peers. Not only did the Stiff Little Fingers take their name from a Vibrators song, The Exploited covered ‘Troops of Tomorrow’, released as both a single and as the title track of their hit 1982 album.
2009 saw the release of The Vibrators latest studio album, ‘Under The Radar’, the band’s sixteenth LP, and their first in seven years. Of the new album, All Music Guide stated, “…other survivors from their era may have retained their original sound, but the Vibrators are one of the few who have kept it fresh.”
THE VIBRATORS NEW ZEALAND/AUSTRALIA TOUR: JUNE 2010
Thursday 10th – AUCKLAND, NZ, The Kings Arms
With The Managers + The Bludgers
Friday 11th – WELLINGTON, NZ, Bodega
With The Offbeats + Guests TBA
Saturday 12th – CHRISTCHURCH, NZ, Al’s Bar
With Gripper + Guests TBA
Wednesday 16th – ADELAIDE, SA, Enigma Bar
With Kamikaze + Sin City (Melbourne)
Thursday 17th – MELBOURNE, VIC, The Arthouse
With Sin City, Bastard Squad + Mince Meat (Tas)
Friday 18th – SYDNEY, NSW, The Excelsior Hotel
With guests TBA
Saturday 19th – BRISBANE, QLD, The Jubilee Hotel
With Mouthguard + Guests TBA
Sunday 20th – PERTH, WA, The Rosemount Hotel
With Guests TBA
Tickets on sale March 10 from:
New Zealand: www.undertheradar.co.nz and Real Groovy Records
