The Vapors

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This article is about a band. For other uses see Vapors

The Vapors were a New Wave and power pop band from England that existed between 1979 and 1981. They had a hit with the song "Turning Japanese" in 1980, which reached #3 in the UK Singles Chart, and #36 in the corresponding U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

1 Career
2 Albums
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Career

Based in Guildford in Surrey, their members were David Fenton (songwriter, guitarist and vocalist), Howard Smith (drummer), Edward Bazalgette (lead guitar) and Steve Smith (bass guitarist and vocals). Prior to coming to prominence on the UK music scene the band had originally comprised Dave Fenton, Rob Kemp, Mike Hedges, Simon Childs and Michael Jordan (Bob Heard replaced Michael Jordan for a brief period).

Their early musical style owed a great deal to New Wave and Mod influences such as The Jam, Secret Affair and The Jags. Indeed, they were discovered and managed by The Jam's bass player, Bruce Foxton. Also the song for which they are mainly remembered, "Turning Japanese", was produced by The Jam's producer Vic Coppersmith-Heaven and hit the UK Top Three at the same time that "Going Underground" was at number one. It was also a big hit in some other territories, notably Australia.

The band released two albums: New Clear Days (the pun on "nuclear" being intentional) and Magnets. The first was more clearly in the "traditional" New Wave style of music, while touching on social issues such as the nuclear threat as well as love themes. The second album dealt more extensively with themes of alienation, with many dark lyrics about apparently psychotic characters, including the opening track, "Jimmie Jones", about cult leader Jim Jones. Sales of the second album were poor and the band broke up soon after its release in 1981. Fenton alleged in a later interview with Record Collector magazine that lack of record company support was the chief reason; apparently their intended seventh single 'Red Flag' was cancelled without explanation.

A solicitor who specializes in music law, frontman Fenton has apparently retired from his days as a music creator and performer to concentrate on legal aspects of the industry.

Edward Bazalgette has since become a television director, credits including a 2005 BBC documentary about Genghis Khan.