Interview by Kris Peters
Transvision Vamp were the buzz band of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Fronted by the raunchy, attitude laden Wendy James and backed by a catchy assembly of songs, Transvision Vamp cornered every section of the market. Their pop/punk rebelliousness outlined through songs such as Baby I Don't Care, I Want Your Love and The Only One resonated through disenfranchised youth everywhere, while their music videos dominated RAGE and other music programs thanks to their colourful and suggestive content.
Put simply, they were a breath of fresh air on an otherwise stagnating music scene and culture. Women everywhere wanted to be Wendy James and men everywhere just wanted her. It was the perfect chemical reaction to fit in with the times and that momentum carried Transvision Vamp through two successful albums and worldwide tours. By the mid to late 1990s Transvision Vamp had parted ways but their legacy has endured.
Now, 27 years after their last visit, Transvision Vamp are headed back Down Under for a headline run of shows next February, with Brisbane already sold out. HEAVY recently had the pleasure of spending time with Wendy James to talk about the tour and anything else we threw at her.
"I think it's because we were a raunchy rock and roll pop band," she replied when we ask why crowds in Australia loved Transvision Vamp so much. "We had the tunes, but we also had a quite upfront attitude. Everyone loves the scream of Baby I Don't Care and the melodies and everything, but I think they also really loved the attitude that we came with."
We ask what fans can expect from the shows, given there has been almost 30 years since Transvision Vamp last played here.
"I'm bringing the goods with me," James affirmed. "Fully locked and loaded, real hardcore. And when I say hardcore, I mean incredible musicians. Not just people that can hold down a 4-4 beat and play three chords. These are... they're monsters. They're killers. So I expect that we should be able to walk on stage and by the time you leave you'll be hot, sweaty, exhausted and jubilant."
In the full interview, Wendy spoke more about the tour and what to expect, the set list and what could be in it, whether this is just a one off reunion tour or if the possibility of Transvision Vamp returning for an album is on the cards, the ealy days of the band and where they fit in, how they got signed to EMI Records, their look and how natural that was, their early success and how it affected the band, her solo career and more.
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