The Vibrators - Early punk featuring Knoxie ,A Punk Rock History with Pictures.

Much maligned band. But looking back at their songs how many bands can boast of a back catalogue like theirs ? As early as 1975 in bands like Stiletto and Lipstick Knoxie was playing classic Vibrators songs like Whips and Furs and Sweet Sweet Heart. First gig supporting the Stranglers . R&B based to flesh out sets their break came at the 100 Club punk festival (1976) where they appeared with The Sex Pistols Clash etc etc. They appeared not on their own but as the backing band for Chris Spedding rehearsing at short notice. ( see Pogo Dancing for lyrics ) Their set didn't exactly fit in with the proceedings and is more remembered for The Sid Vicious glass throwing incident and the resultant injuries making the newsapers and introducing punk to an astounded nation.

From then on they went from strength to strength even appearing on Top Of The Pops with their top 40 hit 'Automatic Lover' . Still gigging today and releasing albums the Vibrators were / are a classy punk band.

from e

Vibrators (top) summer 76. Bottom spring 77 after signing for CBS. See the Nasty Nasty Knoxie interview for more on this and other matters.

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Their first single 'We Vibrate' was a poppy affair and the producer Mickey Most's choice of single. From then on the band had a great run through of classic singles and two great albums. Fine rythymic, uptempo, punkish music with a high degree of songwriting and a brilliant image to boot - The cover of Pure Mania is a classic. Singles like Baby Baby / Into The Future (1977 Epic), the kitsch Pogo Dancing / The Pose (1976) Automatic Lover / Destroy (1978 Epic) Judy Says / Pure Mania (1978 Epic) and London Girls / Stiff Little Fingers (1977 Epic) are all punk classics. Check out as well their two albums Pure Mania (1977 Epic) picks Petrol / You Broke My Heart and just too many others and V2 (1978 Epic) picks Wake Up and Flying Duck Theory. The first punk band to feature an orchestra ? The Berlin Philharmonia is on Nazi baby on V2. Thats something the Damned missed out eh ?!!!

Quite simply no punk compilation should be without a Vibrators song. More to the point no punk record collection should be without some Vibrators.

Knoxie

"There are bands today who are making music today which is very relevant to what happened in 1967. The Vibrators' music is relevant to 1977"

Eddie

" We'eve brought back real rock 'n' roll. For years the kids have been duped - they thought they were getting real music. They were just getting cabaret"

John Ellis

"We are the voice of a feeling . We are the voice of the youth culture. We are peole - we are not facts and figures and dollar signs"

Gary Tibbs

"Knox is the best songwriter of the late 70's. The Vibrators are the best band of the late 70's. We'eve got the best songs and we'ere the most exciting to watch."

Pure Mania ( From V2)

You're the psychotic daughter of a psychotic mother / Your father was a megalomaniac / You've got an insane brother / Your nurse committed suicide / When you tore her off a strip / You carry a shooter to parties ' cos you think its hip.

(C) But its pure mania it stopped being a game / When you found it would take you to the asylum again.

Well your uncle was a rich man / But he also was a thief / His sister was a dyke who went out with girls to get relief / You come on with your 'how do you do ?' / Honey I need a drink before I can look at you.

(C)

Well your grandmother was into homicide just for kicks / And your grandmother puts people's eyes out with a pointed stick / Your whole family seems to be round the bend / If I got hitched up with you it would be the living end.

(C) But its pure mania...

Well you may not have an asylum / But you sure got 9.00 to 5.00 / You better go and find a doctor / See if you're alive

Knoxie, nipples and that bass drum house. See Knoxie interview for more.