Exactly 40 years ago today, back in 1981, the band released their fifth single ‘Spiders’. It was the first single to be taken from their forthcoming album ‘Magnets’, the follow up to ‘New Clear Days’. The song hinted at the darker feel of the album to come and the shift away from the poppier sound was highlighted by the use of synthesisers. The single release was coupled with the track ‘Galleries For Guns’ on the flip side. For some reason, EMI’s promotions budget didn’t stretch to a making a video and that probably contributed to the single not charting. Listen to the single release on Spotify here
On behalf of The Vapors, their management & crew, we would like to wish the band’s fans around the world best wishes for the festive season and a happy and safe 2021. Despite everything else happening in the world this year, 2020 was also the year that finally delivered the band’s long-awaited third album Together, proving well worth the 39 year wait! Live wise, the year was written off after mid March due to the pandemic, forcing the postponement of both some FTJ gigs and the band’s New Clear Days 40th anniversary tour. Hopefully they can restart gigging in May with FTJ ahead of the NCD tour. See you on the road in the new year, stay safe in the meantime… The Vapors website team x
The From The Jam Setting Sons 40th anniversary gigs that were postponed earlier in 2020, due to the Covid pandemic, have now been rescheduled for May and June 2021. The Vapors are special guests on nine of the new dates and details can be found on the gig listing to the left.
Tickets for the rescheduled dates are on sale now here
In this fan focus, we quiz South coast fan Matt who has been a regular face at gigs since the band reformed and was one of the lucky ones to see them multiple times in the first time around. Over to you, Mr Inskip..
We now have a brand new, limited edition Turning Japanese bandana/scarf available to buy from our merch. The design features the rising sun and can be seen here modelled by Dave & the Fenton’s dog Ziggy. It is made from cotton and costs £10 (inc P&P) in the UK & £12 delivered to the rest of the world.
Please send amount due to vaporsmerch@gmail.com via Paypal Friends & Family (and include your name & address on the payment).
November 20th is National T-shirt day on BBC Radio 6. It was started by Steve Lamacq a few years ago and the idea is that fans post pictures of themselves in their fave band shirt and the lovely people at BBC 6 play a song from that band between 7am and 7pm on November 20th. To take part just post a pic of your self in a band tee and tag @bbc6music and hashtag #tshirtday on Twitter and Insta. Here’s our Lead Singer Dave Fenton in one of our tees. Can we have Turning Japanese please @bbc6music
Come on Vapors fans post a pic of your fave Vapors tee and get tagging and hash tagging.#tshirtday#bbc6music
Dave, Steve and Michael are appearing on Sky TV’s Memory Lane 80s Show with Hayley Palmer tonight. They will be chatting about the band as well as selecting their favourite songs from the decade. The programme screens at 9pm tonight on SKY TV ch. 376, Freesat ch. 516 & Connected Freeview ch. 264. Update 15/11- if you missed it, you can watch it here
The band recently took part in some filming for an upcoming online TV series called ‘That Was Then, This Is Now’. Devised by Radio 1 legend Mike Read and producer Mike Stock, the series features many artists from the United DJs’ Heritage Chart who are still making music today. Alongside The Vapors, the series has appearances from Toyah, Paul Young, Kim Wilde and many others. The series consists of five episodes and will be shown online weekly from 7pm Thursday 5th of November (the older amongst us will recognise this as the regular ‘Top Of The Pops’ slot!). The Vapors appear on episode three on 19th November and will be performing two songs. The programme is pay per view and tickets, and other info, can be found here
On this day in 1980, the band released their fourth single ‘Waiting For The Weekend’, the third and final single from ‘New Clear Days’. The single version was a different mix to the album track and featured the inclusion of a brass section. The lyrics described a relationship hindered by the constraints of the working week and the catchy track ‘Billy’ was the b-side. Despite the accompanying video (with the band as mechanics), the single didn’t make the UK chart. Listen to both songs from the single on Spotify here
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