Transvision Vamp

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Transvision Vamp were a popular UK alternative rock group. Formed in 1986 by Dave Parsons (formerly of the punk band The Partisans), they enjoyed a brief period of success in the late 1980s, fusing elements of punk, art rock and the "big band" sound of Phil Spector.

Wendy James, the lead singer and focal-point of the group, generated a great deal of attention with her sexually-charged and rebellious image. They were eventually signed up by MCA and released a cover single of the Holly and the Italians song "Tell That Girl To Shut Up", in April, 1988, which was a minor hit. It was follow up single "I Want Your Love" a month later, with its pop/punk crossover appeal that proved their big break, going Top 10 in the United Kingdom. They went on to release the hit album Pop Art in October.

Original drummer, Pol Burton, was subsequently sacked, and the band continued as a quartet.

It was 1989 that proved to be their peak year, with hit single "Baby I Don't Care" and album Velveteen. The following year, however, was to prove disastrous. MCA refused to release third album, Little Magnets Versus The Bubble Of Babble in the UK, disliking the mellower direction of the music. By the time they relented, and finally released it in 1991 the band's audience and media interest had evaporated. This precipitated internal tensions in the band to ignite, and the band dissolved acrimoniously.

Wendy James went on to a faltering solo career and more recently re-launched her career under the name Racine.