The Vibrators

The Vibrators

The Vibrators are a punk rock group from London, active from 1976. The band forms around singer and guitarist Knox, real name Ian Carnochan, and drummer Jon “Eddie” Edwards, with a line-up that changes frequently over the years. Other members associated with the group include Phil Ram, Adrian Wyatt, Dave Birch, John Ellis, Pete Honkamaki, Gary Tibbs, and Pat Collier.

Formation and early years

The band starts in February 1976, formed by Eddie and four friends. Its first gig is at Hornsey Art College in March 1976, supporting the Stranglers. Before settling into punk, the group plays a mixture of cover versions and original songs, drawing on pub rock and harder material that it develops into a faster style. Early songs include “Whips & Furs,” “Sweet Sweet Heart,” and “She’s Bringing You Down.”

Knox has been active in music since the early 1960s, playing in a series of earlier groups including the Renegades, Knox and the Nightriders, Stilletto, Lipstick, and an Irish show band. John Ellis also has an earlier background in Bazooka Joe, which he forms in 1970 with Danny Kleinman and later Stuart Goddard, who becomes Adam Ant.

Punk era and recording career

The Vibrators become linked with the London punk scene through their live work and support slots with the Sex Pistols and the Clash. They appear at the 100 Club Punk Rock Festival in September 1976, sharing the bill with other key punk acts and helping to establish their place in the scene. Their early reputation is shaped as much by their live schedule and image as by the fact that they start out mixing punk energy with older rock and roll material.

The band signs to RAK Records, run by Mickie Most, and releases its first single, “Pogo Dancing,” as a backing track for Chris Spedding. It also issues “We Vibrate” with “Whips and Furs” and records “Ain’t Got No Heart” / “Bad Time,” though that single does not appear. In April 1977 the group signs to Epic, the CBS label associated with the Clash.

Albums and later line-up changes

The Vibrators’ first album, Pure Mania, becomes the record most strongly associated with them. It is described as a concise punk album with hook-driven songs, a hard guitar sound, and Knox’s distinctive vocal style. The band later issues V2, which reaches number 33 in the charts and produces the single “Automatic Lover.” Another single, “Judy Says,” also charts lower down.

John Ellis leaves before the release of V2 and later joins the Stranglers, replacing Hugh Cornwell and appearing on several albums. Gary Tibbs joins after Pat Collier departs; Tibbs later leaves to join Roxy Music and then Adam and the Ants. Dave Birch is brought in on guitar, and Don Snow joins on keyboards and saxophone. Ben Brierley and Greg Van Cook also pass through the line-up. Knox leaves in October 1978, and the group splits, then reforms in September 1979 with a new configuration including Eddie on drums, ex-Electric Chairs guitarist Elliott Michaels, Ian Woodcock on bass, and new vocalist Kip.

Later activity and related work

Over time the band continues with Knox and Eddie as the main constants. Eddie also plays a one-off gig as drummer with Public Image Ltd. Pat Collier moves into production and continues producing records. The Vibrators remain a long-running London punk act, with a career shaped by repeated changes in membership, touring, and their early role in the first punk wave.