Wasp in a Jar - Steve Smith of The Vapors

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Steve Smith of the Vapors stops by to discuss their latest release, Wasp in the Jar, their upcoming tour, and their longevity career. 

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Best known for their massive 1980 worldwide hit “Turning Japanese,” The Vapors continue to bring their individually styled brand of music to fans old and new in the form of high-quality live performances and the ongoing development of critically acclaimed new material. 

The band, formed in 1979, had already gained a substantial live following around their hometown of Guildford, Surrey and in London, when they were brought to large UK audiences with their support slot on The Jam’s iconic 1979 “Setting Sons” tour, by then managed by The Jam’s Bruce Foxton and Paul Weller’s father John. 

The release of debut single “Prisoners” in 1979 was followed by 1980’s “Turning Japanese “alongside the classic first album New Clear Days. The single reached Number 3 in the UK, Number 1 in Australia, and hit the top 10 in both New Zealand and Canada whilst becoming a mainstream Billboard Top 40 hit in the US. 

The debut album spawned further hits “News At Ten” and” Waiting for the Weekend” before the very different, but equally well received second album “Magnets” arriving in 1981, providing the singles “Spiders” and further hit “Jimmie Jones”, with the band touring extensively in the UK, US and Australia throughout this period. 

The band parted company late in 1981, with all members going on to have varied and successful careers across the entertainment industry. In 2016, after a decade of Internet clamour for a revival, they announced their reformation for a short series of gigs, including a sell-out show at London’s Dingwalls. Over 170 gigs and 2020’s comeback album third album Together and several singles later, they’re stronger and more relevant than ever. 

The band continue to write and perform and have completed two headline tours in the UK since the pandemic, as well as appearing at the Pasadena Rose Bowl’s “Cruel World” festival in May 2023, touring the US in 2024 and recording their exciting statement fourth album Wasp In A Jar (to be released on 28th February 2025). They continue to deliver polished shows featuring songs spanning their entire 45-year history. 

Website: https://www.thevapors.co.uk/

Lost 80s Live Tickets: https://lost80slive.com/buy-now/

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