The Vapors
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Guildford , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
The Vapors are a British new wave and power pop ensemble originating from Guildford, with initial activity spanning 1978 to 1982 and a reunion commencing in 2016. Their most renowned track is the 1980 single "Turning Japanese", which climbed to No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and reached No. 36 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
1978–1982
Formed in Guildford, Surrey, the band caught the attention of Bruce Foxton from The Jam during local performances. The group solidified its lineup with David Fenton (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Howard Smith (drums), Edward Bazalgette (lead guitar), and Steve Smith (bass). To better resonate with American listeners, they modified their name from The Vapours to The Vapors. Foxton co-managed the band alongside John Weller and arranged for them to open on The Jam's 1979 tour.
After signing with United Artists, their debut single "Prisoners" (1979) did not chart, but their follow-up "Turning Japanese", produced by Vic Coppersmith-Heaven, achieved significant commercial success—reaching No. 3 in the UK, topping charts in Australia, entering the top ten in Canada and New Zealand, and breaking into the US top 40. Despite rumors about the song's suggestive meaning, Fenton denied these claims, attributing such speculation to its widespread appeal. Subsequent singles "News at Ten" and "Jimmie Jones" both peaked at No. 44 in the UK.
They issued two albums: New Clear Days (1980), which included socially aware new wave songs like "Turning Japanese," achieving moderate chart positions in the UK, Canada, and US; and Magnets (1981), which embraced a power pop sound with darker subject matter, such as the cult leader Jim Jones referenced in "Jimmie Jones." The disappointing sales of Magnets contributed to their disbandment in 1982. Fenton later pointed to insufficient label backing and cancelled releases as major reasons.
Following the split, David Fenton shifted to a career in music law, becoming an in-house solicitor for the Musicians' Union by 1999. Edward Bazalgette moved into television directing, with credits including a BBC documentary and episodes of Doctor Who. Howard Smith ran an independent record shop in Guildford, while Steve Smith formed Shoot!Dispute before joining rap/rock act 1ST.
2016–present
After a hiatus of 34 years, David Fenton, Ed Bazalgette, and Steve Smith reunited for a live performance at the Half Moon in Putney on 30 April 2016, delivering "Turning Japanese" with a guest drummer. Subsequently, The Vapors embarked on a four-show tour later that year featuring Michael Bowes on drums. Their return continued with six concerts in 2017 and ten dates in 2018, including three gigs in New York City where David Fenton’s son Danny filled in for Bazalgette on lead guitar. These performances showcased new material such as "Sundown River" and "King L".
As of 2017, Razor & Tie Industries holds control over the band’s master recordings after acquiring them from Warner Music Group; RT Industries has acted as their global distributor since launching in 2018. On 21 April 2018, "Turning Japanese" was reissued on red vinyl with additional tracks for Record Store Day.
In April 2019, The Vapors supported From the Jam on their Setting Sons 40th Anniversary tour—a tour they originally opened for back in 1979. Around this period, Bazalgette departed and was replaced by Danny Fenton.
On 3 March 2020, the band announced their forthcoming album Together, releasing its lead single "Crazy". The full album was released on 15 May, marking their first studio project after a 39-year interval—one of the lengthiest gaps between albums.
On 30 August, "Girl from the Factory," the third single off Together, attained number one on the United DJs Heritage Chart. Another single from the album, "Wonderland," also reached the top position in November.
To honor their best-selling album’s anniversary, they toured with the New Clear Days 40th Anniversary Tour throughout 2021. Download-only singles such as "One of My Dreams Came True" (2021), "Novocaine" (2022), and "Eyes on the Prize" (2024) all achieved top ten placements on the Heritage Chart, maintaining their visibility in the market.
On 2 September 2022, The Vapors returned to Guildford for a performance at the Suburbs Holroyd Arms.
In January 2023, a US appearance was announced; they played at the Cruel World Festival in Pasadena, California on 20 May.
In August 2024, The Vapors initiated a crowdfunding campaign to finance their fourth studio album, which was subsequently released as Wasp in a Jar on 28 February 2025.
In May 2025, former drummer Howard Smith was elected Mayor of Guildford.
Studio albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Rankings | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | CAN | NZ | US | |||||
| New Clear Days |
|
44 | 24 | 41 | 25 | 62 | |||
| Magnets |
|
— | — | 39 | — | 109 | |||
| Together |
|
87 | — | — | — | — | |||
| Wasp in a Jar |
|
— | — | — | — | — | |||
| "—" indicates albums that did not enter the charts | |||||||||
Compilation albums
| Compilation Title | Release Details |
|---|---|
| Anthology |
|
| Turning Japanese: The Best of the Vapors |
|
| Vaporized |
|
| The Best of the Vapors |
|
Singles
| Year of Release | Single Title | Highest Chart Positions Achieved | Certifications (sales levels) |
Associated Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | CAN | NZ | US Hot 100 | US Dance | US Main Rock | ||||
| 1979 | "Prisoners" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Non-album single | |
| 1980 | "Turning Japanese" | 3 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 36 | 34 | — |
|
New Clear Days |
| 44 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Waiting for the Weekend" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Magnets | |||
| 44 | — | — | — | — | — | 39 |
Magnets | |||
| "Crazy" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Together | ||
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Together | |||
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Together | |||
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Together | |||
External links
- Musical groups formed in England in 1978
- Musical groups disbanded in England in 1982
- English new wave bands
- English power pop bands
- Artists signed with Liberty Records
- Artists signed with United Artists Records
- Artists signed with Elektra Records
- Musical groups established in 1978
- Musical groups dissolved in 1982
- Musical groups reunited in 2016
- Musical groups disestablished in 1982