Pure Mania

by

The Vibrators

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The Vibrators released the second UK punk single (after the Damned and before the Sex Pistols) and this was the third UK punk album (after the Damned and the Clash but again before the Sex Pistols). Despite their historic importance the Vibrators have never really received the recognition they deserve, partly because they didn't have a Malcolm McLaren or a Bernie Rhodes behind them and partly because they didn't have (or want) a gimmick. The Damned had their wild burlesque, the Clash their political sloganeering and the Sex Pistols..... well they were the Sex Pistols!!! The Vibrators, however were content just to churn out finely crafted rock songs - main man Knox in particular has created some of the grittiest love songs this side of Lou Reed. They are still going today. No, not reformed like so many old punk bands recently, STILL GOING. Still producing great records (currently working on what I believe will be their 13th studio album) and still not so much underrated as just plain forgoten about. This is a crime.

UK punk rockers The Vibrators weren't a threatning, edgy, or violatile unit like The Sex Pistols or the Dead Kennedys, or the powerful musical force like the Clash or Buzzcocks, they were more the safe and sound raw typical rock n roll band reveling in the punk energy like other fellow UK pioneers The Damned. While the Damned's debut was out before this, they were seen as groundbreaking at least to England while America had the Ramones. Of course this only mattered to the underground music fans who were intersted in punk in the 70's which was hard to come by. The Vibrators seemed to be a simple rock n roll band trying to get themselves off the ground at the time and seemed hell bent on injecting the punk forumla. And it succeeds pretty well. There's nothing groundbreaking here at all, (was the Damned's afterall, just because they beat em to the punch). However if you're into the sloppy and no brains roots punk sound of mid 70's England this album is a good place to start. Minor gems like Into The Future, Yeah Yeah Yeah, No Heart, and the enjoyable punk "ballad" Baby Baby all give a good time. This might be considered a lost classic in the British punk pantheon, but whatever it is, it's a great addition to your collection of rare rock music.