The Vapors

The Vapors are an edgy, tuneful British rock band whose abundant pop hooks often run counter to their darkly satirical lyrics. The group became overnight stars when their debut album, 1980's New Clear Days, spawned the single "Turning Japanese," which became a massive international hit. The Vapors split up after 1981's Magnets didn't live up to sales expectations, but their cult following grew over the years, and they returned in the 2020s with Together (2020) and Wasp in a Jar (2025), which offered a tougher version of their sound. The Vapors were formed in 1978 by David Fenton, the group's lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter. Based in Guildford, Surrey, England, Fenton initially had trouble assembling a stable lineup for his group, but by 1979, the Vapors' classic lineup was in place, with Fenton joined by lead guitarist Edward Bazalgette, bassist Steve Smith, and drummer Howard Smith. In April 1979, the Vapors were playing a club gig in Surrey when Bruce Foxton of the Jam happened to hear them play. Foxton was impressed and offered them a pair of gigs opening for his band. The Jam's endorsement did plenty to raise the Vapors' profile, and five months later, they signed with United Artists Records. The Vapors' debut single, "Prisoners," appeared in October 1979, and they closed out the year playing 28 dates opening for the Jam on the group's tour supporting their successful fourth album, Setting Sons. In January 1980, United Artists released the Vapors' second single, "Turning Japanese," which soon became into a smash hit -- it rose to number three on the U.K. singles chart, went all the way to number one in Australia, and hit the Top Ten in Canada and New Zealand. It also cracked the Top 40 in the United States at a time when mainstream radio was not especially friendly to new wave bands. (A persistent rumor suggested that "Turning Japanese" was meant to be a metaphor for self-pleasure, though Fenton always denied it, while also acknowledging it generated publicity that helped the group.) The Vapors' first album, New Clear Days, appeared in June 1980, and much of the rest of the year was a whirlwind of television appearances, interviews, and global touring. Their label (which had been rebranded as Liberty Records) encouraged them to record a follow-up as soon as possible, and in March 1981, they released Magnets, only nine months after New Clear Days. While its first single, "Jimmie Jones," made it to number 44 on the U.K. charts, it did poor business elsewhere, and the band were frustrated with Liberty's promotion of the album. After the release of a new single was scrapped at the last minute by the label, the Vapors' dissatisfaction reached its peak, and the group broke up in early 1982. After the end of the Vapors, Fenton became a lawyer, Bazalgette was a director for BBC television, Howard Smith opened a record store, and Steve Smith worked with the groups Shoot! Dispute and 1ST. In 2016, Steve was playing a gig with his band the Shakespearos when Fenton and Bazalgette stopped by, and they joined the group on-stage to play "Turning Japanese." This led to talk of a possible Vapors reunion, and later that year, the band played four shows, with Michael Bowes sitting in for Howard Smith on drums. The group continued to play periodic shows in the U.K., including several dates opening for Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler's Jam-tribute act From the Jam, fittingly enough as FTJ were staging a tour devoted to songs from the Setting Sons album. In May 2018, the Vapors played a three-night stand at the Mercury Lounge in New York City, with Danny Fenton, David's son, taking Bazalgette's place on guitar. The Vapors treated their American fans to several new songs, and in 2019, the band booked studio time to cut a new album. With David Fenton on lead vocals and guitar, Ed Bazalgette and David Fenton on guitars, Steve Smith on bass, and Michael Bowes on drums, they recorded 2020's Together, issued by their own Manmade Soul imprint. More touring followed, including a run of shows celebrating the 40th anniversary of New Clear Days in 2021, and an American appearance at the new wave-leaning Cruel World Festival in Pasadena, California, in May 2023. The following year, the band launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund the recording of their fourth album. The campaign was a success, and 2025's Wasp in a Jar was issued by Absolute Marketing in the United Kingdom and by Red Chuck Records in the United States. The lineup was the same as on Together except for the absence of Ed Bazalgette.
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