The iconic Transvision Vamp will embark on their first UK tour since 1991 – the 17 dates begin October 6th in Newcastle and include a London show at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, and will also travel to Belfast and Dublin.
Earlier this year, the band wrapped up a sold-out tour in Australia and New Zealand. In September 2026, Transvision Vamp will play Portugal and Spain directly before heading to the UK.
Transvision Vamp 2026 line-up includes original members Wendy James (vocals) and Dave Parsons (bass), plus Alex Ward (guitar & vocals), Pip Stakem (guitar & vocals), Matt Millership (keyboards & vocals) and James Sclavunos (drums).
Transvision Vamp’s unforgettable frontwoman Wendy James says, “Words cannot express the feelings I have to be touring Transvision Vamp again! Joy! Thrill!! The band’s history, which began in 1988, has passed through many eras! And yet, here we are, belting out the very songs which captured everyone’s hearts all those years ago. It is fresh, it is redux, it is powerful”.
She recalls: “I am surrounded by the best musicians in the world, and when we take to the stage, it is a force to be reckoned with. We take no prisoners. The crowds are ecstatic, and we meet as partners: The Band and The Audience are equal partners in this incredible show. I cannot wait to bring it to the UK and plant our flag!”
Transvision Vamp were formed in West London by Wendy James and Nick Christian Sayer, along with Dave Parsons and Tex Axile. They were signed to MCA Records and released their breakthrough debut album “Pop Art” in 1988, featuring hit singles such as “I Want Your Love”, “Tell That Girl To Shut Up” and “Revolution Baby”.
Second album “Velveteen”, which included the smash hit “Baby I Don’t Care”, was released the following year and reached number one in the UK Chart and in 10 other countries.
Their third and final album, “Little Magnets Versus The Bubble Of Babble”, was released in 1991 and was their biggest USA release, securing # one spots in all the indie and college charts. The album was not made available in the UK until years later. The band did two world tours that year, and Kurt Cobain famously attended many of the US shows, wearing TVV t-shirts and declaring himself a fan. Wendy cites this album as her favourite, specifically highlighting the song “If Looks Could Kill”.
In 1992, Transvision Vamp called time-out in San Francisco. During the span of Transvision Vamp, Wendy was made a cover star of many magazines worldwide, was photographed by everyone from David Bailey for Tatler Magazine, Jurgen Teller for The Face Magazine and i-D Magazine. She became known for her forthright TV appearances and became an international household name.
Following the dissolution of Transvision Vamp, Wendy James continued her musical journey as a solo artist, achieving further success. Over the years, she has released seven solo albums – including a double album – all critically praised, cementing her bona fides in songwriting and music producing; and featuring collaborations with the likes of Elvis Costello, James Williamson of Iggy & The Stooges, Lenny Kaye of The Patti Smith Group and James Sclavunos of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.
These days, Wendy splits her time between New York, The South of France, Paris and London.
- Read our revealing interview with Wendy in our Features Zone”, here: https://musicrepublicmagazine.com/2025/08/wendy-james/
Wendy’s “Track Record”
1. First single you owned?
“Those Were The Days” by Mary Hopkin, released on The Beatles Apple Records in 1968, produced by Paul McCartney. The melody originates from a Russian romance song by Boris Fomin, with English lyrics written by Gene Raskin, who performed it prior to Hopkin’s hit recording.
2. First LP/album you owned?
Benjamin Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” Op. 34″, is a 1945 musical composition with a subtitle “Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell (Henry)”. It was originally commissioned for the British educational documentary film “Instruments of the Orchestra”, released on in 1946. The record I owned was the recorded version conducted by Leonard Bernstein in 1960 – The Bernstein version features in Wes Anderson’s movie “Moonrise Kingdom”.
3. First CD you owned?
No Idea. Probably a Clash box set of some sort. “Clash On Broadway” was a favourite.
4. Last music you bought and in what format (CD/vinyl/digital download)?
Vinyl, from the flea market. The soundtrack to movie director Michelangelo Antonioni’s movie “Zabriski Point”. Two Euros. Fabulous! Set in the late 1960s United States, capturing student unrest in Los Angeles and the vast landscape of Death Valley. The soundtrack features prominent rock and psychedelic music acts like Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, and The Youngbloods.
5. Favourite album? (Choose more than one if need be…)
“Desire” by Bob Dylan and “Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” by Wu-Tang Clan. Plus various Velvet Underground records. Also, Bob Dylan live at Madison Square Garden 1975 for The Rolling Thunder Revue, singing Isis.
6. Anything unusual or perhaps unexpected in your music collection?
It’s huge and it’s diverse! From UK Punk to USA New Wave, French Ye Ye Girls, London and Jamaican Reggae and Dub, East Coast Hip Hop, Blues, The Stooges, Velvet Underground, Lightnin’ Hopkins. France Gall: “Laisser Tomber Les Filles”.
7. Which song or album is a guaranteed mood booster?
Jay-Z: “The Black Album”, B52’s: “Give Me Back My Man”, The Clash: “White Man In Hammersmith Palais”.
8. Your favourite driving track – or music to exercise to?
Political Podcasts.
9. Which song takes you back to your childhood – and to which specific memory/memories?
Gladys Knight & The Pips: “Midnight Train To Georgia”. I remember hearing it on my little radio in my bedroom listening to the Top 40 countdown. I still love it. I love the backing vocals and I love the version of it that the US Comedy show “30 Rock” did!
10. Favourite band (or bands)?
The Stooges, The Velvet Underground and too, too too many to list. I love sparse, jagged New Wave music from mid-late 70’s early 80’s, that’s my ground zero, my North Star. The Feelies in the opening scene for Susan Seidelman’s movie “Smithereens” with Richard Hell.
11. Favourite singer (or singers)?
Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston… and all the 60’s girl groups especially Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, Deborah Evans-Stickland in The Flying Lizards singing “Money (That’s What I Want)”. I like tough girls, mean girls, angelic sounding girls, soul girls, indie girls; but they must be able to carry a tune, hold a note. I am not so interested in just shouting. Poly Styrene: very good. I like a pure, strong voice. Aretha Franklin singing “Natural Woman” at the Kennedy Centre.
12. Which song would you like played at your funeral?
Aside from the fact that I’m not doing a funeral, I do love the soundtrack for François Truffaut’s 1973 film “Day For Night (La Nuit américaine)” which was composed by the celebrated French film composer Georges Delerue. The most famous and defining piece from the score is the majestic “Grand Choral”.
Photos by David Leigh Dodd
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