The Vibes were formed in Essex, UK in the fall of 1983. The original lineup included Gaz Voola (v) aka Gary Boniface, Lloyd Tripp (b), Martin Parson (g), Bob Madden (g) and a fourteen year old drummer, who was replaced by John Jobagy in early 1984. Mike Spencer, frontman of The Cannibals, helped them get a foot in the garage door and The Vibes soon supported the likes of the Tall Boys and The Sting-rays. Unable to sign the record deal, they´re looking for, the band was nearly about to split-- Lloyd Tripp already has had appearances with the Blubbery Hellbellies and the Sting-rays--as they finally came to the attention of Big Beat Records´ Roger Armstrong, who signed them to record their debut EP Can You Feel The Vibes and the quintet also taped a thrilling interpretation of Alligator Wine, which was included on the Revenge Of The Killer Pussies compilation album. Lead guitarist Martin Parson departed from the band and was replaced by former Cannibal guitar man Johnny "Mother" Johnson and the reformed Vibes signed a new record deal with Chainsaw Records. The band released one more 7´´, a 12´´ EP and their only full-length album What's Inside ?, which hit the Top 10 of the UK Independent Charts and toured all over Europe, including an appearance on French TV in 1985. The Vibes released another 7´´ vinyl, entitled Something Ain´t Right on Chainsaw in 1986, but differences of opinion between the band members and the management had already forced a final split. Gaz, John and Johnny has already reemerged as The Purple Things, which released two excellent EPs on Media Burn. Bassist Lloyd Tripp continued his musical career with Sunny Domestozs and The Bugs, before he finally emigrated to the USA in 1987 and later formed his own outfit Rockin´ Lloyd Tripp & The Zipguns.
Unlike many other bands, that emerged from the mid-eighties Trash boom, the Vibes received a great deal of attention by legions of open-minded Psychobillies all over Europe thanks to their wild , raw, no-nonsense set of RocknRoll mayhem, that was always backed by an awesome sound of the bull fiddle, pushing vocals and a very tight sound.
Discography:
Singles: Can You Feel The Vibes (1984)--I Hear Noises(1985)-- The Inner Wardrobes Of Your Mind(1985)--Something Ain´t Right (1986)
Albums: What´ s Inside ? (1985)