Following a successful run of three albums in the late ’80s that propelled Transvision Vamp to fame and fortune, they called it a day back in 1992 when lead singer and frontwoman Wendy James went solo. This tour has been the first time that they have performed in the UK since those halcyon times.
Transvision Vamp
O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 22 October 2026
Words: Adrian Stonley
Unsurprisingly, the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire was packed out with fans, old and new, wondering what 21st-century Transvision Vamp were going to be like. Would it be the same as memories tell?
Firstly, the band have an entirely new lineup following their reformation last year, so the only original member remaining is Wendy. Therefore, the question is, is this really Transvision Vamp, or is it the Wendy James band? Only time will tell.
However, for those long-time fans who had waited over thirty years to see the band live again, this was a long-awaited trip back to youth and memory. The mind may retain the old rebelliousness, but unfortunately for many in the audience tonight, it was clear that the bodies did not. Compared with past Transvision audiences, this was pretty tame, despite the band doing their utmost to stir things up.
Wendy still has that voice. The screams, the sneers, the sassiness are all still there. She hit the stage as she meant to go on, kicking out to the tunes, swaying on her microphone stand and spitting out the lyrics. This was definitely akin to the old Transvision. The Vamp is still there anyway.
With only three albums of material recorded, this was a run-through of the greatest hits. Opening with the first track from the first album, Pop Art, Trash City, Wendy made it clear how she intended the night to go, and with the likes of Tell That Girl To Shut Up and I Want Your Love, it was evident that there was an intention to let rip and have a good time. Tonight was a night to party.
The majority of the set was culled from the first two albums, Pop Art and Velveteen, and it was very clear that these were the songs that the audience could relate to most. Though to keep matters interesting, a couple of songs from the less successful third album, Little Magnets Versus The Bubble Of Babble, were rolled out alongside some of Wendy’s solo material.
But it was the oldies and goldies that the audience wanted. Born To Be Sold and Revolution Baby saw the band rocking out. Their take on punky pop created some great anthems. Speedball was a solo song about drugs, not that she has ever taken any or knows about that before; deeper cut, Sister Moon, saw the audience singing along.
Pay The Ghosts was, as Wendy put it, “an absolute banger”, and she is not wrong. It is interesting how, after all these years, a lot of these songs still stand up today. In the past, they may have been dismissed as bubblegum punk-pop, but there is a catchiness and an intensity that continues to ring true today. There is definitely a place for Transvision Vamp in the 21st century.
Additionally, it was thrilling to hear Wendy announce that there would be a fourth Transvision Vamp album to be released, and though no songs from this album were played, it will be interesting to hear what their writing sounds like now. That is certainly something to look forward to next year.
Born To Be Sold saw the audience finally showing some interest before the set closed out with the all-time classic, Baby I Don’t Care, which brought everyone to their feet and let the dancing and pogoing commence.
The band returned with another Wendy solo, The Impression Of Normalcy, before the set closed out with two classics from the Velveteen Album, Bad Valentine and the title track, all nine minutes of it, which, as Wendy stated, you would not have got in the past.
So where do we stand? Transvision Vamp are back. There is definitely a needed niche for them in the current marketplace. Let’s hope they can finish off what they started. Because quite simply, No Wendy, No Party.
Transvision Vamp – Setlist
- Trash City
- Tell That Girl to Shut Up (Holly and the Italians cover)
- I Want Your Love
- Speedball (Wendy James song)
- Sister Moon
- Pressure Times
- You’re a Dirtbomb, Lester (Wendy James song)
- The Only One
- If Looks Could Kill
- Born to Be Sold
- Down on You
- Revolution Baby
- Pay The Ghosts
- Landslide of Love
- Baby I Don’t Care
Encore:
- The Impression of Normalcy (Wendy James song)
- Bad Valentine
- Velveteen
Yee Loi
Support came from Liverpool punk rockers Lee Yoi, translated from Cantonese to Two Girls. The two girls in question, Rose and Matilda Farrell, are also joined on bass by their brother Donnie, making this a full family affair.
With only half an hour to make a statement, they threw themselves wholeheartedly into proceedings, with drummer Matilda providing a hardcore driving beat and considerable attitude, whilst sister Rose provided countless jumps and energy around the stage.
This was raw and aggressive, and with eleven songs played in that time it was short and sharp and certainly in your face. This is garage punk for the twenties.
Yes, their ages show through, but with that comes the energy and required youthful intensity.
Their music itself has a considerable reflection of old-school punk, certainly nodding back to the original US exponents such as the Ramones and MC5. Every time I heard 1,2,3,4 I half-expected a Ramones song to blast out, but we got their own material which was fast, effective and catchy.
Be Like Johnny is a hard-driving slice of punk ‘n’ roll, whereas Down In The Bunker takes us into dark depths, telling the story of a goth girl who kills her bully and the macabre fallout.
But despite some tough lyrical themes, they are a band that clearly just want to have fun. Mystery Train would see Elvis turning in his grave, whereby a cover of the MC5’s Ramblin’ Rose would probably see Wayne Kramer, to whom it was dedicated, climbing out of his grave to join them.
Lee Yoi are intense, energetic and most of all, they are not to be dismissed lightly. This could very much be the future of punk.
