"By 1989, Wendy James and her pop-rock band Transvision Vamp had reached the UK No 1 spot with their second album, two of their singles had been in the top five, and James, with her peroxide blond hair and fondness for lingerie and leather, had crossed the pop-rock divide as a cover star for both Smash Hits and NME. I thought I was going to be bigger than Madonna, she says, and I was pretty sure I was going to win an Oscar. Instead, everything unravelled within two years: the band split up after their third album was poorly received, and James vanished from the public eye for a decade."
"She later built a solo career, and hasn't wanted to revisit the past. Everyone fucking reforms, she says, sat in a cafe in Toulouse close to where she has lived for the past five years, wearing a black velvet jacket with that blond hair in a high messy bun. But Transvision Vamp have indeed reformed for their first tour in three decades, due to begin in Australia in February. She didn't have a bass player for this autumn's solo tour, so she asked former Transvision Vamp bassist Dave Parsons if he'd do it. Though the other members aren't on board, the pair have now decided to reclaim the band name."
Wendy James and Transvision Vamp achieved major UK success by 1989, reaching No 1 with their second album and placing singles in the top five. James cultivated a provocative image and crossed pop and rock media boundaries. Rapid ambitions gave way to a swift collapse after a poorly received third album, prompting a decade-long public absence and a subsequent solo career. James now lives near Toulouse and has reunited with former bassist Dave Parsons to revive the Transvision Vamp name for a first tour in three decades, even though other original members are not participating.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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