The Vamps (Australian band)

Did You Know?

• In September 1971 Jon and the Australian Vamps recorded two 7" singles at Reflection Sound Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina.
• The singles were released by the Snyder Album Company and intended for use by US military forces.
• In 1977 the Vamps were renamed Peaches on the recommendation of Gene Pierson of Laser Records.

History

Margaret Britt, having spent two years performing in New Zealand, launched an all-female pop rock group in April 1965. The original lineup was a four-piece with Britt on guitar, Kaye Gazzard, Judy Owen, and Wendy Walton, covering instrumentals, pop, and rock and roll. Their debut show at Stomp City, AMOCO Centre, Orange in June 1965 pulled a record audience of 2030. Soon after, Janice Glading, using the stage name Babs King, joined as vocalist. The Vamps played the Millers Hotel circuit in Sydney and other venues through late 1965, and appeared on Tonight with Don Lane to perform "Twist and Shout." Richard Neville of OZ magazine briefly considered managing them in late 1965 but departed for London in early 1966. In February 1966, Britt formed a new lineup with Lisa-Kay James, Jan Little, Elaine Neilsen, and Merlene Ryder, touring eastern Australia, including Queensland's show ground circuit. Denise Cooper replaced Neilsen on vocals in September 1966. While in Brisbane, the Vamps performed "House of the Rising Sun" and "Hanky Panky" on two episodes of the IN television show on BTQ7. Offered a tour of South Vietnam, Britt assembled another lineup in May 1967 with Melbourne musicians Linda Cable, Marilyn Ockwell, and Terri Scott. After a few gigs in Melbourne and Sydney, she replaced them in July with Denise Cooper, Val Falloon, Julie Hibberd, and Carol Middlemiss. Falloon had recently arrived from England, where she had written and produced the single "The Time Is Over" for Mike Hamilton via Decca Records in February 1966. The Vamps toured South Vietnam from October 1967 to March 1968, playing at Australian, US, Korean, and South Vietnamese military bases, often driving themselves in an unescorted kombi van.