Victor started his musical journey in the south coast town of Brighton, U.K. back in the late 80s, playing with A.R.St. John of casino twangers Hustler. He formed psych/garage outfit The Lazy Daze, who later changed their sound and name to become jangley-spikey-pop-merchants The Sound Asleep. They released their debut single "Cold Outside"; produced by ex-Only One's axe legend John Perry on Vinyl Solution Records to much underground critical acclaim; receiving single of the week in the now defunct Sounds music mag. They gigged around the UK playing with the likes of the Spacemen 3, the Prisoners, Died Pretty, The Lime Spiders, The Primatives and many other luminaries from the then "Paisley Underground". They then went on to record two more singles with a much harder post-new-wave-Television-Wire-Soft Boys-Gang of Four experimental sound that showcased Vic's unique, twisted, manic guitar style. Both were produced by the then King Blank axeman, later to become Bush guitarist Nigel Pulsford, before going their seperate ways in 1990, after which Victor went on to form Vibrasonic with Simon Jones, whom he'd met some years earlier at the Lazy Daze first gig.
The Vibe's first incarnation was as the Infidels, who have a track on the obscure now impossible to find Target sampler flexi. In 1991 they changed their name to Vibrasonic and recorded a single for Target Records. The two sides of Vibrasonic's debut 45 "Don't Leave Me Tired" and "The Unloved Insane"; were infact re-workings of old Lazy Daze songs, as was the A side of their 2nd single on Yep! Records "Kingsley. J". "Kingsley J" was recently featured on the Rhino records boxset "Children of Nuggets". At this point in their career, they were primary a studio project and as a duo Vic and Simon played most of the instruments drafting in Rich Cook's (ex-Sound Asleep) and Steve Murry (ex-Stupids bassist) to help out on drums. All three tracks were revamped and given the classic psychedelic-sitar-drenched-fuzz-tremelo-reverb-vibrato -ADT phased treatment that became Vibrasonic's trademark.
In 1995, they released their self-titled debut album on Yep! records, which they had recorded material for the previous year at the now in-famous Toerag Studios with engineer Liam Watson. By this time they had started to play live with various rhythm section line-ups including Bruce Brand (ex-Milkshakes and Headcoats) on drums, Neil Palmer (of the Fire Dpt) and Rob Chambers (Wiggle Wobble Jabble/Daddy Fantastic) on bass, supporting amongst others, guitar legends Link Wray and Dick Dale. They released another album for Yep! records called " Instrumental Vibrations" as the title suggests, a purely instrumental affair; and a 3rd single: a psych/pop anthem "Into Sunshine". Although they remained relatively unknown to the masses and didn't achieve the wider acclaim they deserved; Vibrasonic had a far-reaching influence on thier contemporaries, some of which are big names today.
After Vibrasonic; Vic went on to work for a while with Chris Andrews, singer-songwriter and frontman of 60's band's Ruperts People and Les Fleur De Lys and produced an un-released classic psych ballad in the style of Strawberry Fields called "Do You Believe". Although it may seem that Vic has since then disappeared into the ether and has had nothing released in his own right in almost a decade; he has, in fact, like a resting volcano been active, just bubbling away under the surface. When not doing session work for libary film music, appearing on other people's records, performing the odd sitar recital or playing live in local garage bands such as The Cants, The Trashbeats, The Ruins and most recently with surf outfit The Sussex Squares , Vic can be found labouring away in the deep confines of his underground sonic laboratory, concocting and conjuring up new wierd and wonderful psychogenic chemical vibrations, using ancient formulae from the acidic residue of our ancestors for the process of sonic transmutation.Ready for the public consumption of those with a more esoteric and discerning musical ear.
And now, back from the other side of obscurity, ready to unleash the results of his experiments, may we introduce Prof: Vic Vibrato with his new venture "The Amphibian Zoo Psychedelic Safari".
"Watch this space for forthcoming info,sounds and news from this EX-VIBRASONIC musical Psychonaut......."
"REV VIC VIBRATO & THE SAINT ANTHONY'S FIRE LIVE AT THE STASH CLUB "
Prof: Vic Vibrato & The Amphibian Zoo's Friend Space (Top 16)
Prof: Vic Vibrato & The Amphibian Zoo has 1868 friends.
February Fuzzy Fun! Sat 28th Feb. City Screen Basment, York.
Starring: Undergrass + Helene + Sam Forrest
Undergrass will fry your brain with their dirty brand of deep fried southern skynyrd sounding bluesy swamp noise, all the way from Foss delta. Hell Yeah!
Helene are fronted by Helene and hail from London. And will be warming the fuzzy cockles of hearts with Velvet Underground esque pop and hints of Francoise Hardy. Their 3rd Album; 'Heliotrope' is out now, and has been critically loved, because, well it is mega!
Breaking you in gently for the night will be the fantastic Sam Forrest. Who will destroy your inds in a most pleasent fashion with his sublime Neil Young meets David Crosby Acousto-pop. Sublime!
Team Fuzz will, as always be your hosts for the evening! covering the basement in all manner of lights, projections, lollies, decor and serving up classic and not so classic, Blues, Soul, freakbeat, psych, northern soul, boogaloo, funk, odd bits of hiphip and whateverthehellelsetheyfancy.
Doors are at 8pm until 1am and tickets are only £4 otd or just £3 in adv or with a flyer. Be there or be a square from Delaware.
We’re releasing Stay Up Late/We Love George Michael as a single on Monday 16th March Support the Stay Up Late campaign - fighting for the right to party Help Heavy Load become the first learning disabled band to get into the Top 40! You can download your copy at iTunes, Amazon, HMV etc.... or gift it to a mate! Thanks for your support, lots of love Heavy Load
TimeMazine #3 Psychedelic Greek Fanzine, 80 pages (A4) full of psych, all in English, with 11 track FREE CD compilation (79:51 min)
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS:
- ULTIMATE SPINACH (Mr. Ian Bruce Douglas) - HUNGER! (Papa John Morton) - IRON BUTTERFLY (Lee Dorman) - ODYSSEY (Vincent Kussy) - SAVAGE RESURRECTION (3 Original Members) - MERRELL FANKHAUSER - VIBRAVOID - ATOMIC WORKERS - OBSKURIA - THE LYSERGICS - THE MISUNDERSTOOD (Rick Brown) - KING ARTHUR’S COURT (Sky Sunlight Saxon)
ALSO:
- The Sixties Mind of Joop Roelofs (Q65) - BAD AFRO RECORDS (interview plus releases) - Ultimate 60s Time Songs – Get Me To The World On Time by ELECTRIC PRUNES. - Destination: NO MAN’S LAND. The Greek cult heroes are Back! - 16 pages of reviews on LPs, CDS, 7’’, Zines……
CD Compilation: (79:51 min)
1. THE SAVAGE RESURRECTION – Tahitian Melody (Live - 2008) 2. MERRELL FANKHAUSER & H.M.S. BOUNTY – Drivin’ Sideways (1968) 3. ULTIMATE SPINACH – (Ballad of the) Hip Death Goddess (Live - 1967) 4. HUNGER! – Open Your Eyes (Lost Version – 1969) 5. VIBRAVOID – Mystery Ship (Live – 2008) 6. ATOMIC WORKERS – White (2006) 7. NO MAN’S LAND – News From The Sun (2008) 8. THE LYSERGICS – That’s How Much I Need You Now (Demo – 2008) 9. DRAGONTEARS – The River (2008) 10. OBSKURIA – I See (2008) 11. KING ARTHUR’S COURT – My Queen (2006)
Sat, 29th Nov - The Revolutionary Freaked Out Fuzz Club, York
Playing live are Leed's own answer to The Doors / Frank zappa: 'ELEPHANTS ON ACID' and also 'THE BUCCANEERS': suppliers of mint Black Keys esque pop! And, as a late addition: 'FLIGHT 13' bringing their dirty 60's rnb and fuzz to the basement!
Open till 1am with the Fuzz Djs playing the best in garage, blues, 60's soul and RnB, psychedelia and allsorts of retro fuzz noise
@ City Screen Basement, Coney St, York. 8pm-1am - £4 Sat 29th Nov
