Together with Dave Parsons and Anthony Doughty (AKA Tex Axile) made up the the band's four permanent members. Additional members Pol Burton, James Piper and Martin Hallett were musicians engaged to play during live concerts: Burton, then later Hallett (AKA Mallet), on drums, and Piper on guitar.
The band was signed by MCA and released a cover single of the Holly and the Italians song "Tell That Girl To Shut Up" in April 1988 . A month later the follow-up single "I Want Your Love", with its pop/punk crossover appeal, entered the Top 5 in the United Kingdom. The band went on to release the hit album Pop Art in October.
1989 was the band's most successful year, with the number 3 hit single "Baby I Don't Care" and hit album Velveteen.
In 1990 MCA refused to release Transvision Vamp's third album Little Magnets Versus The Bubble Of Babble in the UK, reportedly disliking the mellower direction of the music. Wendy James has stated "...it came out in America and did better than the other two albums in America. But then we decided to split up, during which time the English record label had said they weren't convinced about this record, we're going to hold off on it and see how well it does in other countries first. By the time they were ready to release it, we'd already decided to split up, and so it never came out". The band formally split early in 1991. Tex Axile left to Join Max with John Reynolds, Kevin Mooney and Mathew Ashman formerly of Sinead O'connor, Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow. Dave Parsons Joined Gavin Rossdale and formed Bush.
James went on to a solo career and in 2004 formed the band Racine.
www.transvisionvamp.com
Andy Warhol's Dead
Transvision Vamp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And somebody says
Andy Warhol's dead
No more Edie, Andy or Candy
No more factory
Because Andy Warhol's dead
Andy is dead, Andy is dead, Andy is dead
Soup cans and cola, pop art baby
But now that's all over
Because Andy Warhol's dead
Andy is dead, Andy is dead, Andy is dead
Andy Warhol is dead, Andy Wathol's dead
Well last night I had a dream about William B
And in that dream Willie says to me
Andy ain't dead, Andy ain't dead, Andy ain't dead
He's just asleep!
Nice one Willie
Andy's asleep, Andy's asleep, Andy's asleep
Andy Warhol's asleep, No! No! No! Andy's dead!
1 minute....Andy Warhol's dead
2 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
3 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
4 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
5 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
6 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
7 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
8 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
9 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
10 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
11 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
12 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
13 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
14 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
15 minutes...
Transvision Vamp's "Andy Warhol's Dead" is a tribute song to the famous artist and avant-garde figure who passed away on February 22, 1987. The song presents a mixture of playful and sarcastic tones regarding the death of Warhol. The lyrics start with someone announcing the news of Warhol's passing and moves on to reflect on the end of an era. Edie Sedgwick, Candy Darling, and the factory are all referenced as people and places that are now gone along with the artist.
While the song seems to be celebrating Andy Warhol and his iconic contribution to pop art, the lyricist also acknowledges the end of an era. The song implies that Warhol's passing is the end of a period of great creativity and experimentation, suggesting that without him, pop art lost some of its energy and excitement. The lyrics also contain a riff on the idea that Warhol was so iconic and trendsetting that he could even influence death itself. Willie B, who appears in a dream of the lyricist, claims that Warhol is just asleep, suggesting that even in death, Warhol's influence is undeniable.
Overall, the song "Andy Warhol's Dead" is a tribute that's at once sarcastic, playful, and mournful. It reminds listeners of Warhol's legacy as an avant-garde artist and pop icon but also mourns the end of an era of creative energy.
Line by Line Meaning
Just gone 11, June '87
It is the time and date when this event happened.
And somebody says
Someone announces some important news.
Andy Warhol's dead
Andy Warhol, the famous artist, has passed away.
No more Edie, Andy or Candy
Andy's friends and muses, Edie Sedgwick, Andy Gibb, and Candy Darling, are no more.
No more factory
The Factory, an artist collective and studio space founded by Andy, is now gone.
Soup cans and cola, pop art baby
Andy was famous for his pop art, comprising of Campbell's Soup Cans and Coca-Cola bottles.
But now that's all over
Andy's art, influence and creative era has come to an end.
Well last night I had a dream about William B
The singer had a dream about William Burroughs, a novelist and Andy's friend.
And in that dream Willie says to me
William has a message for the singer in the dream.
Andy ain't dead, Andy ain't dead, Andy ain't dead
William believes that Andy is not really dead.
He's just asleep!
William thinks that Andy might just be taking a nap.
Nice one Willie
The singer compliments William for his positive message.
1 minute....Andy Warhol's dead
The song then lists each passing minute, emphasizing the fact that Andy is really gone.
2 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
The song continues to remind us that Andy has passed away.
3 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
The passing time drives the point home that Andy is gone forever.
4 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
The singer wants to make sure everyone is aware of Andy's passing.
5 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
The repetition of this line highlights the gravity of the loss and how long it took to sink in.
6 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
The song continues to hammer home the fact that Andy is gone.
7 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
Andy's death becomes overwhelming and more apparent with each minute that passes.
8 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
The repeated message is almost hypnotic, conveying a sense of shock and disbelief.
9 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
The passing of time does not ease the pain of losing Andy.
10 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
Ten minutes have passed and Andy is still gone.
11 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
This repetition of the fact reinforces the loss of a great artist.
12 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
The singer can't accept that Andy is gone and continues to repeat it, hoping it will sink in.
13 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
The repeated message takes on a mournful and lullaby-like quality.
14 minutes...Andy Warhol's dead
As time goes on, the singer realizes that Andy is truly gone.
15 minutes...
Fifteen minutes have passed and Andy is still dead.
Contributed by Aiden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Galen Tingle
I loved this in college-- so many memories.
Galen Tingle
Um, listened to this in college. Loved it. Miss warhol. Hard working genius.
Malcolm Marriott
R.I.P. Andy Warhol
MMD - Movimento Musical Distorsivo
Incredible!
zerosprite
This has more than a little Velvet Underground sound to it...
Andy M
great band
silvio jose pereda cortes
Wendy Always on my mind !!!!!!
Tor
Did ya ever view me wee "Everybody's Andy Warhol For 15 Minutes," ehhhh? I dig it.
Ton Kool
Again... I clearly hear influences of the Velvet Underground... Like that... :-).
Brenda Jo
Andy is Stu Sucliffe.