Guildford Politician Returns To His Rock Music Roots

Published on: 13 Sep, 2017
Updated on: 14 Sep, 2017

Guildford Labour Party’s parliamentary candidate in this year’s general election, Howard Smith, has met up with members of the band he once played drums in – the Vapors.

Howard Smith and his son at the Always the Sun festival in Stoke Park.

Hailing from Guildford, their song Turning Japanese reached number three in the UK charts back in 1980. They made two albums and toured the world before band members Dave Fenton, Ed Bazalgette, Steve Smith and Howard Smith went their separate ways.

The band has reformed, although Howard is not playing with them on their latest tour, preferring to concentrate on his political activities. But he did meet up with them on Sunday (September 10) when they played at the Always the Sun festival in Stoke Park.

The original Vapors line up: Steve Smith (bass), Howard Smith (drums), Ed Bazalgette (lead guitar), Dave Fenton (lead vocals and guitar). The Turning Japanese link is to a film clip of the band playing on Top Of The Pops. Note at about 1 minute 14 seconds in, Howard gets up from his drums to pick up a stick he’d dropped!

The Vapors played to an enthusiastic if slightly soggy crowd in the park – just a short distance to where they once rehearsed above a launderette in Stoke Road, before they turned professional.

While a song about hanging around at Guildford railway station was also in their set list on Sunday.

Howard said: “A couple of the band members I haven’t seen for 20 years, so it was great to chat to them before they took to the stage.

“We started the band by playing all the pub venues around Guildford before going on to sign our recording contract and touring around the world. The band loved being back where it all started.”

Howard may have given up on his musical ambitions for now, but he seems very keen to help his young son learn the ropes of festival going. Perhaps the next Guildford pop sensation with have a younger Smith on the drums?