The Vipers (NYC) - Never Alone and more!

Rare video footage of The Vipers performing onstage. The Vipers were NYC's premier garage/psych band throughout the 1980s. Their first LP, "Outta The Nest" made the top of the CMJ chart on the strength of their original material. "Cheated & Lied", "Nothing's From Today" and "Tears (Only Dry)" are three of this album's favorite cuts. The Vipers toured throughout the US and Canada in 1984 and 1985, but their popularity was greatest on both coasts of the US, Quebec and France. Formed in 1980 by Paul Martin and Jon Weiss, both established in NY punk rock circles from the mid 1970s. Weiss was tenor sax man for Fleshtones, and Martin having been the recording engineer to produce Fleshtones's first studio recordings while bouncing around as a guitarist in several bands, while recording demos of his own music and biding his time. Weiss and Martin quickly co-wrote a batch of 5 songs and wasted no time recruiting Graham May. The next member came at just the right time. David Mann was playing bass in the Richard Lloyd Band. He was tiring of that scene, and aside from digging the Vipers tunes, David could play guitar, bass and keyboards. Best of all, just as the lease was running out for our rehearsal studio, David had one of his own and was happy to share the rent (and even happier to evict Richard). This was the core of The Vipers. Together with their first drummer, Johnny Decal (Flynn), the first order of business was to record the first five songs and shop the demo to secure gigs. The problems started with a mutual dissatisfaction at Decal's drumming acumen. Then, after his dismissal, the fate of the Vipers was to host a continually changing parade of drummers. Either they were great but unable to commit or they were not so hot and willing to drop everything to join. After the first year or so, there was a roster of several freelance drummers that had played for The Vipers on various occasions and were reasonably well acquainted with their material. This resulted in a mad rash to find an available drummer whenever a gig was booked. Writing songs and recording demos was a different matter. Most itinerant drummers would not participate in recording without being paid. This led to the practice of recording new song demos while rehearsing for the upcoming gig. The revolving door of drummers was impeding the growth of the band, just because they had to spend so much time running over existing material. This went on for nearly two and a half years. Then, out of the blue, Danny Harvey of The Rockats introduced the Vipers to Patrick Brown, his former bandmate from Levi Dexter and The Ripchords. Pat fit right in. From that point on, The Vipers never looked back. Here's a rare look at the Vipers in action, at the top of their game!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• vipers
• rock
• music
• nyc
• garage
• psych
• 80s

[organmiscreant]

Definitely some great shows. I loved seeing these guys. Paul, thanks for posting it...How about another Vipers' reunion?

[PaulViper]

Another reunion is not out of the question, but top of the list is a full reissue of all the Vipers' recordings - audio/video.

I'm looking for memorabilia/ephemera for the packaging. All contributions will be credited to the contributors. Do you have any photos, tapes, etc. for us to use?

Cheers, PaulViper

[Barrett977]

grandissimi...

[BlackMonk66]

I remember that show. It was an end of the tour Fuzztones party and they had guests from all the local bands. That was a fun night.

[rodoorsfopeyote]

Great cover great fuzz....

[revup67]

Yeah I do in the garage in the garage somewhere - hope to post in the future

[paisleybabee]

Do you have any Mad Violets?!

[NashvilleDennis]

I was stationed in Saratoga w/ the Navy back Sept 85 - April 86 & LOVED these guys. If memory serves, my copy of Outta The Nest was on white vinyl, w/ a flexidisk single included. Unfortunately, I left a bunch of my records with a high school buddy back in Metro Detroit & the bum nicked it!!!

[madamequelquun]

Madame Sarkozy

[revup67]

I was at this show..may even have it on video - not sure - videod a few bands at the Dive and Irving Plaza and Peppermint. How about the Dive show that was an all star jam? Anyone remember that night? Rudy introduced a singer from Stitch in Time who showed up. Bruce Planty was DJ

[revup67]

Hey Paul - this is TonyG - you guys were on my radio show on WSIA in which I think I still have the cassette of the show. I may also have a video. Remember how I used to lug around the video camera to Irvining Plaza, Pepermint, etc? I still have a bunch of those shows on video including one of yours from 1983 - think it was the very first show I had ever recorded - quality is pretty damn good for 1983. Think I also have some photos as well..cheers TonyG