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Courier-Mail
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Transvision Vamp book first Australian tour in 27 years
Don't miss out on the headlines from Music Tours. Followed categories will be added to My News. Transvision Vamp frontwoman Wendy James vividly recalls the hysteria generated by the band's popularity in the late 80s. As hit singles Baby I Don't Care and I Want Your Love set up camp on the Australian charts, the band were greeted by thousands of fans and a big police presence outside the venues they were booked to play and appearances on Countdown and Hey Hey It's Saturday on their first tour in 1989. Those memories came flooding back when she found old Super 8 footage of those days last year. 'I found a lot of Australian footage, especially film we captured in Melbourne, and I remember there were riot police on horses and people in the street and this one girl who screams they're bigger than the Beatles,' James said, laughing. Transvision Vamp singer Wendy James is bringing the band back to Australia. Picture: David Leigh Dodd / Supplied. James was made for the 80s. The outspoken young star declared Transvision Vamp would be bigger than Madonna and was a vocal critic of the emerging Stock Aitken Waterman pop factory which launched the careers of Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. But after a heady three years touring the world, the band broke up after falling out with their record label. James embarked on a sporadic solo career, moving to New York in 2002 and when she released her latest solo record The Shape of History to critical acclaim last year, she decided it was time to get back on the road. James and her bandmates in the late 80s. Picture: Supplied. The self-managed singer emailed a couple of Australian promoters to gauge if there was interest in her returning to the country for her first tour in 27 years. 'I knew when I made this 10th album I wanted to not just do the UK again but go back to Australia where the whole thing started. I know we broke out of the UK, but really the rapturous, the enormousness broke out from Australia,' she said. 'I wrote a couple of emails to Australian promoters who received me very warmly.' James released a new solo record last year. Picture: David Leigh Dodd / Supplied. A woman fronting a punk pop band in the 80s was a rarity. With her baby-doll dresses and bright pink lipstick, James was a unique pop star paying homage to the influence of Blondie's Debbie Harry. The short-lived band also exerted its own influence on other artists from Nirvana's Kurt Cobain to young female pop stars who have probably had her picture on their vision boards such as Sabrina Carpenter. Cobain famously wore a Transvision Vamp T-shirt during Nirvana's 1991 tour of the US and a live performance on MTV. 'That T-shirt is just known now as the Kurt shirt,' James said. 'He came to quite a few of those shows we did in America in 1991 and he purchased his tour T-shirt and wore it for quite a few of his performances, including the MTV one. 'There's really funny footage of him telling Courtney (Love) about her hair cut and he's wearing my T-shirt. So yeah, it's a great thrill.' The Transvision Vamp tour opens at The Triffid in Brisbane on February 12 and heads to The Station, Sunshine Coast on February 14, King Street Bandroom, Newcastle, on February 15, Metro Theatre, Sydney on February 17, Northcote Theatre, Melbourne on February 18, The Gov, Adelaide on February 19 and Magnet House, Perth on February 21. The tour early bird presale opens on July 11 from 9am and general tickets are live from July 15 at 9am with all details via Originally published as Punk pop star Wendy James brings Transvision Vamp back to Australia where it all began
Khaleej Times
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Gen-Z: How social media redefines cancel culture in 2025
Picture this: It's 1981, and Nile Rodgers, the legendary musician behind hits like Le Freak and Good Times, is at a club with his girlfriend. When she behaves in a way he deems unacceptable, he doesn't just write a song about heartbreak—he writes Your Love Is Cancelled. The track, a sequel of sorts to his earlier hit I Want Your Love. The track didn't exactly top the charts, but it did something far more revolutionary: it introduced the concept of 'cancelling' someone for bad behaviour. Decades before hashtags and viral call-outs, Rodgers was already onto something. Fast forward to 2025, and cancel culture has become a defining feature of our social landscape, especially for Generation-Z. But what exactly is it, and why does it matter so much to this generation? Cancel culture refers to the practice of publicly calling out, shaming, or boycotting individuals, organisations, or even brands for behaviour deemed socially unacceptable. This could range from offensive comments and controversial beliefs to harmful or illegal actions. Social media platforms have become the battlegrounds where these cancellations play out, with hashtags and viral posts amplifying the outrage. The fallout from being 'cancelled' can be devastating. For influencers, the stakes are far higher than simply losing followers; it's about witnessing the community they've painstakingly built collapse overnight. A single misstep—whether it's offensive comments, personal scandals, or revelations of unethical behaviour—can unleash a ripple effect of repercussions. Prominent YouTubers like PewDiePie, Tati Westbrook, and Shane Dawson have all experienced the downfall of their communities in the past, as did Instagram star Nessa Barrett. More recently, Indian YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia faced a similar fate. For many, the path to redemption is daunting, if not entirely out of reach. For the ones cancelling, it's a necessary tool for accountability—a way to hold powerful people and institutions responsible for their actions. For others, it's a digital witch hunt that leaves little room for redemption. Gen-Z, the first true digital natives, have grown up in a world where social media is both a megaphone and a microscope. They've witnessed movements like #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter use collective outrage to drive real change. For many in Gen-Z, cancel culture isn't just about punishment—it's about justice. It's a way to challenge systemic inequalities and demand accountability in a world where traditional systems have often failed. 'We're not cancelling people—we're cancelling toxic behaviour,' says Sayeda Arif, a young professional working in a startup company in Dubai. But it is not all black and white. Gen-Z's relationship with cancel culture is complicated. On one hand, they've seen it work—celebrities, politicians, and corporations have been forced to reckon with their actions in ways that were unimaginable a decade ago. 'There have been instances where I have supported the idea of cancelling out of touch of reality influencers, and offensive and insensitive brand campaigns,' says Rajasi Shrestha, a Nepalese student. On the other hand, they've also seen it spiral into toxicity, with online mobs sometimes targeting individuals for minor missteps or misunderstandings. ' I have never cancelled anyone. Though it could be a positive view of holding people accountable in a social way. I also feel people took it too far away and started cancelling others over very trivial issues,' says Sara Alaa Abdelmagid, an Egyptian student studying in Dubai. While cancel culture can be a powerful force for good, it's not without its flaws. Critics argue that it often lacks nuance, leaving little room for forgiveness or growth. The speed and intensity of online outrage can sometimes overshadow the possibility of meaningful dialogue or education. Take, for example, the case of a young influencer who makes an insensitive comment. Instead of using the moment as a teaching opportunity, cancel culture can quickly shut down any chance for their learning or redemption. This raises an important question: Are we cancelling people to create a better world, or are we just feeding into a cycle of performative outrage? The challenge for Gen Z,and for all of us, is to find a balance between accountability and empathy. Cancel culture can be a tool for social change, but it shouldn't be the default response to every controversy. Open dialogue and a willingness to listen are just as important as holding people accountable. In a world where everyone has a platform, it's up to us to use our voices wisely. So, the next time you're tempted to type 'cancel', ask yourself: Is this about justice, or is it just about the drama? Because in the end, the goal shouldn't be to destroy—it should be to build a better, more inclusive world.
