1981–82 – The Vipers
Grazia – vocals
Mike Smuts – guitar
Hylton Reiff – bass
Mark Jooste – drums
The Vipers were my introduction to Cape Town’s punk and new-wave scene — and probably the loudest band I had played with up to that point!
Formed in late 1981, the band played a raw, high-energy style of original rock, very different from the progressive rock, jazz-rock and more complex music I had been playing previously. Mike and Mark had already been part of Cape Town’s emerging new-wave scene, and Grazia brought a distinctive presence as our front vocalist. I joined on bass, and together we developed a tight, aggressive sound built around Mike’s original music and Grazia’s lyrics.
We became regulars at Club 1886 in Long Street, one of Cape Town’s important venues for punk, new wave and alternative music at the time. The press described The Vipers as a “high-energy modern rock group” and our music as a “tight brand of unpretentious rock aimed at instilling some energy back into Cape Town audiences.”
We also shared bills with several bands from the South African alternative scene, including Da Measles, Fragile, The Workers and Bionic Automaton, and were among the bands chosen to perform during Club 1886’s final weekend before it closed.
Musically, The Vipers were quite a departure for me — loud, fast, energetic and great fun to play.
My PUNK ROCK experience — and quite possibly responsible for some of my hearing loss!
