The Vipers (NYC) - Nothing's From Today

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 was a recording engineer who produced Fleshtones's first studio recordings while bouncing around as a guitarist in several bands. Weiss and Martin quickly co-wrote a batch of 5 songs and wasted no time recruiting Graham May. Graham, a hometown friend of Paul had played previously with both Weiss and Martin in The Rock Messengers, an early punk-era guitar instrumental quintet. At the time Graham was recruited to join what was to become The Vipers, he was already a permanent member of a popular Uptown band, The Social Register, and for a while, divided his time between the steady working Social Register and The Vipers which had nothing but expenses, but promised greater creative involvement as a founding partner. 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, David had a rehearsal studio of his own and was happy to share the rent (and even happier to evict the resident Mr. Lloyd). This was the core of The Vipers. Together with their first drummer, Johnny Decal (Flynn), the first order of business was to record the initial five songs and shop the demo to secure gigs. The problems started with a mutual dissatisfaction at Decal's drumming. This led to his dismissal, leading the Vipers to host a continual parade of drummers. Either they were great drummers, such as Jan Marek Pakulski, Clem Burke and Ira Elliot and unable to make a full-time commitment, 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 rush to secure a drummer for each gig that 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 recording new song demos during the mandatory rehearsals for each upcoming gig. The revolving door of drummers was impeding the growth of the band, from the demands of running over existing material for the benefit of each newcomer. This went on for nearly two years until, out of the blue, Danny B. Harvey of The Rockats introduced the Vipers to Patrick Brown, his former bandmate from Levi Dexter and The Ripchords and childhood friend from Canyon Country, California. 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. Enjoy!