The Vamps story began back in the small town of Steelton, Pennsylvania on the banks of the Susquehanna River in the Harrisburg area where brothers Frank and Joe Pugliese were born. When nearby Olmsted Air Force Base was scheduled to close the Pugliese family would relocate to San Antonio, Texas in 1966. The Vamps started as an antidote to the prevailing mainstream Rock of the early-70's. Informed by a love of Detroit R&B, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, Sixties Garage Rock and some of the newer artists starting to make waves in New York and the UK, sometime in 1974. The Vamps incorporated all those influences into their sound. Joe asserts We wanted to be the band that wasn't around, the band we couldn't see in San Antonio, playing the type of music we loved. At the time there weren't many (if any) acts in the area playing original rock'n'roll that wasn't either heavily blues, country or metal. They had a number of different names thru-out their time-span (Loose, The Boys, Chatterbox, etc.) until finally settling w/ The Vamps name. They only performed out a handful of times and barely had a following. They would however open for the Sex Pistols at their infamous San Antonio Randy's Rodeo appearance of January 8th,1978. They only released four 7s during their run. The last one issued in 1980. This compilation Used to Be Cool includes all of their recorded material. I Used To Be Cool stands tall in the canon of Texan proto-punk and their lack of popular acceptance amounts to a badge of honor. The Vamps didn't used to be cool -- for my money they've always been cool. As a couple of novice musicians Joe and Frank accomplished exactly what they set out to do - they became the band they wanted to see!
Release date:
July 5, 2024
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Nobsound Little Bear T7 Tube Preamp
Delivers rich, warm audio through its high-quality vacuum tubes, featuring multiple inputs and adjustable gain
-
Phono Preamps - Top Picks
A selection of the best phono preamps for your turntable setup
-
HumminGuru: Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner
Advanced ultrasonic technology with customizable cleaning cycles and a large tank capacity to thoroughly remove dust, dirt, and contaminants
-
Edifier R1280DB Powered Speakers
Combining classic design with modern Bluetooth connectivity, built-in amplification and versatile inputs, these speakers deliver rich, balanced sound.
-
Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
Features an elliptical stylus that accurately tracks the grooves of vinyl records, delivering a rich, detailed sound with an output voltage of 5.5 mV
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Vernon Reid Hoodoo Telemetry
Players Club
October 3, 2025 -
Tom Smith There Is Nothing in the Dark That Isn't There in the Light - Maroon
Play It Again Sam
December 5, 2025 -
KAROL G Tropicoqueta (Tangerine) (Amazon Exclusive) [2xLP]
Bichota Records/Interscope
September 26, 2025 -
Dido No Angel (Deluxe Package)
Legacy Recordings
September 19, 2025 -
S. Carey Watercress
Jagjaguwar
October 3, 2025 -
Acopia Blush Response
Scenic Route Records
September 19, 2025 -
Greywind Severed Heart City
Frontiers New Recordings Physical Only
September 19, 2025 -
Casey Dienel My Heart Is An Outlaw (Sea Glass) [2xLP]
Jealous Butcher Records
October 17, 2025 -
OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) Crush: 40th Anniversary (Deluxe) [2xLP]
Universal UK
October 17, 2025 -
Paradise Lost Ascension (Gold) [2xLP]
Nuclear Blast
September 19, 2025 -
Golden Apples Shooting Star
Run For Cover
September 19, 2025 -
First Time Flyers Bound To Break
Lookout Mountain
September 19, 2025 -
Patrick Watson Uh Oh
Secret City Records
September 26, 2025 -
Cameron Whitcomb The Hard Way
Atlantic
September 26, 2025