The town of Guildford has more than a few well-known faces amongst its list of former and present residents, some of whom you can read about in more detail elsewhere on this site. Often, though, people either go on to live a quiet life or else achieve great things outside of Guildford. It is relatively rare for someone to essentially achieve their success and then return to the town in order to offer something to the people that live there, but that is precisely what Howard Smith looks to have done with his decision to run for the position of Mayor of Guildford after having been a rock star.
Who Is Howard Smith?
If we’re all honest, we’d readily admit that being the drummer isn’t one of the positions that many people are quick to remember in all but the most successful of bands. Yes, Ringo Starr and Keith Moon are well-known to most, whilst names such as Charlie Watts and Ginger Baker will stand the test of time, but most drummers are quickly forgotten by all but the most fervent of lovers of the bands that they play for. There is an argument to be made that that is the case for Howard Smith, who was the drummer of The Vapors when the band was formed in Guildford in 1978.
Although The Vapors may not be a band name that everyone recognises, it is likely that you will be able to hum the tune of their most famous song. Turning Japanese was released in 1980 and made it to number three on the UK Singles Chart. The Guildford-based band released two albums but broke up in 1982, which was thought to be the end of the matter. In 2016, however, a version of the band formed and has been touring and making music ever since, just without Howard Smith behind the drum kit as he went on to work for Performing Rights Society.
Turning Mayor
There were numerous rumours about what Turning Japanese was about, with the most known one being that it was a reference to masturbation. Now it seems as though the former drummer of The Vapors, Howard Smith, has eschewed the opportunity to do something that would rather obviously be politically incorrect, not turning Japanese but turning into the Mayor of the town that he grew up in. He turned to politics in 2017, being part of the group that posted leaflets in support of the Labour Party prior to standing as a candidate for Guildford for them in 2017.
Although he came third in that general election, he did get elected to the Westborough ward’s borough council in 2023. That was a step on his journey to being elected Mayor of Guildford, which was confirmed in the May of 2025. Having grown up in the town in Surrey, he was delighted to be elected to take on the role and will serve as the town’s Mayor for a year. He takes over from Sallie Barker, who held the role before him and was elected thanks to his work in the local area. He ran a record shop in Guildford for eight years, for example, although it is no longer open for business.
What He’ll Do as Mayor
Lovely remembrance service at the Cathedral this morning representing as the deputy mayor. pic.twitter.com/kG9q7MdQyI
— Howard Smith (@GuildfordHoward) November 10, 2024
One of the main questions that many will be asking themselves is what it is that he will be doing as Mayor. Obviously, a lot of the role is merely ceremonial, turning up to the opening of new shops or attending concerts held by local schools, for example. Yet there is also plenty that will be anything but ceremonial, such as using his position to offer support to both the Guildford Shakespeare Company and the Phyllis Tuckwell hospice care charity. Perhaps somewhat unsurprisingly, Smith will also use his time as Mayor to offer music bursaries to those that need them.
Cheryl King Trust offers local music lesson bursaries on a charity basis, so Smith will support it as it has a ‘special resonance’ for him after his time with The Vapors. He said, “Music has been my whole thing since I was a kid watching Top of the Pops,” so he will no doubt be delighted to have the chance to give other young people the opportunity to get involved with music themselves. After all, he still feels as though his music career will be the thing that he is ‘known for’, even after his time as the Mayor of Guildford comes to a close in the May of 2026.
Working for the Town of His Birth
Smith was born in Guildford, growing up in the Jacobs Well part of the town. It was during his spell as a student at both primary and secondary schools in Guildford that he developed his passion for music, but he never forgot where he came from. Having been one of the founding members of the group when it came together in 1978, he ended up going on tours of Australia and the United States of America with the band before coming back to Guildford. Little wonder, then, that he has a ‘deep commitment’ to helping the town be the best that it can be.
As Mayor, he wants young people to ‘make the most of opportunities’, whilst he aims to ensure that senior members of the Guildford community are able to ‘enjoy and make the most of their lives’. Given that he worked for the non-profit organisation The Performing Rights Society after the breakup of the band, it is understandable that he would also elect to choose the three charities that he is supporting. As Mayor, he will be supported in his role by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jane Tyson, with the pair working alongside each other for the betterment of Guildford.