Dave Vanian and the Phantom Chords
Encyclopedia
Dave Vanian and the Phantom Chords (a.k.a. (the) Phantom Chords) were a 1990s British band, featuring The Damned's Dave Vanian on vocals. Playing rockabilly
and gothic rock
, they performed a mixture of covers
and new material.
of The Damned, Vanian, guitarist Roman Jugg
and bassist Bryn Merrick
formed the Phantom Chords with Brendan Mooney (guitar) and Clyde Dempsey (drums). In 1990, the debut single by the band ("Johnny Remember Me
", a cover of a Geoff Goddard
song) was released on Polydor
in Australia
and M&G Records
in the UK
.
However, although an 11-track album (including "Johnny Remember Me") was written, and Polydor planned to release it, this did not happen, and only two one-sided acetates
of it exist (although it has since become available through bootlegs
). A promotional cassette was available for purchase at some of the venues when the band toured the United States later in 1993.
The Phantom Chords released another single in 1992, "Town Without Pity
" (a cover of a 1960s Dimitri Tiomkin
/Ned Washington
song) on Camden Town Records. Now featuring Donagh O'Leary
on bass following the departure of Bryn Merrick
In 1995, after touring in Britain and the US, they released a full-length album, David Vanian and the Phantom Chords
, on Big Beat Records
. At this time they performed "This House Is Haunted" on VH1 UK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4N0DzYvdsM as well as "Born To Be Wicked" on ITV's "It's Bizarre".
The band's lineup was very variable. A 1993 Damned reunion (I'm Alright Jack and The Beanstalk) and later resumption of The Damned (with Vanian and Captain Sensible
) meant that the Phantom Chords became a side project for Vanian, and they have released nothing since 1995. Roman Jugg
left Phantom Chords, saying "I got fed up with relying on someone who was unreliable". However, concert
s by Phantom Chords were still taking place in December 1999.
Singles
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
and gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
, they performed a mixture of covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
and new material.
History
Following the 1989 breakupFinal Damnation
Final Damnation is a live album by The Damned. The album was recorded at The Town & Country Club in London on June 13, 1988. It was originally released in August 1989, and was later re-released on DVD....
of The Damned, Vanian, guitarist Roman Jugg
Roman Jugg
Roman Jugg is a keyboard player and guitarist. He began his career in the Welsh punk band Victimize in the late 1970s....
and bassist Bryn Merrick
Bryn Merrick
Bryn Merrick is a musician who was a member of Cardiff-based punk band Victimize and who later joined The Damned between 1983 and 1989. He recorded the bass for albums Phantasmagoria and Anything. He replaced Paul Gray in 1983, when Paul went to UFO...
formed the Phantom Chords with Brendan Mooney (guitar) and Clyde Dempsey (drums). In 1990, the debut single by the band ("Johnny Remember Me
Johnny Remember Me
"Johnny Remember Me" is a song which became a 1961 UK #1 hit single for John Leyton, backed by The Outlaws. It was producer Joe Meek's first #1 production. Recounting the haunting - real or imagined - of a young man by his dead lover, the song is one of the most noted of the 'death ditties' that...
", a cover of a Geoff Goddard
Geoff Goddard
Geoff Goddard was an English songwriter. Working for Joe Meek in the early 1960s, he wrote songs for Heinz, Mike Berry, Gerry Temple, The Tornados, Kenny Hollywood, The Outlaws, Freddie Starr, Screaming Lord Sutch, Gunilla Thorne, The Ramblers, Carter-Lewis and the Southerners and John...
song) was released on Polydor
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and M&G Records
M&G Records
M&G Records was a record label founded by Michael Levy after he sold his previous label Magnet Records in 1988 to WEA for an estimated £10 million.- History :...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
However, although an 11-track album (including "Johnny Remember Me") was written, and Polydor planned to release it, this did not happen, and only two one-sided acetates
Cellulose acetate
Cellulose acetate , first prepared in 1865, is the acetate ester of cellulose. Cellulose acetate is used as a film base in photography, as a component in some adhesives, and as a frame material for eyeglasses; it is also used as a synthetic fiber and in the manufacture of cigarette filters and...
of it exist (although it has since become available through bootlegs
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
). A promotional cassette was available for purchase at some of the venues when the band toured the United States later in 1993.
The Phantom Chords released another single in 1992, "Town Without Pity
Town Without Pity
Town Without Pity is a 1961 American, Austrian and West German international co-production film drama starring Kirk Douglas, directed by Gottfried Reinhardt. It was made by Mirisch Productions for United Artists....
" (a cover of a 1960s Dimitri Tiomkin
Dimitri Tiomkin
Dimitri Zinovievich Tiomkin was a Russian-born Hollywood film score composer and conductor. He is considered "one of the giants of Hollywood movie music." Musically trained in Russia, he is best known for his westerns, "where his expansive, muscular style had its greatest impact." Tiomkin...
/Ned Washington
Ned Washington
Ned Washington was an American lyricist.-Biography:Washington was nominated for eleven Academy Awards from 1940 to 1962...
song) on Camden Town Records. Now featuring Donagh O'Leary
Donagh O'Leary
Donagh O'Leary, born Dublin 1965, is a bass guitarist and songwriter based in London, UK. He has been a member of many UK bands including The Wild Frontiers, Dave Vanian & The Phantom Chords, Naz Nomad & The Nightmares , Tenpole Tudor and played as a session player with Marc Almond and Peter...
on bass following the departure of Bryn Merrick
Bryn Merrick
Bryn Merrick is a musician who was a member of Cardiff-based punk band Victimize and who later joined The Damned between 1983 and 1989. He recorded the bass for albums Phantasmagoria and Anything. He replaced Paul Gray in 1983, when Paul went to UFO...
In 1995, after touring in Britain and the US, they released a full-length album, David Vanian and the Phantom Chords
David Vanian and the Phantom Chords (album)
Big Beat Presents David Vanian and the Phantom Chords is the 1995 album by rockabilly band Dave Vanian and the Phantom Chords.- Track listing :# "Voodoo Doll" — 3:23# "Screamin' Kid" — 3:31...
, on Big Beat Records
Big Beat Records (Ace subsidiary)
Big Beat Records is a British record label and import distributor owned by Ace Records, specialising in garage rock.-Roster:Releases include:*Big Star*Dean Carter*The Chocolate Watchband*Count Five*The Cramps*The Flaming Stars*Frumious Bandersnatch...
. At this time they performed "This House Is Haunted" on VH1 UK
VH1 UK
VH1 is a specialist music television channel from MTV Networks Europe. The channel broadcasts into the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The channel is based on the original VH1 American channel of the same name...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4N0DzYvdsM as well as "Born To Be Wicked" on ITV's "It's Bizarre".
The band's lineup was very variable. A 1993 Damned reunion (I'm Alright Jack and The Beanstalk) and later resumption of The Damned (with Vanian and Captain Sensible
Captain Sensible
Captain Sensible is a singer, songwriter, guitarist who grew up in Croydon, England, and co-founded the punk rock band The Damned in 1976. After leaving the band, he reinvented himself as an alternative pop singer with a rebellious, self-conscious image...
) meant that the Phantom Chords became a side project for Vanian, and they have released nothing since 1995. Roman Jugg
Roman Jugg
Roman Jugg is a keyboard player and guitarist. He began his career in the Welsh punk band Victimize in the late 1970s....
left Phantom Chords, saying "I got fed up with relying on someone who was unreliable". However, concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s by Phantom Chords were still taking place in December 1999.
Discography
Albums- Unreleased album (1990)
- David Vanian and the Phantom ChordsDavid Vanian and the Phantom Chords (album)Big Beat Presents David Vanian and the Phantom Chords is the 1995 album by rockabilly band Dave Vanian and the Phantom Chords.- Track listing :# "Voodoo Doll" — 3:23# "Screamin' Kid" — 3:31...
(1995, Big BeatBig Beat Records (Ace subsidiary)Big Beat Records is a British record label and import distributor owned by Ace Records, specialising in garage rock.-Roster:Releases include:*Big Star*Dean Carter*The Chocolate Watchband*Count Five*The Cramps*The Flaming Stars*Frumious Bandersnatch...
)
Singles
- Johnny Remember MeJohnny Remember Me"Johnny Remember Me" is a song which became a 1961 UK #1 hit single for John Leyton, backed by The Outlaws. It was producer Joe Meek's first #1 production. Recounting the haunting - real or imagined - of a young man by his dead lover, the song is one of the most noted of the 'death ditties' that...
(1990, PolydorPolydor RecordsPolydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
)
- Released as 12" singleGramophone recordA gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
, 7" and CDCompact DiscThe Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
.
Featured "Johnny Remember Me" (GoddardGeoff GoddardGeoff Goddard was an English songwriter. Working for Joe Meek in the early 1960s, he wrote songs for Heinz, Mike Berry, Gerry Temple, The Tornados, Kenny Hollywood, The Outlaws, Freddie Starr, Screaming Lord Sutch, Gunilla Thorne, The Ramblers, Carter-Lewis and the Southerners and John...
) b/w "Ghost Train" and "Relentless"- Town Without Pity (1992, Camden Town)
- Featured "Town Without Pity" b/w "(She's a) Bad Motorcycle"
See also
- PhantasmagoriaPhantasmagoria (The Damned album)Phantasmagoria is the sixth album by The Damned, released by MCA records in July 1985. Special editions were available on white vinyl or picture disc — some versions included a free 12" of their #3 hit Eloise....
- I'm Alright Jack and The Beanstalk
- Grave DisorderGrave DisorderGrave Disorder is an album from the punk rock band The Damned, released in August 2001.It was their first release since signing to Nitro Records. The album is musically similar to Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible's previous Damned collaboration, Strawberries...
External links
- Myspace pages: 1, 2, 3 (fan)
- Phantom Chords information, Damned12.freeserve.co.uk: page 1 (intro), p2 (album lyrics), p3 (single lyrics)
- Full discography, Idiotbox
- Performance & Dave Vanian interview, November 1993
- [ On the AMG]
- *New* Dave Vanian & The Phantom Chords Website !