The Damned
Encyclopedia
The Damned are an English gothic
punk
band formed in London in 1976. They were the first punk rock
band from the United Kingdom to release a single ("New Rose
"), an album (Damned Damned Damned), to have a record on the UK music charts, and to tour the United States. The Damned later evolved into one of the forerunners of the gothic
genre.
They have incorporated numerous styles into their music and image, including: garage rock
, psychedelic rock
, cabaret
, and the theatrical rock of Screaming Lord Sutch
and Alex Harvey
. Lead singer Dave Vanian's vocal style has been described as similar to a crooner
. The Damned have dissolved and reformed many times, with Vanian as the sole constant member; the lineups have always included either guitarist Captain Sensible
and/or drummer Rat Scabies
, who are both founding members. The current line-up is Vanian, Captain Sensible, Monty Oxy Moron
, Pinch
and Stu West
.
, which also included future Pretenders
frontwoman Chrissie Hynde
. Brian James (Brian Robertson) had been a member of the Crawley-based garage band Bastard and fledgling punk band London SS
, who never played live but included musicians who later found fame in The Clash
and Generation X
. Scabies knew James through a failed audition as drummer for London SS. When the two decided to start their own band, James and Scabies had invited Sid Vicious
and Dave Vanian to audition to be the singer of The Damned. Only Vanian showed up, and so he became the frontman of the band.
at the 100 Club
.
They were the first of the London punk bands to release a single: "New Rose
", on the independent label
Stiff
. It was described by critic Ned Raggett
as a "deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic angst
". Vanian's deadpan intro — "Is she really going out with him?" — referenced The Shangri-Las
' 1964 "Leader of the Pack
". The B-side was an ultra-fast cover version of The Beatles' "Help!
". Their first album, Damned Damned Damned, was the first album released by a British punk band, and included the single "Neat Neat Neat
" as well as a cover of The Stooges' "1970", re-titled "I Feel Alright". Nick Lowe
, already solidly established among cutting-edge British artists including various Stiff acts, produced both the Damned's first single and their debut album.
In 1977, they became the first British punk band to tour the United States. According to Brendan Mullen
, founder of the Los Angeles club The Masque
, the Damned's first tour of the U.S. found them favouring very fast tempos, helping to inspire the first wave of U.S. west coast hardcore punk
.
In March 1977, The Damned opened for T. Rex
on their final tour. They then recruited a second guitarist, known simply as Lu. This expanded line-up unsuccessfully tried to recruit the reclusive Syd Barrett
to produce their second album Music For Pleasure. They settled for Barrett's Pink Floyd
bandmate, Nick Mason
, who they reported was generally uninterested in the task. Music for Pleasure flopped critically and commercially and the band broke up, ending their relationship with Stiff Records
.
The former members of the band worked on a series of brief side projects and solo recordings, all making little commercial impact. The Damned soon tentatively reformed, but without Brian James, who had been the group's main songwriter. Originally they performed as The Dimmed and The Doomed to avoid potential trademark problems. Captain Sensible switched to guitar and keyboard
s, and after a brief period with Lemmy of Hawkwind
and Motörhead on bass for studio demos and a handful of live appearances, and a slightly longer period with Henry Badowski
on bass, the bassist position was filled by Algy Ward
, formerly of The Saints
. The band signed a deal with Chiswick Records
, and went back to the studio to record another album.
Vanian's vocals had by now expanded from the high-baritone
barks of the early records to a smooth, proto-Gothic crooning style. The Damned had established a dark, melodic style that was sometimes fast and loud, and at other times relaxed with dominant keyboards.
The Damned released a couple of hit singles, "Love Song" and "Smash It Up" leading up to 1979's Machine Gun Etiquette
, and later a version of Jefferson Airplane
's "White Rabbit
", with a new Damned song, "Rabid", on the B-side.
Machine Gun Etiquette featured a strong 1960s garage rock
influence, with Farfisa
organ in several songs. Recording at Wessex Studios at the same time as The Clash
were there to record London Calling
, Joe Strummer
and Mick Jones
made an uncredited vocal appearance on the title track. Fans and critics were pleasantly surprised, and Machine Gun Etiquette received largely positive reviews; Ira Robbins and Jay Pattyn described it as "A great record by a band many had already counted out".
was released later that year, the double album
's centrepiece being the theatrical 17-minute goth song "Curtain Call" backed up by a selection of live tracks recorded at Shepperton. It would be their last album for Chiswick.
In 1981, The Damned released "Friday the 13th", a four song E.P. on NEMS which featured original tracks Disco Man, Billy Bad Breaks, Limit Club (a tribute to late Malcolm Owen, former lead singer of punk band The Ruts
) and a cover of The Rolling Stones
'60s song "Citadel
".
In 1982, The Damned released their only album for Bronze Records
, Strawberries
, featuring new full-time keyboardist Roman Jugg
. At this time, Sensible was splitting his time between The Damned and his own solo career, which had seen success in the UK with the number one hit "Happy Talk
" in 1982. Consequently, the group's next album was a one-off side project recorded without the unavailable Sensible: a soundtrack to an imaginary 1960s movie called Give Daddy the Knife, Cindy. This limited-run album of 1960s cover songs had the band billed as Naz Nomad and the Nightmares
.
In 1984, The Damned made a live performance on the BBC Television
show The Young Ones
performing their song "Nasty", featuring new bassist Bryn Merrick
and both Jugg and Sensible on guitar. Sensible would play a last concert with the band at Brockwell Park (from which a bootleg
called Captain's Last Stand was issued), before leaving to pursue his solo career full-time, Roman Jugg taking over his spot as guitarist. Jugg's first appearance with the band live was when they headlined Nostell Priory
rock festival held in West Yorkshire on 24 August 1984. The somewhat confused crowd repeatedly chanted 'Where's Sensible?' but it soon became obvious that the Captain was not part of the band - for the time being.
-like appearance onstage, with chalk-white makeup and formal dress. With Sensible gone, Vanian's image became more characteristic of the band as a whole. The Damned signed a contract with major label MCA
, and the Phantasmagoria
album followed in July 1985, preceded by the UK #21 single "Grimly Fiendish
". Another hit from the same album was "The Shadow Of Love
" with its gloomy sound.
In January 1986, the non-album single "Eloise", a cover of a 1968 hit by Barry Ryan
, was a #3 chart success in the UK, the group's highest chart placing to date.
However, Phantasmagorias November 1986 follow-up, Anything
, was a commercial failure, although MCA did include one of its tracks ("In Dulce Decorum
") on the soundtrack release of Miami Vice
II. The epic "Alone Again Or" was also released as a single.
Late in 1987 The Damned began to work on a new album for MCA, but the result of these sessions remain unreleased as the record contract was dissolved. Two of the new songs ("Gunning For Love" and "The Loveless And The Damned") were later re-recorded by the Dave Vanian and the Phantom Chords
side project. James and Sensible rejoined the group temporarily for a few live appearances including a concert at the London Town and Country Club in June 1988 which was released the following year as Final Damnation
- The Damned Reunion Concert. Following a farewell concert at London's Brixton Academy supported by The Milk Monitors, Horse and Claytown Troup the band disbanded again.
recorded "New Rose" for their "The Spaghetti Incident?"
(1993), while The Offspring
covered "Smash It Up
" for the Batman Forever
soundtrack
(1995). Both cover versions would enjoy major label distribution and create more exposure to the Damned sound, sometimes to a younger audience unfamiliar with the group.
In 1993 the group reformed with a new line-up featuring Scabies, Vanian, guitarists Kris Dollimore (formerly of The Godfathers
), Alan Lee Shaw, and bassist Moose Harris
(formerly of New Model Army
). They toured regularly for about two years and released a new full-length album, Not of This Earth
. Promoted with a series of long tours prior to its release, by the time the album was released The Damned had yet again split, partly as the result of legal battles: Vanian and Sensible accused Scabies of releasing Not of This Earth without proper authorization.
Sensible rejoined Vanian in 1996 and yet another formation of The Damned appeared. This initially featured bassist Paul Gray
, who was later replaced by Patricia Morrison
, previously of The Bags
, The Gun Club and The Sisters of Mercy
.
In 2001, the band released the album Grave Disorder, on Dexter Holland
's Nitro Records label and promoted it with continual touring. Morrison and Vanian eventually married and had a daughter, Emily, born on 9 February 2004. During her pregnancy Morrison was replaced by Stu West, ex-member of English Dogs
, who has remained with the band since.
Their July 2002 gig at London
's Shepherd's Bush Empire, at which they were supported by former band member Brian James' Gang, was recorded and released on DVD and CD as The Damned's Tiki Nightmare.
In 2004, the band played with punk
and new wave
icons The Stranglers
and Blondie
at Guilfest
, held annually in the Surrey town of Guildford
.
In 2006, The Damned released the single "Little Miss Disaster
", and a live DVD
MGE25 documenting a 2004 Manchester
concert celebrating the 25th anniversary of Machine Gun Etiquette. On 21 October 2006, BBC Radio 2
broadcast an hour-long documentary
titled Is She Really Going Out With Him? concerning the recording of the Damned's first single "New Rose" and the group's place in the 1976 London punk scene. Featuring interviews with James, Sensible, Scabies, Glen Matlock
, Don Letts
and Chrissie Hynde
, the programme gave some new insights into the bands and personalities around the scene, particularly the ill-fated Anarchy in the U.K.
tour.
On 26 October, the band were joined by punk rock stalwarts The Anti-Nowhere League
, Angelic Upstarts
, Sham 69
for the Academy in the UK 2006: 30th Anniversary of Punk gig at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire but played a short set due to a few supporters of the aforementioned bands throwing cans of beer.
On 28 October 2008, The Damned released for download their tenth studio album, So, Who's Paranoid?
, followed by a conventional release on the English Channel label on 10 November (UK) and 9 December (US). To promote the album, the band made back-to-back appearances performing on the CBS network TV broadcasts in the US on Halloween
eve and Halloween on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
. The band undertook a 23-date UK tour to promote their new album, supported by Devilish Presley
and Slicks Kitchen. After a cancelled US tour in January, the band finally rescheduled for a spring appearance along the East coast. They played a set and conducted a short interview on the Cherry Blossum Clinic on WFMU on 16 May 2009.
In 2009, The Damned undertook a credit crunch
value for money UK tour supported by 1980s band The Alarm
and Henry Cluney, formerly of Stiff Little Fingers
.
In November 2009, the band supported heavy metal icons Motörhead on the UK leg of their world tour. On The Damned's official website, Captain Sensible is quoted as saying: "Ha ha..... we're working with Lemmy again are we? Excellent! He's the real deal, the absolute antithesis to all that the likes of Simon Cowell
stand for. And for that we should all be grateful. This tour will be a celebration of all things rock 'n' roll..... pity the poor roadies is all I can say!"
In 2010 they lit up the Rhythm Festival in Bedfordshire, and Captain Sensible also sat in with the Yardbirds.
In 2011 they performed at several festivals such as Fun Fun Fun Fest
, Whitby Gothic Weekend
, Sweden Rock Festival
, The Bulldog Bash and Rebellion Festival. On Halloween, they performed at Disneyland. They also provided the music for the main theme of the video game Shadows of the Damned
, which otherwise is not related to the band.
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...
punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band formed in London in 1976. They were the first punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from the United Kingdom to release a single ("New Rose
New Rose
"New Rose" was the first single by British punk rock group The Damned, released on October 22, 1976. It was the first single by a British punk group, and was released in the Netherlands, Germany, and France in 1977....
"), an album (Damned Damned Damned), to have a record on the UK music charts, and to tour the United States. The Damned later evolved into one of the forerunners of the gothic
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...
genre.
They have incorporated numerous styles into their music and image, including: garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
, psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
, cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
, and the theatrical rock of Screaming Lord Sutch
Screaming Lord Sutch
David Edward Sutch , also known as "Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow", or simply "Screaming Lord Sutch", was a musician from the United Kingdom...
and Alex Harvey
Alex Harvey (musician)
Alex Harvey was a Scottish rock musician. With The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, he built a reputation as an exciting live performer during the 1970s glam rock era.-Biography:...
. Lead singer Dave Vanian's vocal style has been described as similar to a crooner
Crooner
Crooner is an American epithet given to male singers of pop standards, mostly from the Great American Songbook, either backed by a full orchestra, a big band or by a piano. Originally it was an ironic term denoting an emphatically sentimental, often emotional singing style made possible by the use...
. The Damned have dissolved and reformed many times, with Vanian as the sole constant member; the lineups have always included either guitarist 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...
and/or drummer Rat Scabies
Rat Scabies
Christopher Millar , better known by his stage name Rat Scabies, is a musician best known for his tenure as the drummer for The Damned....
, who are both founding members. The current line-up is Vanian, Captain Sensible, Monty Oxy Moron
Monty Oxy Moron
Monty Oxy Moron is a keyboardist for the English punk rock group The Damned....
, Pinch
Pinch (drummer)
Pinch is the current drummer in punk band The Damned. He has been with the band since 1999. He attended the King's School in Grantham, where he was a founder member of the English Dogs....
and Stu West
Stu West
Stu West is the current bassist in the English punk band The Damned. He joined in 2004, when the past bassist Patricia Morrison left the band due to pregnancy.-References:...
.
Formation
Dave Vanian (David Letts), Captain Sensible (Raymond Burns) and Rat Scabies (Chris Millar) had been members of the band Masters of the BacksideMasters of the Backside
Masters of the Backside was an early British punk rock group. They never released a recording or performed beyond practice sessions, but the group's members went on to greater success: Chrissie Hynde later fronted The Pretenders, and Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, and Rat Scabies all became...
, which also included future Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
frontwoman Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
. Brian James (Brian Robertson) had been a member of the Crawley-based garage band Bastard and fledgling punk band London SS
London SS
London SS were an early British punk rock group founded in March 1975 by guitarist Mick Jones and bassist Tony James.The band spent most of their short history auditioning potential members. Besides Jones and James, however, guitarist Brian James was the only other semi-permanent member...
, who never played live but included musicians who later found fame in The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
and Generation X
Generation X (band)
Generation X was a British punk rock band, formed on 21 November 1976 by Billy Idol, Tony James and John Towe.-History:...
. Scabies knew James through a failed audition as drummer for London SS. When the two decided to start their own band, James and Scabies had invited Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious was an English musician best known as the bassist of the influential punk rock group Sex Pistols...
and Dave Vanian to audition to be the singer of The Damned. Only Vanian showed up, and so he became the frontman of the band.
1970s
The Damned played their first gig at a free festival held in Croydon. The Damned played their second gig on 6 July 1976, supporting the Sex PistolsSex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
at the 100 Club
100 Club
The 100 Club is a music venue in London situated at 100 Oxford Street, W1, originally called The Feldman Swing Club.The 100 Club attained legendary status in modern British music, having played host to live music since 24 October 1942....
.
They were the first of the London punk bands to release a single: "New Rose
New Rose
"New Rose" was the first single by British punk rock group The Damned, released on October 22, 1976. It was the first single by a British punk group, and was released in the Netherlands, Germany, and France in 1977....
", on the independent label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
Stiff
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
. It was described by critic Ned Raggett
Ned Raggett
Ned Raggett is a library assistant, freelance writer and music journalist. His work has been published in Allmusic, the OC Weekly, Plan B, Metal Edge and The Quietus, while pieces have also appeared in Dream, Arthur, as well as Stylus, The Broken Face, Fake Jazz, Freaky Trigger, Careless Talk...
as a "deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic angst
Angst
Angst is an English, German, Danish, Norwegian and Dutch word for fear or anxiety . It is used in English to describe an intense feeling of apprehension, anxiety or inner turmoil...
". Vanian's deadpan intro — "Is she really going out with him?" — referenced The Shangri-Las
The Shangri-Las
The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group of the 1960s. Between 1964 and 1966 they charted with often heartbreaking teen melodramas, and remain best known for "Leader of the Pack" and "Remember ".- Early career :...
' 1964 "Leader of the Pack
Leader of the Pack
"Leader of the Pack" is a 1964 pop song recorded by girl group The Shangri-Las. It became number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 28, 1964.-Original Shangri-Las recording:...
". The B-side was an ultra-fast cover version of The Beatles' "Help!
Help! (song)
"Help!" is a song by The Beatles that served as the title song for both the 1965 film and its soundtrack album. It was also released as a single, and was number one for three weeks in both the United States and the United Kingdom....
". Their first album, Damned Damned Damned, was the first album released by a British punk band, and included the single "Neat Neat Neat
Neat Neat Neat
"Neat Neat Neat" was the second single by The Damned, released simultaneously with their debut album Damned Damned Damned.The single was reissued in Stiff's mail order Damned 4 Pack mail-order set...
" as well as a cover of The Stooges' "1970", re-titled "I Feel Alright". Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
, already solidly established among cutting-edge British artists including various Stiff acts, produced both the Damned's first single and their debut album.
In 1977, they became the first British punk band to tour the United States. According to Brendan Mullen
Brendan Mullen
Brendan Mullen was born in Paisley, Scotland and moved to Manchester, England when he was 8. He spent his early teen years writing for various British music magazines. In 1973, Mullen moved to the United States where he remained for the remainder of his life. Mullen had just started working toward...
, founder of the Los Angeles club The Masque
The Masque
The Masque was a small punk rock club in central Hollywood, California which existed intermittently from 1977 to 1979. It is remembered as a key part of the early L.A. punk scene.-History:...
, the Damned's first tour of the U.S. found them favouring very fast tempos, helping to inspire the first wave of U.S. west coast hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
.
In March 1977, The Damned opened for T. Rex
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
on their final tour. They then recruited a second guitarist, known simply as Lu. This expanded line-up unsuccessfully tried to recruit the reclusive Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
to produce their second album Music For Pleasure. They settled for Barrett's Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
bandmate, Nick Mason
Nick Mason
Nicholas Berkeley "Nick" Mason is an English drummer and songwriter, best known for his work with Pink Floyd. He was the only constant member of the band since its formation in 1965...
, who they reported was generally uninterested in the task. Music for Pleasure flopped critically and commercially and the band broke up, ending their relationship with Stiff Records
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
.
The former members of the band worked on a series of brief side projects and solo recordings, all making little commercial impact. The Damned soon tentatively reformed, but without Brian James, who had been the group's main songwriter. Originally they performed as The Dimmed and The Doomed to avoid potential trademark problems. Captain Sensible switched to guitar and keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
s, and after a brief period with Lemmy of Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
and Motörhead on bass for studio demos and a handful of live appearances, and a slightly longer period with Henry Badowski
Henry Badowski
Henry Badowski is a British multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and composer, who was a member of several punk rock bands in the 1970s before embarking on a solo career.-Career:...
on bass, the bassist position was filled by Algy Ward
Algy Ward
Alasdair Mackie "Algy" Ward is an English rock and roll bass guitarist and singer.-Biography:He was first active as a member of the Australian punk band The Saints before joining British group The Damned and playing on Machine Gun Etiquette...
, formerly of The Saints
The Saints (band)
The Saints are an Australian rock band, which formed in Brisbane in 1974 as punk rockers. Founders were Chris Bailey , Ivor Hay , and Ed Kuepper . Alongside mainstay Bailey, the group has had numerous line-ups...
. The band signed a deal with Chiswick Records
Chiswick Records
Chiswick Records was a British record company. Chiswick was the "first true 'indie' label" to be established in Britain for nearly a decade". The label has been described as "significant" in the "punk era"...
, and went back to the studio to record another album.
Vanian's vocals had by now expanded from the high-baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
barks of the early records to a smooth, proto-Gothic crooning style. The Damned had established a dark, melodic style that was sometimes fast and loud, and at other times relaxed with dominant keyboards.
The Damned released a couple of hit singles, "Love Song" and "Smash It Up" leading up to 1979's Machine Gun Etiquette
Machine Gun Etiquette
Machine Gun Etiquette is the third album by the British punk band The Damned, released in November 1979. The album was the group's first since reforming with Dave Vanian on vocals, Captain Sensible on lead guitar, Rat Scabies on drums and Algy Ward on bass...
, and later a version of Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
's "White Rabbit
White Rabbit (song)
"White Rabbit" is a song from Jefferson Airplane's 1967 album Surrealistic Pillow. It was released as a single and became the band's second top ten success, peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100...
", with a new Damned song, "Rabid", on the B-side.
Machine Gun Etiquette featured a strong 1960s garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
influence, with Farfisa
Farfisa
Farfisa is a manufacturer of electronics based in Osimo, Italy.The Farfisa brand name is commonly associated with a series of compact electronic organs, and later, a series of multi-timbral synthesizers. At the height of its production, Farfisa operated three factories to produce instruments, in...
organ in several songs. Recording at Wessex Studios at the same time as The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
were there to record London Calling
London Calling
London Calling is the third studio album by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was released in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1979 through CBS Records, and in the United States in January 1980 through Epic Records...
, Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
and Mick Jones
Mick Jones (The Clash)
Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...
made an uncredited vocal appearance on the title track. Fans and critics were pleasantly surprised, and Machine Gun Etiquette received largely positive reviews; Ira Robbins and Jay Pattyn described it as "A great record by a band many had already counted out".
Early 1980s
Ward left the group in 1980, to be replaced by Paul Gray, formerly of Eddie and the Hot Rods. The Black AlbumThe Black Album (The Damned)
In a retrospective review, Allmusic called the album hit-or-miss, but added that "tracks of note are still thick on the ground" and that "it's still a surprisingly good blast, a tour de force for Vanian particularly".-Track listing:...
was released later that year, the double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
's centrepiece being the theatrical 17-minute goth song "Curtain Call" backed up by a selection of live tracks recorded at Shepperton. It would be their last album for Chiswick.
In 1981, The Damned released "Friday the 13th", a four song E.P. on NEMS which featured original tracks Disco Man, Billy Bad Breaks, Limit Club (a tribute to late Malcolm Owen, former lead singer of punk band The Ruts
The Ruts
The Ruts were a reggae-influenced British punk rock band, notable for the 1979 Top 10 hit "Babylon's Burning", and an earlier single "In a Rut", which was not a hit but was much played and highly regarded by the UK BBC Radio 1 disc jockey, John Peel.-Career:...
) and a cover of The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
'60s song "Citadel
Citadel (The Rolling Stones song)
"Citadel" is a song by English rock band The Rolling Stones, released as the second track on their 1967 album Their Satanic Majesties Request....
".
In 1982, The Damned released their only album for Bronze Records
Bronze Records
Bronze Records is an independent English record label set up in 1971 by record producer Gerry Bron, and based in Chalk Farm, London.Bron had been producing Uriah Heep for Vertigo Records, and he set up this new label for future Uriah Heep releases, along with Juicy Lucy, Richard Barnes and Colosseum...
, Strawberries
Strawberries (album)
Strawberries is the fifth album by The Damned, released in October 1982 on Bronze Records.Limited editions included a strawberry scented lyric insert...
, featuring new full-time keyboardist 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....
. At this time, Sensible was splitting his time between The Damned and his own solo career, which had seen success in the UK with the number one hit "Happy Talk
Happy Talk (song)
In June 1982, The Damned's guitarist Captain Sensible scored an unlikely #1 single on the UK singles chart for two weeks with his version of the song, featuring backing vocals by the band Dolly Mixture.-Cover Version:...
" in 1982. Consequently, the group's next album was a one-off side project recorded without the unavailable Sensible: a soundtrack to an imaginary 1960s movie called Give Daddy the Knife, Cindy. This limited-run album of 1960s cover songs had the band billed as Naz Nomad and the Nightmares
Naz Nomad and the Nightmares
Naz Nomad and The Nightmares was a one-off project featuring the members of British punk and gothic rock band The Damned.Naz Nomad and The Nightmares released one album entitled Give Daddy The Knife Cindy in 1984. The album was packaged to look like the re-issue of a 1967 soundtrack album to a ...
.
In 1984, The Damned made a live performance on the BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
show The Young Ones
The Young Ones (TV series)
The Young Ones is a British sitcom, first broadcast in 1982, which ran for two series on BBC2. Its anarchic, offbeat humour helped bring alternative comedy to television in the 1980s and made household names of its writers and performers...
performing their song "Nasty", featuring new 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...
and both Jugg and Sensible on guitar. Sensible would play a last concert with the band at Brockwell Park (from which a bootleg
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...
called Captain's Last Stand was issued), before leaving to pursue his solo career full-time, Roman Jugg taking over his spot as guitarist. Jugg's first appearance with the band live was when they headlined Nostell Priory
Nostell Priory
Nostell Priory is a Palladian house located in Nostell, near Crofton close to Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, approached by the Doncaster road from Wakefield...
rock festival held in West Yorkshire on 24 August 1984. The somewhat confused crowd repeatedly chanted 'Where's Sensible?' but it soon became obvious that the Captain was not part of the band - for the time being.
Major label success
From the beginnings of the band, Vanian had adopted a vampireVampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
-like appearance onstage, with chalk-white makeup and formal dress. With Sensible gone, Vanian's image became more characteristic of the band as a whole. The Damned signed a contract with major label MCA
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
, and the Phantasmagoria
Phantasmagoria (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....
album followed in July 1985, preceded by the UK #21 single "Grimly Fiendish
Grimly Fiendish
"Grimly Fiendish" was a single released by The Damned in 1985.The band had - much to their surprise - been offered a deal by a major label, MCA, and moved further in the direction of goth music under the influence of guitarist/keyboardist Roman Jugg and vocalist Dave Vanian...
". Another hit from the same album was "The Shadow Of Love
The Shadow Of Love
"The Shadow Of Love" was a single released by The Damned in 1985.It was released in several formats, with the 10" and 12" versions featuring different mixes of "The Shadow of Love", as well as a bonus track, "Would You". Limited numbers of the 7" single included a bonus record, featuring Rat...
" with its gloomy sound.
In January 1986, the non-album single "Eloise", a cover of a 1968 hit by Barry Ryan
Barry Ryan (singer)
Barry Ryan was an English pop singer. He is currently a photographer.The son of pop singer Marion Ryan, Ryan and his twin brother Paul began to perform at the age of 16...
, was a #3 chart success in the UK, the group's highest chart placing to date.
However, Phantasmagorias November 1986 follow-up, Anything
Anything (The Damned album)
Anything was The Damned's seventh studio album, released in 1986. Between July and August 1985 the band and producer Jon Kelly decamped to Puk Recording Studios in Gjerlev, Denmark to record their follow-up. In contrast to the straightforward sessions for their previous album, recording was rife...
, was a commercial failure, although MCA did include one of its tracks ("In Dulce Decorum
In Dulce Decorum
"In Dulce Decorum" was a single released by The Damned in 1987.The song was originally recorded for the Anything album, but was issued as a single to promote the MCA retrospective Light at the End of the Tunnel. The track was inspired by Wilfred Owen's poem Dulce et Decorum Est, and began with an...
") on the soundtrack release of Miami Vice
Miami Vice
Miami Vice is an American television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami. It ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989...
II. The epic "Alone Again Or" was also released as a single.
Late in 1987 The Damned began to work on a new album for MCA, but the result of these sessions remain unreleased as the record contract was dissolved. Two of the new songs ("Gunning For Love" and "The Loveless And The Damned") were later re-recorded by the Dave Vanian and the Phantom Chords
Dave Vanian and the Phantom Chords
Dave Vanian and 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.-History:...
side project. James and Sensible rejoined the group temporarily for a few live appearances including a concert at the London Town and Country Club in June 1988 which was released the following year as Final Damnation
Final 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....
- The Damned Reunion Concert. Following a farewell concert at London's Brixton Academy supported by The Milk Monitors, Horse and Claytown Troup the band disbanded again.
1990s reformation
During their hiatus, The Damned name was afforded homage, when two groups each covered a Damned song: Guns N' RosesGuns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
recorded "New Rose" for their "The Spaghetti Incident?"
"The Spaghetti Incident?"
"The Spaghetti Incident?" is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Guns N' Roses. The album is unique for the band, consisting entirely of cover versions, mostly of punk and glam rock songs of the late 1970s and early 1980s....
(1993), while The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
covered "Smash It Up
Smash It Up
"Smash It Up" is a song by The Damned, released as a single in 1979.The single was the second release from the band's Machine Gun Etiquette album, where it was listed as "Smash It Up ". The single was banned from BBC Radio 1's playlist because of its perceived anarchic lyrics, stalling at number 35...
" for the Batman Forever
Batman Forever
Batman Forever is a 1995 American superhero film directed by Joel Schumacher and produced by Tim Burton. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is a sequel to Batman Returns , with Val Kilmer replacing Michael Keaton as Batman...
soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
(1995). Both cover versions would enjoy major label distribution and create more exposure to the Damned sound, sometimes to a younger audience unfamiliar with the group.
In 1993 the group reformed with a new line-up featuring Scabies, Vanian, guitarists Kris Dollimore (formerly of The Godfathers
The Godfathers
The Godfathers are an alternative rock band from London, England.-Career:The Godfathers were formed by Peter and Chris Coyne from the ashes of The Sid Presley Experience in 1985. After independent single releases produced by Vic Maile, and collected on their debut album, Hit By Hit, they signed to...
), Alan Lee Shaw, and bassist Moose Harris
Moose Harris
Moose Harris , is a British bass guitarist, who was known as Jason James Harris until June 2001, when he legally changed his name to reflect his former nickname and adopted professional alias of "Moose". At the age of seventeen, he was recruited by New Model Army to replace original bass player...
(formerly of New Model Army
New Model Army (band)
New Model Army are an English rock band, who were formed in Bradford, West Yorkshire in 1980. They have been variously classified by Allmusic as post-punk and alternative rock.-Overview:...
). They toured regularly for about two years and released a new full-length album, Not of This Earth
Not of This Earth (The Damned album)
Not of This Earth is the eighth studio album by The Damned. It is often called I'm Alright Jack & The Beanstalk.The album has a convoluted history...
. Promoted with a series of long tours prior to its release, by the time the album was released The Damned had yet again split, partly as the result of legal battles: Vanian and Sensible accused Scabies of releasing Not of This Earth without proper authorization.
Sensible rejoined Vanian in 1996 and yet another formation of The Damned appeared. This initially featured bassist Paul Gray
Paul Gray
Paul Gray may refer to:*Paul Gray , former chairman of HM Revenue & Customs, a British government department*Paul Gray , pioneer in the IT field*Paul Gray , bassist of The Damned...
, who was later replaced by Patricia Morrison
Patricia Morrison
Patricia Morrison is an American bass guitarist, singer and songwriter. She worked with The Bags, The Gun Club, The Sisters of Mercy, and The Damned.-Biography:...
, previously of The Bags
The Bags
The Bags were an American rock band formed in 1977. They were one of the first generation of punk rock bands to emerge out of Los Angeles, California.-Career:...
, The Gun Club and The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...
.
2000s current status
Dexter Holland
Bryan Keith "Dexter" Holland is the singer and rhythm guitarist for the California punk rock band The Offspring...
's Nitro Records label and promoted it with continual touring. Morrison and Vanian eventually married and had a daughter, Emily, born on 9 February 2004. During her pregnancy Morrison was replaced by Stu West, ex-member of English Dogs
English Dogs
English Dogs are a British crossover punk rock/heavy metal band that began life in the early eighties.-History:English Dogs formed in October 1981 in Grantham and produced two demos during 1982 entitled 'Show No Mercy' and 'Free To Kill'. The band toured as support to fellow punk band Charged GBH...
, who has remained with the band since.
Their July 2002 gig at London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Shepherd's Bush Empire, at which they were supported by former band member Brian James' Gang, was recorded and released on DVD and CD as The Damned's Tiki Nightmare.
In 2004, the band played with punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
icons The Stranglers
The Stranglers
The Stranglers are an English punk/rock music group.Scoring some 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are the longest-surviving and most "continuously successful" band to have originated in the UK punk scene of the mid to late 1970s...
and Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
at Guilfest
GuilFest
GuilFest, formerly the Guildford Festival of Folk and Blues is a music festival held in Stoke Park, Guildford, England each July. The festival, like the larger Glastonbury Festival, features a range of genres including rock, folk, blues, and in recent years pop...
, held annually in the Surrey town of Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
.
In 2006, The Damned released the single "Little Miss Disaster
Little Miss Disaster
"Little Miss Disaster" is a song by punk rock veterans The Damned. Released via their own Lively Arts label in 2005, it was the band’s first single release since "Shut It" in 1996....
", and a live DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
MGE25 documenting a 2004 Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
concert celebrating the 25th anniversary of Machine Gun Etiquette. On 21 October 2006, BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
broadcast an hour-long documentary
Radio documentary
A radio documentary or feature is a purely acoustic performance devoted to covering a particular topic in some depth, usually with a mixture of commentary and sound pictures. It is broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD...
titled Is She Really Going Out With Him? concerning the recording of the Damned's first single "New Rose" and the group's place in the 1976 London punk scene. Featuring interviews with James, Sensible, Scabies, Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock is an English bass guitarist most famous for being in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. Drummer Paul Cook has said that Matlock came up with much of the music for the band's songs and most of the lyrics, while lead singer Johnny Rotten made some adjustments...
, Don Letts
Don Letts
Don Letts is a British film director and musician. He is credited as the man who through his DJing at clubs like The Roxy brought together punk and reggae music.-Biography:...
and Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
, the programme gave some new insights into the bands and personalities around the scene, particularly the ill-fated Anarchy in the U.K.
Anarchy in the U.K.
"Anarchy in the U.K." was covered by American thrash metal band Megadeth for their third album So Far, So Good... So What!, released in 1988.Notoriously, the song has incorrect lyrics...
tour.
On 26 October, the band were joined by punk rock stalwarts The Anti-Nowhere League
The Anti-Nowhere League
Anti-Nowhere League is an English punk band, formed in 1980 by lead singer Animal , guitarist Magoo , Tony "Bones" Shaw on drums and Chris "Baggy" Elvy on bass.-Early days:...
, Angelic Upstarts
Angelic Upstarts
Angelic Upstarts are an English punk rock/Oi! band formed in South Shields in 1977. The band espoused an anti-fascist and socialist working class philosophy, and have been associated with the skinhead subculture...
, Sham 69
Sham 69
Sham 69 is an English punk band that formed in Hersham in 1976.Although not as commercially successful as many of their contemporaries, albeit with a greater number of chart entries, Sham 69 has been a huge musical and lyrical influence on the Oi! and streetpunk genres. The band allegedly derived...
for the Academy in the UK 2006: 30th Anniversary of Punk gig at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire but played a short set due to a few supporters of the aforementioned bands throwing cans of beer.
On 28 October 2008, The Damned released for download their tenth studio album, So, Who's Paranoid?
So, Who's Paranoid?
So, Who's Paranoid is the tenth studio album from The Damned, released in November 2008.-Track listing:#"A Nation Fit for Heroes" - 3:57#"Under the Wheels" - 5:02#"Dr...
, followed by a conventional release on the English Channel label on 10 November (UK) and 9 December (US). To promote the album, the band made back-to-back appearances performing on the CBS network TV broadcasts in the US on Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
eve and Halloween on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson is a Peabody Award-winning American late-night talk show hosted by Scottish American comedian Craig Ferguson. Ferguson, the third regular host of the Late Late Show franchise, follows Late Show with David Letterman in the CBS late-night lineup...
. The band undertook a 23-date UK tour to promote their new album, supported by Devilish Presley
Devilish Presley
-History:Devilish Presley are a British goth, punk band that formed in East London in 2002. They have released five albums on their own label November Tenth Records and have toured constantly for nine years building a loyal following from the goth, punk and psychobilly scenes in the UK and Europe...
and Slicks Kitchen. After a cancelled US tour in January, the band finally rescheduled for a spring appearance along the East coast. They played a set and conducted a short interview on the Cherry Blossum Clinic on WFMU on 16 May 2009.
In 2009, The Damned undertook a credit crunch
Credit crunch
A credit crunch is a reduction in the general availability of loans or a sudden tightening of the conditions required to obtain a loan from the banks. A credit crunch generally involves a reduction in the availability of credit independent of a rise in official interest rates...
value for money UK tour supported by 1980s band The Alarm
The Alarm
The Alarm are an alternative rock band that emerged from North Wales in the late 1970s. They started as a mod band and stayed together for over ten years. As a rock band, they displayed marked influences from Welsh language and culture...
and Henry Cluney, formerly of Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers are a punk rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland. They formed in 1977, at the height of the Troubles. They started out as a schoolboy band called Highway Star , doing rock covers, until they discovered punk. They split up after six years and four albums, although they...
.
In November 2009, the band supported heavy metal icons Motörhead on the UK leg of their world tour. On The Damned's official website, Captain Sensible is quoted as saying: "Ha ha..... we're working with Lemmy again are we? Excellent! He's the real deal, the absolute antithesis to all that the likes of Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
stand for. And for that we should all be grateful. This tour will be a celebration of all things rock 'n' roll..... pity the poor roadies is all I can say!"
In 2010 they lit up the Rhythm Festival in Bedfordshire, and Captain Sensible also sat in with the Yardbirds.
In 2011 they performed at several festivals such as Fun Fun Fun Fest
Fun Fun Fun Fest
Fun Fun Fun Fest is an annual music festival held in Austin, Texas. Started in 2006, the festival brings together many progressive and underground musicians with a focus on indie rock, punk rock/hardcore, and hip hop/DJ....
, Whitby Gothic Weekend
Whitby Gothic Weekend
Whitby Gothic Weekend, often abbreviated to WGW or simply referred to by attendees as Whitby, is a twice-yearly festival for goths, in Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, organised by Jo Hampshire who runs Top Mum Promotions.-Event history:...
, Sweden Rock Festival
Sweden Rock Festival
Sweden Rock Festival is an annual rock/metal festival held in Sweden since 6 June 1992. While having a clear rock/metal focus, the festival is noted for its diversity across these genres, having featured southern rock bands such as Molly Hatchet to death metal legends like Obituary.The first...
, The Bulldog Bash and Rebellion Festival. On Halloween, they performed at Disneyland. They also provided the music for the main theme of the video game Shadows of the Damned
Shadows of the Damned
Shadows of the Damned, officially abbreviated as Damned or DMD, is a 2011 third-person shooter video game developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles. The game follows the story of Garcia Hotspur, a Mexican demon...
, which otherwise is not related to the band.
Discography
- Damned, Damned, DamnedDamned, Damned, DamnedDamned Damned Damned is the debut album by British punk rock band the Damned, released on 18 February 1977. Produced by Nick Lowe, it was released on the label Stiff Records. The musical styles of Damned Damned Damned were based on the new punk rock sound as heard on the previous single "New Rose"...
(18 February 1977) - Music for Pleasure (18 November 1977)
- Machine Gun EtiquetteMachine Gun EtiquetteMachine Gun Etiquette is the third album by the British punk band The Damned, released in November 1979. The album was the group's first since reforming with Dave Vanian on vocals, Captain Sensible on lead guitar, Rat Scabies on drums and Algy Ward on bass...
(2 November 1979) - The Black AlbumThe Black Album (The Damned)In a retrospective review, Allmusic called the album hit-or-miss, but added that "tracks of note are still thick on the ground" and that "it's still a surprisingly good blast, a tour de force for Vanian particularly".-Track listing:...
(20 October 1980) - StrawberriesStrawberries (album)Strawberries is the fifth album by The Damned, released in October 1982 on Bronze Records.Limited editions included a strawberry scented lyric insert...
(1 October 1982) - 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....
(15 July 1985) - AnythingAnything (The Damned album)Anything was The Damned's seventh studio album, released in 1986. Between July and August 1985 the band and producer Jon Kelly decamped to Puk Recording Studios in Gjerlev, Denmark to record their follow-up. In contrast to the straightforward sessions for their previous album, recording was rife...
(5 December 1986) - Not of This EarthNot of This Earth (The Damned album)Not of This Earth is the eighth studio album by The Damned. It is often called I'm Alright Jack & The Beanstalk.The album has a convoluted history...
(11 November 1995) - 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...
(21 August 2001) - So, Who's Paranoid?So, Who's Paranoid?So, Who's Paranoid is the tenth studio album from The Damned, released in November 2008.-Track listing:#"A Nation Fit for Heroes" - 3:57#"Under the Wheels" - 5:02#"Dr...
(10 November 2008)
Current members
- Dave Vanian − vocals, thereminThereminThe theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
(1976–present) - Captain SensibleCaptain SensibleCaptain 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...
− guitar (1976–1984, 1989, 1991, 1996–present); bass (1976–1978) - Monty Oxy MoronMonty Oxy MoronMonty Oxy Moron is a keyboardist for the English punk rock group The Damned....
− keyboards (1996–present) - Stu WestStu WestStu West is the current bassist in the English punk band The Damned. He joined in 2004, when the past bassist Patricia Morrison left the band due to pregnancy.-References:...
− bass (2005–present) - PinchPinch (drummer)Pinch is the current drummer in punk band The Damned. He has been with the band since 1999. He attended the King's School in Grantham, where he was a founder member of the English Dogs....
− drums (1999–present)
Former members
- Brian James − guitar (1976–1978, 1988–1989, 1991)
- Rat ScabiesRat ScabiesChristopher Millar , better known by his stage name Rat Scabies, is a musician best known for his tenure as the drummer for The Damned....
− drums (1976–1977, 1978–1996) - Lu EdmundsLu EdmundsRobert "Lu" Edmonds is an English rock and folk musician. Edmonds was educated at Ampleforth College....
− guitar (1977–1978) - Dave Berk − drums (1977)
- Gary HoltonGary HoltonGary Frederick Holton was an English singer-songwriter, musician and actor from London. He was the frontman of the band Heavy Metal Kids, for whom he played lead vocals, guitar, rhythm guitar, keyboards and harmonica, and played the part of Wayne in the UK television comedy Auf Wiedersehen, Pet...
− vocals (1978 tour fill in) - Henry BadowskiHenry BadowskiHenry Badowski is a British multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and composer, who was a member of several punk rock bands in the 1970s before embarking on a solo career.-Career:...
− bass (1978) - Jon MossJon MossJon Moss is an English drummer best known as a member of the 1980s pop group Culture Club. He has also played with other bands, including London, The Nips and The Damned.-Early life:...
− drums (1978) - Algy WardAlgy WardAlasdair Mackie "Algy" Ward is an English rock and roll bass guitarist and singer.-Biography:He was first active as a member of the Australian punk band The Saints before joining British group The Damned and playing on Machine Gun Etiquette...
− bass (1978–1980) - Paul Gray − bass (1980–1983, 1989, 1997)
- Roman JuggRoman JuggRoman Jugg is a keyboard player and guitarist. He began his career in the Welsh punk band Victimize in the late 1970s....
− keyboards (1981–1989) guitar (1984–1989) - Bryn MerrickBryn MerrickBryn 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...
− bass (1983–1989) - Paul Shepley − keyboards (1985–1989)
- Kris Dollimore − guitar (1993–1996)
- Allan Lee ShawAllan Lee ShawAlan Lee Shaw is a long time collaborator of The Damned members Rat Scabies and Brian James, contributing to Nosferatu), The Lords of the New Church, and James' solo work, as well as a stint as a full member of The Damned. He is noted for his writing on the album Not of This Earth...
− guitar (1993–1996) - Jason "Moose" HarrisMoose HarrisMoose Harris , is a British bass guitarist, who was known as Jason James Harris until June 2001, when he legally changed his name to reflect his former nickname and adopted professional alias of "Moose". At the age of seventeen, he was recruited by New Model Army to replace original bass player...
− bass (1993–1996) - Garrie Dreadful − drums (1996–1999)
- Patricia MorrisonPatricia MorrisonPatricia Morrison is an American bass guitarist, singer and songwriter. She worked with The Bags, The Gun Club, The Sisters of Mercy, and The Damned.-Biography:...
− bass (1998–2005) - Spike Smith − drums (1999)
Collaborators
- Lemmy − bass (1978)
- Robert FrippRobert FrippRobert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
− guitar (1990) - Lol CoxhillLol CoxhillLowen Coxhill, generally known as Lol Coxhill is a free improvising saxophonist and raconteur...
− saxophone (1977)
External links
- Official website
- UnOfficial fansite – SECOND TIME AROUND-
- Damned Discography
- Interview with Captain Sensible of The Damned (includes video of interview, and of 35th anniversary tour), Rocker Magazine, 2011.
- The Damned article by Chris HuntChris HuntChris Hunt is a magazine editor, journalist and author. He has worked in journalism for over twenty years, most often writing about football or rock music. He was managing editor of Match from 1993 to 2001, a period that saw the weekly title become Britain's biggest selling football magazine...
, published in Q magazine, 2003. - Review of 2006 BBC radio prog "Is she really going out with him?"
- Review of The Damned – The Phoenix, Exeter 19/05/10