The Damned
Biography The Damned
The Damned
are an English punk rock band formed in London in 1976. The original lineup consisted of Dave Vanian (vocals), Brian James (guitar), Rat Scabies (drums), and Captain Sensible (bass).
The Damned were one of the first punk bands in the UK and they soon gained recognition for their raw, energetic sound and provocative onstage antics. They released their debut single “New Rose” in October 1976, which is often cited as the first true punk rock single.
The band’s debut album Damned Damned Damned was released the following year and was hailed as the first punk rock album released in the UK. In 1977, the band released their second album, Music for Pleasure, which wasn’t as well received as their debut album, but which is still an excellent punk rock album. The Damned became known for their anarchic live shows and their ability to mix punk and gothic rock together.
In 1979, The Damned released their third full-length album, Machine Gun Etiquette, which featured the hits “Love Song” and “Smash It Up (Part 2)“. The album marked a new direction for the band and saw them move away from their more traditional punk sound and embrace a more diverse range of styles, from pop to reggae to rockabilly.
The Damned continued to record and tour for the next decade, releasing the albums The Black Album (1980), Strawberries (1982), Phantasmagoria (1985) and Anything (1986). Their sound shifted more in the direction of gothic rock during this time. In 1988, The Damned split up, but reformed a few years later with a new lineup featuring members of The Godfathers and New Model Army. This lineup would tour for about two years before recording and releasing Not of This Earth (1995). Another breakup, another reunion, and more lineup changes would occur, including the return of Captain Sensible in 1996. The reunited band released a couple of albums in the early 2000s, Grave Disorder (2001) and So, Who’s Paranoid? (2008).
The Damned are still active today and continue to tour and release music, most recently with their 2018 album Evil Spirits. The Damned are considered one of the most influential punk bands of all time and remain one of the most enduring first wave punk bands of all time.
