The Damned
Groupe de musique Punk du Royaume-Uni formé en 1976
Membres du groupe : Laurence Burrow, Dave Vanian, Ray Burns, Paul Gray, Stu West, Roman Jugg, Patricia Rainone, Chris Millar, Paul Shepley, Jason Harris, Lu Edmonds, Andrew Pinching, Kris Dollimore, Jon Moss, Alan Lee Shaw, Brian Robertson, Ian Fraser Kilmister, Alasdair Ward, Dave Batchelor, Bryn Merrick, Henry Badowski
The Damned are an English rock band formed in London in 1976 by lead vocalist Dave Vanian, guitarist Brian James, bassist (and later guitarist) Captain Sensible, and drummer Rat Scabies. They were the first punk rock band from the United Kingdom to release a single, "New Rose" (1976), release an album, Damned Damned Damned (1977), and tour the United States. They have nine singles that charted on the UK Singles Chart Top 40.The band briefly broke up after Music for Pleasure (1977), the follow-up to their debut album, was critically dismissed. They quickly reformed without Brian James, and released Machine Gun Etiquette (1979). In the 1980s they released four studio albums, The Black Album (1980), Strawberries (1982), Phantasmagoria (1985), and Anything (1986), which saw the band moving towards a gothic rock style. The latter two albums did not feature Captain Sensible, who had left the band in 1984. In 1988, James and Sensible rejoined to play a series of reunion gigs, one of which was released the next year as the live album Final Damnation. Their fast-driven punk rock has been cited for influencing and shaping the emergence of hardcore punk in the late 1970s and early 1980s.The Damned again reformed for a tour in 1991. In 1995, they released a new album, Not of This Earth, which was Scabies's last with the band. This was followed by Grave Disorder (2001), So, Who's Paranoid? (2008), and their first to crack the United Kingdom's Official Charts' top 10 list, landing at #7, Evil Spirits (2018). Despite going through numerous lineup changes, the formation of Vanian, Sensible, keyboardist Monty Oxymoron, drummer Pinch and bassist Stu West had been together from 2004 until 2017, when West left the band and former bassist Paul Gray rejoined.As one of the first gothic rock bands, the Damned were a major influence on the goth subculture with lead singer Vanian's vampire-themed costume, baritone singing voice and dark lyrics being major influences.
History
Formation and Stiff years (1976–1978)
Dave Vanian (David Lett), Captain Sensible (Raymond Burns) and Rat Scabies (Chris Millar) had been members of the band Masters of the Backside, which also included future Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde. Brian James (Brian Robertson) had been a member of London SS, who never played live, but in addition to James 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, with James on guitar and Scabies on drums, they invited Sid Vicious and Dave Vanian to audition to be the singer. Only Vanian showed up, and got the part. Sensible became the band's bassist, and the four called themselves The Damned. Chrissie Hynde would later write that "Without me, they were probably the most musically accomplished punk outfit in town".The Damned played their first show on 6 July 1976, supporting the Sex Pistols at the 100 Club. A lo-fi recording of the show was later released as Live at the 100 Club. As part of London's burgeoning punk scene, The Damned again played the club on 20 September, for the 100 Club Punk Festival.On 22 October, five weeks before the release of the Sex Pistols' "Anarchy in the U.K.", Stiff Records put out The Damned's first single, "New Rose", thus making them the first UK punk band to release a single. The single's B-side was a fast paced cover of The Beatles' "Help!". "New Rose" was described by critic Ned Raggett as a "deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic angst".When the Sex Pistols released their single, they took The Damned, along with The Clash and Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, as openers for their December "Anarchy Tour of the UK". Many of the tour dates were cancelled by organizers or local authorities, with only seven of approximately twenty scheduled shows taking place. The Damned were kicked off the tour before it ended by Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren.The Damned released their first album, Damned Damned Damned, on 18 February 1977. Produced by Nick Lowe, it was the first full-length album released by a British punk band, and included a new single, "Neat Neat Neat". The band went on tour to promote the album, in March opening for T. Rex on their final tour. Later that spring, they became the first British punk band to tour the United States. According to Brendan Mullen, founder of the Los Angeles club The Masque, their first tour of the U.S. found them favouring very fast tempos, helping to inspire the first wave of west coast hardcore punk.That August, Lu Edmonds was added as a second guitarist. This expanded line-up unsuccessfully tried to recruit the reclusive Syd Barrett to produce their second album. Unable to get Barrett, they settled for his former Pink Floyd bandmate, Nick Mason. In December, this album was released as Music For Pleasure, and was quickly dismissed by critics. Its failure led to the band being dropped from Stiff Records. Scabies was also displeased with the album, and quit the band after the recording. He was replaced by future Culture Club drummer Jon Moss, who played with The Damned until they decided to break up in February 1978.
Reformation and Machine Gun Etiquette (1978–1979)
The former members of the band worked on a series of brief side projects and solo recordings, all making little commercial impact. Scabies formed a one-off band called "Les Punks" for a late 1978 gig: Les Punks was a quasi-reunion of The Damned (without Brian James or Lu) that featured Scabies, Vanian, Sensible and bassist Lemmy of Hawkwind and Motörhead. The Damned tentatively reformed with the "Les Punks" line-up in early 1979, but originally performed as "The Doomed" to avoid potential trademark problems. Captain Sensible switched to guitar and keyboards, and after a brief period with Lemmy 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. During a December 1978 tour of Scotland, Gary Holton filled in for Vanian.The band officially went by The Damned again, playing their first gig under that name in April 1979, and signing a deal with Chiswick Records. They went back to the studio and released the charting singles, "Love Song" and "Smash It Up", followed by 1979's Machine Gun Etiquette, and then a cover of Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit". Vanian's vocals had by now expanded from the high-baritone of the early records to a smoother crooning style.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".
Shift towards gothic rock (1980–1987)
Ward left the group in 1980, to be replaced by Paul Gray, formerly of Eddie and the Hot Rods. The Black Album was released later that year, produced by the band themselves apart from one track produced by Hans Zimmer, with three sides of the double album consisting of studio tracks, including the theatrical 17-minute song "Curtain Call". Side 4 featured a selection of live tracks recorded at Shepperton. It was their last album for Chiswick.In 1981, The Damned released Friday 13th, a four song E.P. on which featured original tracks "Disco Man", "Billy Bad Breaks", "Limit Club", and a cover of The Rolling Stones song "Citadel".In 1982, The Damned released their only album for Bronze Records, Strawberries. The band had now expanded to a quintet, with the addition of 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 (replacing Gray) and both Jugg and Sensible on guitar. Sensible played a last concert with the band at Brockwell Park, before leaving to pursue his solo career.
From the beginnings of the band, Vanian had adopted a vampire-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 No. 21 single "Grimly Fiendish". Other hits from the same album were "The Shadow of Love" with its gloomy gothic sound, and the lighter "Is It A Dream?".In January 1986, the non-album single "Eloise", a cover of a 1968 hit by Barry Ryan, was a No. 3 chart success in the UK, the group's highest chart placing to date.However, Phantasmagoria's November 1986 follow-up, Anything, was a commercial failure, although MCA did include one of its tracks ("In Dulce Decorum") on the Miami Vice II soundtrack release. The cover of Love's "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.
Final Damnation Tour (1988–89)
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 Troupe, the band disbanded again.
Second and third reformations (1990–1995)
Although officially on hiatus, the group issued two singles in 1990. The first, "Fun Factory", was a song recorded in 1982 by the Sensible/Vanian/Scabies/Gray line-up; intended for single release at the time, the bankruptcy of their record company prevented the issue of the record for 9 years. The year's second single, "Prokofiev", was recorded by Scabies, Vanian and Brian James, and was sold on a 1991 reunion tour of the US.In 1993 the group reformed again 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). Around this time, two prominent modern rock groups each covered a Damned song: Guns N' Roses 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 enjoyed major label distribution and created more exposure to the Damned sound, sometimes to a younger audience unfamiliar with the group.The reformed Damned toured regularly for about two years and released a new full-length album, Not of This Earth in late 1995. 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.
Return of Captain Sensible and new line-up (1996–2003)
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 Bags, The Gun Club and The Sisters of Mercy.By February 1999, The Damned consisted of Vanian, Sensible, Morrison and new recruits Monty Oxymoron on keyboards and Spike T. Smith on drums. Spike would later that year go on to join Morrissey's live band and on Spike's recommendation the band recruited Andy (Pinch) Pinching, a founding member of English Dogs, to replace him on drums. Garrie Dreadful, another recruit from Sensible's solo band, played drums from 1997 to 1999 then gave way to Spike. In 2001, the band released the album Grave Disorder, on Dexter Holland's Nitro Records label and promoted it with continual touring. A spring tour of the United States was planned in 2002 supporting Rob Zombie. However, the band dropped off after a few shows with Captain Sensible saying, "gothic punk was completely lost on the predominantly metal crowds". In the summer they played the Vans Warped Tour in the US.
Line-up change, 40th anniversary, and new album (2004–present)
Morrison and Vanian married and had a daughter, Emily, born on 9 February 2004. Around this time, Morrison 'retired' from performing with the band, though she remained involved with The Damned as the band's manager. Her replacement on bass was Stu West.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 discussed the bands and personalities around the scene, particularly the Anarchy in the U.K. tour.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. The band then played a set and conducted a short interview on the Cherry Blossom Clinic on WFMU on 16 May 2009.In November 2009, the band supported heavy metal band Motörhead on the UK leg of their world tour.Continual touring occurred throughout the UK and Europe over the next few years. In 2012, they played South America for the first time, with dates in São Paulo (Brazil) and Buenos Aires (Argentina). They returned to the Rhythm Festival, one of only four headline acts to return over the festival's seven-year history. In 2012, The Damned announced that they would return for 2013's Rebellion festival alongside The Exploited, The Casualties and others.On 7 November 2014 Captain Sensible and Dave Vanian appeared on Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor Podcast.In 2015, The Damned were featured in a documentary by director Wes Orshoski called The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead. The documentary charts the history of the band against a backdrop of archival footage, new interviews and tour footage from 2011 to 2014.
After the release of the film, on 12 September 2015, former bassist Bryn Merrick died of throat cancer. Merrick had played on Phantasmagoria and Anything. At the time of his death he had been playing in a Ramones tribute band, the Shamones.In May 2016 the band played a 40th anniversary show at the Royal Albert Hall.In the summer of 2017 "Neat Neat Neat" was prominently featured in the movie Baby Driver and its soundtrack. On 11 September 2017 the band announced that Stu West was leaving the band and former bassist Paul Gray who had played on 2 Warfare songs in 2016 for Evo would be returning for the new album. Evil Spirits, the band's eleventh album and first in ten years, was released on 13 April 2018. It peaked at #7 on the UK Album chart, their highest ever chart position, topping their previous high of #11 in 1985 ("Phantasmagoria"). The album was recorded in November 2017 in New York City and produced by Tony Visconti who is best known for his work with David Bowie. To get the album made, it was largely crowdfunded through Pledge Music. The album was preceded by the first single, "Standing On the Edge of Tomorrow" in January 2018 along with the singles "Devil in Disguise" and "Look Left" in March 2018 and "Procrastination" in April 2018.Starting on 23 May 2019 The Damned will be on tour performing their third studio album, Machine Gun Etiquette, which they haven't played in full since its release in 1979. The tour will include such venues as the House of Blues, Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival and Rebellion Festival.On 25 October 2019, Pinch announced that he would be departing the band after 20 years. His last gig was The Damned's show at the London Palladium on 27 October 2019.
On 21 October 2020, The Damned announced that in 2021 the original line up of Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Brian James and Rat Scabies would play a series of shows. This would mark the first time in over two decades that Brian James and Rat Scabies have played with Vanian and Sensible. Due to COVID concerns, it was later announced that the tour -- while still expected to feature the same line-up -- has been postponed to early 2022.
History
Formation and Stiff years (1976–1978)
Dave Vanian (David Lett), Captain Sensible (Raymond Burns) and Rat Scabies (Chris Millar) had been members of the band Masters of the Backside, which also included future Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde. Brian James (Brian Robertson) had been a member of London SS, who never played live, but in addition to James 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, with James on guitar and Scabies on drums, they invited Sid Vicious and Dave Vanian to audition to be the singer. Only Vanian showed up, and got the part. Sensible became the band's bassist, and the four called themselves The Damned. Chrissie Hynde would later write that "Without me, they were probably the most musically accomplished punk outfit in town".The Damned played their first show on 6 July 1976, supporting the Sex Pistols at the 100 Club. A lo-fi recording of the show was later released as Live at the 100 Club. As part of London's burgeoning punk scene, The Damned again played the club on 20 September, for the 100 Club Punk Festival.On 22 October, five weeks before the release of the Sex Pistols' "Anarchy in the U.K.", Stiff Records put out The Damned's first single, "New Rose", thus making them the first UK punk band to release a single. The single's B-side was a fast paced cover of The Beatles' "Help!". "New Rose" was described by critic Ned Raggett as a "deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic angst".When the Sex Pistols released their single, they took The Damned, along with The Clash and Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, as openers for their December "Anarchy Tour of the UK". Many of the tour dates were cancelled by organizers or local authorities, with only seven of approximately twenty scheduled shows taking place. The Damned were kicked off the tour before it ended by Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren.The Damned released their first album, Damned Damned Damned, on 18 February 1977. Produced by Nick Lowe, it was the first full-length album released by a British punk band, and included a new single, "Neat Neat Neat". The band went on tour to promote the album, in March opening for T. Rex on their final tour. Later that spring, they became the first British punk band to tour the United States. According to Brendan Mullen, founder of the Los Angeles club The Masque, their first tour of the U.S. found them favouring very fast tempos, helping to inspire the first wave of west coast hardcore punk.That August, Lu Edmonds was added as a second guitarist. This expanded line-up unsuccessfully tried to recruit the reclusive Syd Barrett to produce their second album. Unable to get Barrett, they settled for his former Pink Floyd bandmate, Nick Mason. In December, this album was released as Music For Pleasure, and was quickly dismissed by critics. Its failure led to the band being dropped from Stiff Records. Scabies was also displeased with the album, and quit the band after the recording. He was replaced by future Culture Club drummer Jon Moss, who played with The Damned until they decided to break up in February 1978.
Reformation and Machine Gun Etiquette (1978–1979)
The former members of the band worked on a series of brief side projects and solo recordings, all making little commercial impact. Scabies formed a one-off band called "Les Punks" for a late 1978 gig: Les Punks was a quasi-reunion of The Damned (without Brian James or Lu) that featured Scabies, Vanian, Sensible and bassist Lemmy of Hawkwind and Motörhead. The Damned tentatively reformed with the "Les Punks" line-up in early 1979, but originally performed as "The Doomed" to avoid potential trademark problems. Captain Sensible switched to guitar and keyboards, and after a brief period with Lemmy 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. During a December 1978 tour of Scotland, Gary Holton filled in for Vanian.The band officially went by The Damned again, playing their first gig under that name in April 1979, and signing a deal with Chiswick Records. They went back to the studio and released the charting singles, "Love Song" and "Smash It Up", followed by 1979's Machine Gun Etiquette, and then a cover of Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit". Vanian's vocals had by now expanded from the high-baritone of the early records to a smoother crooning style.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".
Shift towards gothic rock (1980–1987)
Ward left the group in 1980, to be replaced by Paul Gray, formerly of Eddie and the Hot Rods. The Black Album was released later that year, produced by the band themselves apart from one track produced by Hans Zimmer, with three sides of the double album consisting of studio tracks, including the theatrical 17-minute song "Curtain Call". Side 4 featured a selection of live tracks recorded at Shepperton. It was their last album for Chiswick.In 1981, The Damned released Friday 13th, a four song E.P. on which featured original tracks "Disco Man", "Billy Bad Breaks", "Limit Club", and a cover of The Rolling Stones song "Citadel".In 1982, The Damned released their only album for Bronze Records, Strawberries. The band had now expanded to a quintet, with the addition of 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 (replacing Gray) and both Jugg and Sensible on guitar. Sensible played a last concert with the band at Brockwell Park, before leaving to pursue his solo career.
From the beginnings of the band, Vanian had adopted a vampire-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 No. 21 single "Grimly Fiendish". Other hits from the same album were "The Shadow of Love" with its gloomy gothic sound, and the lighter "Is It A Dream?".In January 1986, the non-album single "Eloise", a cover of a 1968 hit by Barry Ryan, was a No. 3 chart success in the UK, the group's highest chart placing to date.However, Phantasmagoria's November 1986 follow-up, Anything, was a commercial failure, although MCA did include one of its tracks ("In Dulce Decorum") on the Miami Vice II soundtrack release. The cover of Love's "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.
Final Damnation Tour (1988–89)
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 Troupe, the band disbanded again.
Second and third reformations (1990–1995)
Although officially on hiatus, the group issued two singles in 1990. The first, "Fun Factory", was a song recorded in 1982 by the Sensible/Vanian/Scabies/Gray line-up; intended for single release at the time, the bankruptcy of their record company prevented the issue of the record for 9 years. The year's second single, "Prokofiev", was recorded by Scabies, Vanian and Brian James, and was sold on a 1991 reunion tour of the US.In 1993 the group reformed again 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). Around this time, two prominent modern rock groups each covered a Damned song: Guns N' Roses 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 enjoyed major label distribution and created more exposure to the Damned sound, sometimes to a younger audience unfamiliar with the group.The reformed Damned toured regularly for about two years and released a new full-length album, Not of This Earth in late 1995. 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.
Return of Captain Sensible and new line-up (1996–2003)
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 Bags, The Gun Club and The Sisters of Mercy.By February 1999, The Damned consisted of Vanian, Sensible, Morrison and new recruits Monty Oxymoron on keyboards and Spike T. Smith on drums. Spike would later that year go on to join Morrissey's live band and on Spike's recommendation the band recruited Andy (Pinch) Pinching, a founding member of English Dogs, to replace him on drums. Garrie Dreadful, another recruit from Sensible's solo band, played drums from 1997 to 1999 then gave way to Spike. In 2001, the band released the album Grave Disorder, on Dexter Holland's Nitro Records label and promoted it with continual touring. A spring tour of the United States was planned in 2002 supporting Rob Zombie. However, the band dropped off after a few shows with Captain Sensible saying, "gothic punk was completely lost on the predominantly metal crowds". In the summer they played the Vans Warped Tour in the US.
Line-up change, 40th anniversary, and new album (2004–present)
Morrison and Vanian married and had a daughter, Emily, born on 9 February 2004. Around this time, Morrison 'retired' from performing with the band, though she remained involved with The Damned as the band's manager. Her replacement on bass was Stu West.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 discussed the bands and personalities around the scene, particularly the Anarchy in the U.K. tour.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. The band then played a set and conducted a short interview on the Cherry Blossom Clinic on WFMU on 16 May 2009.In November 2009, the band supported heavy metal band Motörhead on the UK leg of their world tour.Continual touring occurred throughout the UK and Europe over the next few years. In 2012, they played South America for the first time, with dates in São Paulo (Brazil) and Buenos Aires (Argentina). They returned to the Rhythm Festival, one of only four headline acts to return over the festival's seven-year history. In 2012, The Damned announced that they would return for 2013's Rebellion festival alongside The Exploited, The Casualties and others.On 7 November 2014 Captain Sensible and Dave Vanian appeared on Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor Podcast.In 2015, The Damned were featured in a documentary by director Wes Orshoski called The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead. The documentary charts the history of the band against a backdrop of archival footage, new interviews and tour footage from 2011 to 2014.
After the release of the film, on 12 September 2015, former bassist Bryn Merrick died of throat cancer. Merrick had played on Phantasmagoria and Anything. At the time of his death he had been playing in a Ramones tribute band, the Shamones.In May 2016 the band played a 40th anniversary show at the Royal Albert Hall.In the summer of 2017 "Neat Neat Neat" was prominently featured in the movie Baby Driver and its soundtrack. On 11 September 2017 the band announced that Stu West was leaving the band and former bassist Paul Gray who had played on 2 Warfare songs in 2016 for Evo would be returning for the new album. Evil Spirits, the band's eleventh album and first in ten years, was released on 13 April 2018. It peaked at #7 on the UK Album chart, their highest ever chart position, topping their previous high of #11 in 1985 ("Phantasmagoria"). The album was recorded in November 2017 in New York City and produced by Tony Visconti who is best known for his work with David Bowie. To get the album made, it was largely crowdfunded through Pledge Music. The album was preceded by the first single, "Standing On the Edge of Tomorrow" in January 2018 along with the singles "Devil in Disguise" and "Look Left" in March 2018 and "Procrastination" in April 2018.Starting on 23 May 2019 The Damned will be on tour performing their third studio album, Machine Gun Etiquette, which they haven't played in full since its release in 1979. The tour will include such venues as the House of Blues, Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival and Rebellion Festival.On 25 October 2019, Pinch announced that he would be departing the band after 20 years. His last gig was The Damned's show at the London Palladium on 27 October 2019.
On 21 October 2020, The Damned announced that in 2021 the original line up of Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Brian James and Rat Scabies would play a series of shows. This would mark the first time in over two decades that Brian James and Rat Scabies have played with Vanian and Sensible. Due to COVID concerns, it was later announced that the tour -- while still expected to feature the same line-up -- has been postponed to early 2022.
Lire la suite de la biographie
Membres du groupe : Laurence Burrow, Dave Vanian, Ray Burns, Paul Gray, Stu West, Roman Jugg, Patricia Rainone, Chris Millar, Paul Shepley, Jason Harris, Lu Edmonds, Andrew Pinching, Kris Dollimore, Jon Moss, Alan Lee Shaw, Brian Robertson, Ian Fraser Kilmister, Alasdair Ward, Dave Batchelor, Bryn Merrick, Henry Badowski
- Discographie -
149 albums

AD 2022 (5th November 2022, Birmingham O2 Academy)
2022 - Royaume-UniPunk
CDr Album ⎯ 21 Pistes
Live Here Now

AD 2022 (29th October 2022 London Eventim Apollo)
2022 - Royaume-UniPunk
CDr Album ⎯ 21 Pistes
Live Here Now

AD 2022 (28th October London Eventim Apollo)
2022 - Royaume-UniPunk
CDr Album ⎯ 21 Pistes
Live Here Now

Singles Singles Singles Vol. 2 1979/1980
2022 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 14 Pistes
Zero Thoughts Records

A Night Of A Thousand Vampires (Live In London)
2022 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 17 Pistes
Ear Music

Singles Singles Singles Vol. 2 1979 / 1980
2022 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 14 Pistes
Zero Thoughts Records

Singles Singles Singles Vol.1 - 1976/1979
2021 - Royaume-UniPunk
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 16 Pistes
Zero Thoughts Records

The Rockfield Files
2020 - Royaume-UniRock Alternatif
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 4 Pistes
Spinefarm Records, Search And Destroy Records

Black Is The Night (The Definitive Anthology)
2019 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 39 Pistes
Bmg

Devil In Disguise
2018 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock, Garage Rock
Digital MP3 ⎯ 1 Pistes
Spinefarm Records

Evil Spirits Tour
2018 - Royaume-UniPost Rock, Goth Rock, New Wave
CDr Album ⎯ 25 Pistes
Outcast Music

Standing On The Edge Of Tomorrow
2018 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Digital MP3 ⎯ 1 Pistes
Spinefarm Records

Evil Spirits
2018 - Royaume-UniPunk, Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 10 Pistes
Spinefarm Records

Really Must Be Going Now
2017 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
DVDr Album DVD-Video ⎯ 19 Pistes
Up Periscope

35 Years Of Anarchy, Chaos And Destruction - 35th Anniversary - Live In London - Volume 2
2016 - Royaume-UniPunk
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 10 Pistes
Let Them Eat Vinyl

40th Anniversary Tour - Live In Margate
2016 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
CDr Album ⎯ 32 Pistes
Live Here Now

Don't You Wish That We Were Dead
2015 - Royaume-UniPunk
Blu-ray, DVD Album ⎯ 1 Pistes
Mvd Visual

Another Live Album From The Damned
2014 - Royaume-UniPunk
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 22 Pistes
Let Them Eat Vinyl

35th Anniversary Live In Concert (19.11.2011 - Manchester Academy)
2012 - Royaume-UniPunk
Album CD ⎯ 28 Pistes
Concert Live

35th Anniversary Live In Concert
2012 - Royaume-UniPunk
Album CD ⎯ 27 Pistes
Concert Live

35th Anniversary Live In Concert (12.11.2011 - The Roundhouse, London)
2012 - Royaume-UniPunk
CDr Album ⎯ 27 Pistes
Concert Live

Punk Oddities & Rare Tracks 1977-1982
2012 - Royaume-UniPunk
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 12 Pistes
Cleopatra

Machine Gun Etiquette Anniversary Live Set
2011 - Royaume-UniPunk
Box Set, CD, DVD Album ⎯ 51 Pistes
Easy Action

Not For Sale
2011 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave
Vinyle 7" ⎯ 4 Pistes
Devils Jukebox Records

A Nation Fit For Heroes
2010 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Vinyle 7" ⎯ 2 Pistes
Devils Jukebox Records

Machine Gun Etiquette
2009 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave
Vinyle 7" ⎯ 3 Pistes
Devils Jukebox Records

So, Who's Paranoid?
2008 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Album CD ⎯ 13 Pistes
The English Channel

Return To The 100 Club (April 18th 2007)
2007 - Royaume-UniPunk, Post-Punk, Psychedelic Rock
Album CD ⎯ 25 Pistes
Live Here Now

Live At Woolwich Coronet
2007 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave, Goth Rock
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 10 Pistes
Cleopatra

Noise Noise Noise (The Live Box)
2006 - Royaume-UniPunk
Album CD ⎯ 64 Pistes
Castle Music, Sanctuary Records

The Best Of The Damned Total Damnation
2006 - Royaume-UniPunk
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 20 Pistes
Metro

MGE25 (Machine Gun Etiquette 25 Tour)
2006 - Royaume-UniPunk
DVD Album DVD-Video ⎯ 38 Pistes
Ilc Entertainment

Play It At Your Sister
2005 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave
CD, Box Set Album Compilation ⎯ 61 Pistes
Castle Music

Little Miss Disaster
2005 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock, New Wave
Vinyle 7" ⎯ 2 Pistes
Lively Arts

Neat Neat Neat - The Alternative Anthology
2004 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave, Goth Rock
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 50 Pistes
Sanctuary Midline

Punk Generation: Best Of Oddities & Versions
2004 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave, Goth Rock
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 19 Pistes
Anarchy Music

Tiki Nightmare (Live In London 2002)
2003 - Royaume-UniPunk
DVD Album DVD-Video ⎯ 19 Pistes
Union Square Pictures

The Stiff Singles 1976-1977
2003 - Royaume-UniPunk
Box Set, Album CD Compilation ⎯ 16 Pistes
Castle Music

Smash It Up (The Anthology 1976-1987)
2002 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 35 Pistes
Castle Music

Play It At Your Little Sister
2002 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave
CD, Vinyle Single ⎯ 3 Pistes
Fab-u-lus Records

Best Of The Damned
2002 - Royaume-UniPunk
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 26 Pistes
Imperial Records

Their Greatest Hits
2001 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 38 Pistes
Castle Music

Grave Disorder
2001 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave, Goth Rock
Album CD ⎯ 13 Pistes
Nitro Records

The Pleasure And The Pain - Selected Highlights 1982-1991
2000 - Royaume-UniPunk
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 23 Pistes
Castle Music

The Super Best Of The Damned
1999 - Royaume-UniPunk
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 20 Pistes
Overseas Records

Boxed
1999 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave, Goth Rock
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 33 Pistes
Cleopatra

Molten Lager
1999 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave, Goth Rock
Album CD ⎯ 18 Pistes
Musical Tragedies

The Best Of The Damned: Marvellous
1999 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave, Goth Rock
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 10 Pistes
Big Beat Records

The Chaos Years: Rare & Unreleased 1977-1982
1997 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock, Post-Punk
CDr Album ⎯ 12 Pistes
Cleopatra

Neat Neat Neat
1996 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave, Goth Rock
CD, Box Set Album Compilation ⎯ 46 Pistes
Demon Records

The Best Of The Damned
1996 - Royaume-UniPunk
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 24 Pistes
Overseas Records

The Radio One Sessions
1996 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 23 Pistes
Nighttracks

I'm Alright Jack And The Bean Stalk
1996 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Album CD ⎯ 12 Pistes
Marble Orchard Recordings

Gun Fury
1995 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 18 Pistes
Editions Atlas

Noise: The Best Of The Damned Live
1995 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave, Goth Rock
Cassette Album Live ⎯ 16 Pistes
Emporio

Eternally Damned: The Very Best Of The Damned
1994 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 20 Pistes
Mci Music

Tales From The Damned
1993 - Royaume-UniPunk, Garage Rock, Goth Rock
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 15 Pistes
Cleopatra

Sessions Of The Damned
1993 - Royaume-UniPunk
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 22 Pistes
Strange Fruit

The MCA Singles A's + B's
1992 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock, New Wave
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 16 Pistes
Connoisseur Collection

Skip Off School To See The Damned
1992 - Royaume-UniPunk
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 11 Pistes
Demon Records

Ballroom Blitz - Live At The Lyceum
1992 - Royaume-UniPunk
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 15 Pistes
Receiver Records Limited

Peel Sessions
1991 - Royaume-UniPunk
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 9 Pistes
Dutch East India Trading, Strange Fruit

Alternative Chartbusters
1991 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 12 Pistes
Alternative Chartbusters

Super Best Collection
1990 - Royaume-UniPunk
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 15 Pistes
Bronze, Chiswick Records

The Worst Of The Damned
1990 - Royaume-UniPunk
Album CD ⎯ 20 Pistes
Bronze, Chiswick Records

Ultravox! / The Damned
1990 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 10 Pistes
Deagostini

Chiswick Singles
1990 - Royaume-UniPunk
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 14 Pistes
Chiswick Records

The Collection
1990 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave
Album CD Compilation ⎯ 22 Pistes
Castle Communications

You Must Be A Witch
1989 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Flexi-disc 7" ⎯ 1 Pistes
Sugar And Spite

Best Of Vol 1½ - The Long Lost Weekend
1988 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 15 Pistes
Big Beat Records

History Of The World Part One
1988 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Flexi-disc 7" ⎯ 1 Pistes
Sugar And Spite

The Light At The End Of The Tunnel
1987 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock, Glam
Album VHS Compilation ⎯ 9 Pistes
Cic Video

Mindless, Directionless, Energy. - Live At The Lyceum 1981 -
1987 - Royaume-UniPunk
Album CD ⎯ 10 Pistes
I.d. Records

Lively Arts
1986 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave, Goth Rock
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 12 Pistes
Prt, Big Beat Records

The Captains Birthday Party - Live At The Roundhouse
1986 - Royaume-UniPunk
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 8 Pistes
Stiff Records

Not The Captain's Birthday Party?
1986 - Royaume-UniPunk
Album CD ⎯ 9 Pistes
Demon Records

Phantasmagoria
1985 - Royaume-UniNew Wave, Goth Rock, Synth-pop
Cassette Album ⎯ 9 Pistes
Mca, Mca Records

The Shadow Of Love (Édition Première)
1985 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Vinyle 7" ⎯ 2 Pistes
Mca Records

Grimly Fiendish
1985 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave, Goth Rock
Vinyle 7" ⎯ 2 Pistes
Mca Records

Damned But Not Forgotten
1985 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave, Goth Rock
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 12 Pistes
Dojo

Is It A Dream
1985 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave, Goth Rock
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 5 Pistes
Mca Records

Damned Damned Damned / Music For Pleasure
1983 - Royaume-UniPunk
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 23 Pistes
Stiff Records

Wait For The Blackout
1982 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave
Vinyle 7" ⎯ 2 Pistes
Big Beat Records

Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde
1981 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Vinyle 7" ⎯ 2 Pistes
I.r.s. Records

Another Great Record From The Damned: The Best Of The Damned
1981 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave, Goth Rock
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 12 Pistes
Ace

The History Of The World - Part I
1980 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave, Goth Rock
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 3 Pistes
Chiswick Records

The Black Album
1980 - Royaume-UniPunk, New Wave, Goth Rock
Vinyle 12" ⎯ 18 Pistes
Chiswick Records

There Ain't No Sanity Clause
1980 - Royaume-UniPunk
Vinyle 7" ⎯ 3 Pistes
Chiswick Records

I Just Can't Be Happy Today
1979 - Royaume-UniPunk, Goth Rock
Vinyle 7" ⎯ 3 Pistes
Chiswick Records
- Vidéos The Damned -
120 Vidéos
The Damned
Téléchargements d'albums
The Damned
Discussions du forum
The Damned
Annonces de concerts
Dernière mise à jour : 01 Janvier 2023
1,814 visites