| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Punk rock, gothic rock, post-punk |
| Years active | 1976-present |
| Labels | Stiff, Chiswick, Bronze,Toshiba, Nitro, English Channel, MCA, Cleopatra |
| Members | Dave Vanian Captain Sensible Monty Oxymoron Paul Grey Will Taylor |
| Past Members | Brian James Rat Scabies Lu Edmonds Algy Ward Roman Jugg Bryn Merrick Paul Shepley Kris Dollimore Spike T. Smith Alan Lee Shaw Moose Harris Garrie Dreadful Patricia Morrison Stu West Pinch |
| Influences | The Stooges, MC5, The Who, Small Faces, The Electric Prunes, The Seeds |
| Website | http://officialdamned.com/ |
The Damned: Biography
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.
The Damned: FAQs
Is The Damned Goth?
The Damned are not a strictly goth band, but they have been credited as one of the pioneering bands of the gothic rock genre. The band’s music incorporates elements of punk, goth, and psychedelic rock, and their aesthetic has often been associated with the goth scene. However, The Damned have never considered themselves a strictly goth band and have resisted being pigeonholed into any one genre.
Are The Damned punk?
Yes, The Damned are a punk rock band. They were one of the first punk bands to release a single and an album in the UK, and they were also one of the first to tour the United States. The band’s early music was heavily influenced by the likes of The Stooges and The New York Dolls, and their raw, energetic sound helped to define the punk genre.
What genre is The Damned?
The Damned are a punk rock band, but their music incorporates elements of other genres, including goth, rockabilly, and psychedelic rock. As a result, they are often associated with the gothic rock genre. However, The Damned consider themselves a punk band with a unique and eclectic sound.
Are The Damned still together?
Yes, The Damned are still together. The band has undergone numerous lineup changes over the years, but founding members Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible have remained constants in the band. The Damned continue to tour and perform regularly, and they have released a total of eleven studio albums, with their most recent, Evil Spirits, being released in 2018.
Who is currently in The Damned?
The current lineup of The Damned consists of founding members Dave Vanian on vocals, and Captain Sensible on guitar, and well as Paul Gray on bass, Monty Oxymoron on keyboards, and Will Taylor on drums.
Where did The Damned get their name?
Founding guitarist Brian James named the band after the 1969 film, “The Damned”, a historical drama set in 1930’s in Nazi Germany. James apparently chose the name because it resembled the band’s woefully unlucky circumstances at the time.
Was The Damned the first punk band?
The Damned were not the first punk band, but they were one of the earliest punk bands to record and and music, and also to tour in the U.S. The band’s debut single, “New Rose,” was released in 1976 and is considered to be the first punk single to be released in the UK.