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The Damned

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Damned are an English rock band from London, formed in 1976 by singer Dave Vanian, guitarist Brian James, bassist Captain Sensible and drummer Rat Scabies. Vanian, Sensible and Scabies had previously played together in Masters of the Backside, a band that also included Chrissie Hynde. They played their first gig on 6 July 1976, supporting the Sex Pistols at the 100 Club in London.

Music and breakthrough

On 22 October 1976 New Rose was released on Stiff Records, the first punk single from the United Kingdom. That was five weeks before Anarchy in the U.K. by the Sex Pistols. The B-side was a fast version of Help! by the Beatles. In December 1976 they joined the Anarchy Tour, until Malcolm McLaren threw them off the tour. The album Damned Damned Damned, produced by Nick Lowe, was released in February 1977 and was the first album by a British punk band. The first American tour by a British punk group was theirs as well. After the unsuccessful Music for Pleasure in 1977 the band briefly split up. Without James they returned with Machine Gun Etiquette in 1979.

Influence

In the 1980s they chose a gothic and psychedelic sound, with The Black Album in 1980, Strawberries in 1982, Phantasmagoria in 1985 and Anything in 1986. Nine singles reached the British top 40 in that period. Later came Not of This Earth in 1995, Grave Disorder in 2001, So, Who's Paranoid? in 2008, Evil Spirits in 2018 and Darkadelic in 2023. The Damned are regarded as influential for punk rock, gothic rock and hardcore punk. They showed that punk could be more than anger alone: it could also be humour, theatre and melody.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to New Rose by The Damned. Notice the furious tempo, the raw guitars and the way the vocals drive the song forward in just a few minutes.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Categories: Artists