Editing The Damned (band) (section)

===Formation and Stiff years (1976–1978)===
Prior to The Damned, 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 [[The Pretenders|Pretenders]] frontwoman [[Chrissie Hynde]].<ref name="The Damned">{{cite web|url=https://octopusmediaink.com/eternal-damnednation-vanian-talks/ |title=Eternal Damnednation: Vanian Talks |website=Octopusmediaink.com |date=26 October 1999 |access-date=21 February 2012}}</ref> [[Brian James (guitarist)|Brian James]] (Brian Robertson) had been a member of [[London SS]], a band that never played live but also included musicians who later found fame in [[the Clash]] and [[Generation X (band)|Generation X]]. Scabies knew James through a failed audition as the drummer for London SS.<ref>{{cite book|author=Colegrave, Stephen and Chris Sullivan|title=Punk: The Definitive Record of a Revolution|publisher=[[Perseus Books Group|Thunder's Mouth Press]]|page=103|year=2001|isbn=9781560257691|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g_t1hA7Zq0IC&q=tony+james+brian+james+mick+jones+london+ss&pg=PA105}}</ref> When they decided to start their own band, with James on guitar and Scabies on drums, they invited [[Sid Vicious]], later of the [[Sex Pistols]], and Dave Vanian to audition to be the singer. However, only Vanian appeared, and he was added to the band.<ref name="The Damned"/> Sensible became the band's bassist, and the four called themselves the Damned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nypress.com/qa-with-the-damneds-captain-sensible|author=Tabb, George|title=Q&A with the Damned's Captain Sensible|website=NYPress.com|date=16 September 2001|access-date=4 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809153328/http://nypress.com/qa-with-the-damneds-captain-sensible/|archive-date=9 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Chrissie Hynde would later write: "Without me, they were probably the most musically accomplished punk outfit in town."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hynde|first1=Chrissie|title=Reckless|date=2015|publisher=Ebury Press|isbn=9781785031441}}</ref>

The Damned played their first show on 6 July 1976, supporting the [[Sex Pistols]] at the [[100 Club]]. A [[Lo-fi music|lo-fi]] recording of the show was later released as ''[[Live at the 100 Club (The Damned album)|Live at the 100 Club]]'' (2007).<ref name="recordcollectormag.com">{{cite web|url=http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/damned-damned-damned-expanded-edition|title=The Damned- Damned Damned Damned Expanded Edition|publisher=Record Collector Mag.com|access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref> As part of London's burgeoning punk scene, the Damned again played the club on 20 September for the [[100 Club Punk Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/the-100-club-punk-rock-festival/|title=The 100 Club Punk Rock Festival|publisher=Rock's Back Pages.com|access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref>

On 22 October, five weeks before the release of the Sex Pistols' "[[Anarchy in the U.K.]]", [[Stiff Records]] released 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! (song)|Help!]]".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/the-damned-damned-damned-damned-review |title=The Damned – Damned Damned Damned |magazine=Uncut |date=14 December 2012 |access-date=15 July 2015 |archive-date=7 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207013312/http://www.uncut.co.uk/the-damned-damned-damned-damned-review |url-status=dead }}</ref> "New Rose" was described by critic Ned Raggett as a "deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic [[angst]]."<ref>{{cite web|author=Song Review by Ned Raggett |url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/new-rose-mt0027067015 |title=New Rose – The Damned &#124; Listen, Appearances, Song Review |website=AllMusic |access-date=17 April 2014}}</ref>

When the Sex Pistols released their single, they took the Damned, along with the Clash and [[The Heartbreakers|Johnny Thunders' 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 20 scheduled shows taking place. The Damned were expelled from the tour before its end by Sex Pistols manager [[Malcolm McLaren]].<ref>Robb, John, ''Punk Diary'', pp. 263–273; Savage, Jon, ''England's Dreaming'', pp. 267–275.</ref>

The Damned released their debut studio album ''[[Damned Damned Damned]]'' on 18 February 1977. Produced by [[Nick Lowe]], it was the first studio album released by a British punk band and included a new single, "[[Neat Neat Neat]]".<ref>{{cite web|author=Ned Raggett |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/damned-damned-damned-mw0000193727 |title=Damned Damned Damned – The Damned &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |website=[[AllMusic]] |date=16 April 1977 |access-date=15 July 2015}}</ref> The band toured to promote the album, in March opening for [[T. Rex (band)|T. Rex]] on their final tour before [[Marc Bolan]]'s death that September. Later that spring, they became the first British punk band to tour the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-28-ca-33475-story.html |title=Still Damned – latimes |work=Los Angeles Times |date=12 May 2002 |access-date=15 July 2015}}</ref> 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]].<ref>see Mullen's comments in the [[Don Letts]] directed documentary ''[[Punk: Attitude]]'' (2005).</ref> Author Ian Winwood wrote, "In terms of placing boots on the ground, it is The Damned who can be credited as having had the most influence on American punk rock."<ref name="Smash!">{{cite book |last1=Winwood |first1=Ian |title=Smash!: Green Day, The Offspring, Bad Religion, NOFX, and the '90s Punk Explosion |date=2018 |publisher=Da Capo Press |location=New York, NY |isbn=9780306902741 |page=1}}</ref>

That August, [[Lu Edmonds]] was added as a second guitarist.<ref name="recordcollectormag.com"/> Although not yet obvious in their music, the band were heavily inspired by [[psychedelic rock]].<ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/the-damned-talk-40-years-of-shapeshifting-punk-128456/ The Damned Talk 40 Years of Shapeshifting Punk]. ''Rolling Stone''. 14 April 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2023.</ref> They unsuccessfully tried to recruit the reclusive [[Syd Barrett]] to produce their second studio album.<ref>{{cite news|author=Nick Kent |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jul/12/popandrock.sydbarrett3 |title=Nick Kent on life and death of Syd Barrett, the most famous recluse in rock &#124; Music |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=15 July 2015}}</ref> They settled for his former [[Pink Floyd]] bandmate [[Nick Mason]]. In November 1977, the album was released as ''[[Music for Pleasure (The Damned album)|Music for Pleasure]]'' and was quickly dismissed by critics. Its failure precipitated the band's exit from Stiff Records.<ref>{{cite web|author=Chris Woodstra |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/music-for-pleasure-mw0000200275 |title=Music for Pleasure – The Damned &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=15 July 2015}}</ref> 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 dissolved in February 1978.<ref>{{cite book|author=Gray, Marcus|title=The Clash: Return of the Last Gang in Town|publisher=4th Estate|year=1995|isbn=9780634082405|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=29hwkUOFO9QC&q=rat+scabies+jon+moss&pg=PA264}}</ref>