Editing The Damned (band)

{{short description|English rock band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = The Damned
| background        = group_or_band
| image             = The Damned - Live 2018.jpg
| image_upright     = 1.2
| caption           = The Damned on the Evil Spirits Tour 2018
| origin            = [[London]], England
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Punk rock]]<ref name="faster">{{cite web |title=The Damned: an epic tale of fast living and faster music |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-damned-an-epic-tale-of-fast-living-and-faster-music |website=[[LouderSound]] |date=26 October 2017 |access-date=December 8, 2022}}</ref>|[[gothic rock]]<ref name="AM"/>|[[post-punk]]<ref name="buckley">{{cite book|author=Peter Buckley|title=The Rough Guide to Rock|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ctjc6UWCm4C&pg=PT273|year=2003|publisher=Rough Guides|isbn=978-1-84353-105-0|page=273}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.furiomagazine.com/the-damned-phantasmagoria/|title=Shifting From Punk To Goth: The Damned's Phantasmagoria|first=T.|last=Leschka|website=Furiomagazine.com|date=27 November 2020|access-date=5 July 2023}}</ref>|[[psychedelic rock]]<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/dec/15/pop-review-damned-music The Damned]. ''The Guardian''. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2023.</ref>}}
| years_active      = {{start date|1976}}–present
| label             = {{hlist|[[Stiff Records|Stiff]]|[[Chiswick Records|Chiswick]]|[[Bronze Records|Bronze]]|[[Toshiba Records|Toshiba]]|[[Nitro Records|Nitro]]|English Channel|[[MCA Records|MCA]]|[[Cleopatra Records|Cleopatra]]|[[Spinefarm]]|earMUSIC<ref name="AM"/>}}
| website           = {{URL|officialdamned.com}}
| current_members   = * [[David Vanian|Dave Vanian]]
* [[Captain Sensible]]
* [[Paul Gray (English musician)|Paul Gray]]
* [[Monty Oxymoron]]
* [[Rat Scabies]]
| past_members      = * [[Brian James (guitarist)|Brian James]]
* [[Lu Edmonds]]
* [[Jon Moss]]
* [[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 (drummer)|Pinch]]
* Will Taylor
}}

'''The Damned''' are an English [[Rock music|rock]] band formed in [[London]] in 1976 by lead vocalist [[David Vanian|Dave Vanian]], guitarist [[Brian James (guitarist)|Brian James]], bassist (and later guitarist) [[Captain Sensible]] and drummer [[Rat Scabies]].<ref name="AM">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-damned-mn0000138520|title=The Damned Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More ...|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref> They were the first punk band from the United Kingdom to release a single, "[[New Rose]]" (1976),<ref name="robb">{{cite book|last=Robb|first=John|title=Punk Rock: An Oral History|publisher=[[PM Press]]|page=243|year=2012|isbn=9781604860054}}</ref> release a studio album, ''[[Damned Damned Damned]]'' (1977)<ref name="bbcdamnedreview">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/f2f9/|author=Chris Jones|title=BBC – Classic Pop/Rock Review – The Damned, Damned Damned Damned|publisher=BBC|date=18 April 2007|access-date=2 June 2013}}</ref> and tour the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfbg.com/noise/2014/06/03/damned-playing-small-venues-headgear-protects-you-spit-and-why-they-wont-stop-til-s |title=The Damned on playing small venues, headgear that protects you from spit, and why they won't stop 'til the Stones do &#124; SF Music |website=Sfbg.com |access-date=26 July 2014}}</ref> Nine of the band's singles charted on the [[UK Singles Chart]] [[Top 40]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1979-05-05 |title=DAMNED |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17625/damned/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Official Charts |language=en}}</ref>

The band briefly dissolved after ''[[Music for Pleasure (The Damned album)|Music for Pleasure]]'' (1977), the follow-up to their debut studio album, was critically dismissed.<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=26 July 2014}}</ref> They quickly reformed without Brian James and released ''[[Machine Gun Etiquette]]'' (1979).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/t/thedamned/ |title=Radio 1 – Keeping It Peel – The Damned |publisher=BBC |access-date=26 July 2014}}</ref> In the 1980s, they released four studio albums: ''[[The Black Album (The Damned album)|The Black Album]]'' (1980), ''[[Strawberries (album)|Strawberries]]'' (1982), ''[[Phantasmagoria (The Damned album)|Phantasmagoria]]'' (1985) and ''[[Anything (The Damned album)|Anything]]'' (1986), which saw the band moving toward a [[gothic rock]] style. The latter two albums did not feature Sensible, who had left the band in 1984.<ref>{{cite web|author=Mark Deming |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/anything-mw0000650046 |title=Anything – The Damned &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |website=AllMusic |access-date=26 July 2014}}</ref> 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]]'' (1989).<ref>{{cite web|author=Ned Raggett |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/final-damnation-mw0000654337 |title=Final Damnation – The Damned &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |website=AllMusic |date=13 June 1988 |access-date=26 July 2014}}</ref> Their fast-driven punk rock has been cited for influencing and shaping the emergence of [[hardcore punk]] in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United Kingdom and the United States.<ref name="hanna">{{cite web |last1=Hanna |first1=Robert |title=THE DAMNED, THE CUTE LEPERS AT SHOWBOX MARKET |url=http://www.ssgmusic.com/the-damned-the-cute-lepers-at-showbox-market/ |website=SSGMusic |access-date=26 May 2021 |date=31 October 2011}}</ref>

The Damned again reformed for a tour in 1991.<ref name="AM"/> In 1995, they released a new studio album, ''[[Not of This Earth (The Damned album)|Not of This Earth]]'', which was Scabies's last with the band.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kearns |first=Kevin |url=http://www.moderndrummer.com/site/2010/07/rat-scabies/#_ |title=Rat Scabies: The Damned's Explosive Drummer |website=Moderndrummer.com |date=22 July 2014 |access-date=26 July 2014}}</ref> This was followed by ''[[Grave Disorder]]'' (2001), ''[[So, Who's Paranoid?]]'' (2008) and ''[[Evil Spirits (The Damned album)|Evil Spirits]]'' (2018), their first studio album in the [[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]] top-10 list, landing at No. 7.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/damned-punk-top-ten-album146487/|title=Punk legends The Damned finally score first top ten album after 41 years|last=Sherwin|first=Adam|date=2018-04-20|website=Inews.co.uk|access-date=2018-04-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=311465|title=U.K. CHARTS: HARRIS & LIPA SET A RECORD|date=2018-04-20|website=Hitsdailydouble.com|access-date=2018-04-21}}</ref> Their most recent album, ''[[Darkadelic]]'', was released in 2023 and also made it into the [[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]] top-10 list, landing at No. 9. Despite experiencing 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 (English musician)|Paul Gray]] rejoined.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/the-damned-new-album/updates/88746|title=New album update|website=PledgeMusic.com|access-date=2017-09-11}}</ref> In 2019, drummer Pinch left the band, and in February 2022 he was replaced by Will Taylor, who left in November 2023, when Scabies rejoined.

As one of the first [[gothic rock]] bands, the Damned, featuring lead singer Vanian's [[baritone]] singing, dark lyrics and [[vampire]]-themed costume, were a major influence on the [[goth subculture]].<ref name=Thompson>{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Dave |date=1 November 2000 |title=Alternative Rock |publisher=Miller Freeman Books |isbn=0-87930-607-6}}</ref>

==History==
===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>

===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 Edmonds) that featured Scabies, Vanian, Sensible and bassist [[Lemmy]] of [[Hawkwind]] and [[Motörhead]]. The Damned tentatively reformed with the "Les Punks" lineup in early 1979, but originally performed as "The Doomed" to avoid potential trademark problems. Sensible switched to guitar and [[Keyboard instrument|keyboard]]s, and after a brief period with Lemmy on bass for studio [[Demo (music)|demos]] and a handful of live appearances<ref>see the notes for ''[[Smash It Up: The Anthology 1976–1987]]'' (2002)</ref> and a slightly longer period with [[Henry Badowski]] on bass, the bassist position was filled by [[Algy Ward]], formerly of [[The Saints (Australian band)|the Saints]]. During a December 1978 tour of Scotland, [[Gary Holton]] substituted for Vanian.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://louderthanwar.com/gary-holton-actor-and-heavy-metal-kid-a-look-back-at-a-cult-figure/ |title=Gary Holton (RIP) A look back at a cult figure |website=Louderthanwar.com |date=22 April 2012 |access-date=26 July 2014}}</ref>

The band officially went by the Damned again, playing their first gig under that name in April 1979 and signing a recording contract with [[Chiswick Records]]. They returned to the studio and released the charting singles "[[Love Song (The Damned song)|Love Song]]" and "[[Smash It Up]]", followed by 1979's ''[[Machine Gun Etiquette]]'' and then a [[cover version]] of [[Jefferson Airplane]]'s "[[White Rabbit (song)|White Rabbit]]".<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17625/damned/|title=DAMNED &#124; full Official Chart History &#124; Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref> Vanian's vocals had by now expanded from the high [[baritone]] of the early records to a smoother [[crooning]] style.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kemptown.co.uk/freerad/captain/sensible.htm |title=Sensible – Crooner Vanian |website=Kemptown.co.uk |access-date=21 February 2012}}</ref>

''Machine Gun Etiquette'' (1979) featured a strong 1960s [[garage rock|garage-rock]] influence with a [[Farfisa]] organ on several songs. Recording at London's [[Wessex Sound Studios|Wessex Studios]] at the same time as the Clash were there to record ''[[London Calling]]'' (1979), [[Joe Strummer]] and [[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]] made an uncredited vocal appearance on the title track. ''Machine Gun Etiquette'' (1979) received largely positive reviews; Ira Robbins and Jay Pattyn of ''[[Trouser Press]]'' described it as "a great record by a band many had already counted out."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=damned |title=TrouserPress – Damned |website=TrouserPress.com |access-date=21 February 2012}}</ref>

===Shift towards gothic rock (1980–1987)===
Ward left the band in 1980, to be replaced by [[Paul Gray (English musician)|Paul Gray]], formerly of [[Eddie and the Hot Rods]]. ''[[The Black Album (The Damned album)|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 Studios]]. It was their last album for Chiswick.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

In 1981, the Damned released ''[[Friday 13th (EP)|Friday 13th]]'', a four-song [[Extended play|EP]] that featured the original tracks "Disco Man", "Billy Bad Breaks", "Limit Club" and a cover version of [[the Rolling Stones]] song "[[Citadel (The Rolling Stones song)|Citadel]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.markprindle.com/damned.htm#friday|title=The Damned|website=Markprindle.com|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref>

In 1982, the Damned released their only studio album for [[Bronze Records]], ''[[Strawberries (album)|Strawberries]]''. The band had now expanded to a quintet with the addition of full-time keyboardist [[Roman Jugg]]. At the time, Sensible was splitting his time between the Damned and his own solo career, having reached chart success in the UK with the 1982 number-one hit "[[Happy Talk (song)|Happy Talk]]". The band's next album, a one-off side project recorded without Sensible, was the soundtrack to an imaginary 1960s movie called ''Give Daddy the Knife, Cindy''.<ref>[http://crawdaddy.wolfgangsvault.com/Article.aspx?id=5824 "Naz Nomad and the Nightmares"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220025047/http://crawdaddy.wolfgangsvault.com/Article.aspx?id=5824 |date=20 December 2008 }}, ''[[Crawdaddy!]]'', 27 February 2008.</ref> For this limited-run album of 1960s [[Cover version|cover songs]], the band was billed as [[Naz Nomad and the Nightmares]].<ref>"Dave Vanian becomes Mr. Nomad, while Roman Jugg turns into Sphinx Svenson, and Rat Scabies into Nick Detroit". {{ cite web | url = {{Allmusic|class=album|id=r45754|pure_url=yes}} | title = Give Daddy the Knife Cindy | website= [[AllMusic]] | author = Raggett, Ned | access-date = 2006-09-10 }}</ref>

In 1984, the Damned performed on the [[BBC Two]] sitcom ''[[The Young Ones (TV series)|The Young Ones]]'' with their song "Nasty", featuring new bassist [[Bryn Merrick]] (replacing Gray) and both Jugg and Sensible on guitar.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}} Sensible played his last concert with the band at [[Brockwell Park]] before leaving to pursue his solo career.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W3PODgAAQBAJ&q=the+damned+brockwell+park+1984&pg=PA1996|title=Smashing It Up: A Decade of Chaos with The Damned|first=Kieron|last=Tyler|date=12 June 2017|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=9781783238903|via=Google Books}}</ref>

From the earliest days of the band, Vanian had adopted a [[vampire]]-like appearance onstage, with chalk-white makeup and formal dress.<ref name="AM"/><ref>"Vanian's smart crooning and spooky theatricality ended up more or less founding goth rock inadvertently (with nearly all his clones forgetting what he always kept around—an open sense of humour)." [[AllMusic]]</ref> With Sensible gone, Vanian's image became more characteristic of the band as a whole. The Damned signed a recording contract with major label [[MCA Records]], and the ''[[Phantasmagoria (The Damned album)|Phantasmagoria]]'' album followed in July 1985, preceded by the UK No.&nbsp;21 single "[[Grimly Fiendish]]". Other hits from the same album were "[[The Shadow of Love]]"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/damned-the-shadow-of-love/ | title=The Shadow of Love | website=[[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]] }}</ref> with a gloomy gothic sound, and the lighter "[[Is It A Dream?|Is It a Dream?]]".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/damned-is-it-a-dream/ | title=Is It a Dream | website=[[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]] }}</ref>

In January 1986, the non-album single "[[Eloise (Paul Ryan song)|Eloise]]", a cover version of the 1968 hit by [[Barry Ryan (singer)|Barry Ryan]], became a No.&nbsp;3 chart success in the UK, the band's highest chart placing to date.<ref name="auto1"/>

''Phantasmagoria'''s December 1986 followup ''[[Anything (The Damned album)|Anything]]'' was a commercial disappointment, although MCA included one of its tracks ("[[In Dulce Decorum]]") on the ''[[List of Miami Vice soundtracks#Miami Vice II|Miami Vice II]]'' soundtrack release. The cover of [[Love (band)|Love]]'s "[[Alone Again Or]]" was also released as a single.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

Late in 1987, the Damned began to work on a new studio album for MCA, but the output of these sessions remains unreleased as the record contract was dissolved. Two of the new songs ("Gunning for Love" and "The Loveless and the Damned") were later rerecorded by the [[Dave Vanian and the Phantom Chords]] side project.

===Reunion and farewell tours (1988–89)=== 
In June 1988, James and Sensible rejoined the group temporarily for three live appearances, including a concert at the [[O2 Forum Kentish Town|London Town and Country Club]] that was released the following year as the album ''[[Final Damnation]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whiterabbitskgs.co.uk/set_info/1988.htm |title=The Damned: Live Performances - 1988 |date=20 January 2018 |website=Whiterabbitskgs.co.uk |access-date=1 November 2022}}</ref> 

In June 1989, James and Sensible rejoined the group for two UK appearances billed as ''The Final Curtain''. In July this lineup performed a farewell tour of the U.S. and in December they performed a further five UK gigs advertised as the ''We Really Must Be Going Now'' tour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whiterabbitskgs.co.uk/set_info/1989.htm |title=The Damned: Live Performances - 1989 |date=20 January 2018 |website=Whiterabbitskgs.co.uk |access-date=1 November 2022}}</ref> 

===Second and third reformations (1990–1995)===
Although officially on hiatus, the Damned released "[[Fun Factory (song)|Fun Factory]]" a song which was recorded in 1982 with the Sensible/Vanian/Scabies/Gray lineup and intended to be released as a single at that time. However, the bankruptcy of their record company prevented the release of the song for nine years. The year's second single, "[[Prokofiev (song)|Prokofiev]]", was recorded by Scabies, Vanian and Brian James, and was sold on a 1991 reunion tour of the U.S.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2908359-The-Damned-Prokofiev | title=The Damned - Prokofiev | website=[[Discogs]] | date=20 September 1991 }}</ref>

In 1993, the band reformed with a new lineup featuring Scabies, Vanian, guitarists [[Kris Dollimore]] (formerly of [[the Godfathers]]), Alan Lee Shaw and bassist [[Moose Harris]] (formerly of [[New Model Army (band)|New Model Army]]). Around this time, two prominent rock groups each covered a Damned song: [[Guns N' Roses]] recorded "New Rose" for their ''[["The Spaghetti Incident?"|The Spaghetti Incident?]]'' 1993 album, 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's sound, sometimes to a younger audience unfamiliar with the group.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

The reformed Damned toured regularly for about two years and released a new studio album, ''[[Not of This Earth (The Damned album)|Not of This Earth]]'', in November 1995, which was promoted with a series of long tours prior to its release. However, by the time when 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'' (1995) without proper authorization.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

===Return of Captain Sensible and new lineup (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 (Los Angeles band)|Bags]], [[the Gun Club]] and [[The Sisters of Mercy]].<ref name="AM"/>

By February 1999, the Damned consisted of Vanian, Sensible, Morrison and new recruits [[Monty Oxymoron]] on keyboards and Spike T. Smith on drums. Smith later joined [[List of Morrissey band members|Morrissey]]'s live band and recommended that the Damned recruit Andy (Pinch) Pinching, a founding member of [[English Dogs]], to replace him on drums. Garrie Dreadful, a recruit from Sensible's solo band, had played drums from 1997 to 1999 before Smith's arrival. 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 U.S. was planned in 2002 supporting [[Rob Zombie]]. However, the band withdrew after a few shows. Sensible said that "gothic punk was completely lost on the predominantly [[Heavy metal music|metal]] crowds." In the summer, the band played the [[Vans]] [[Warped Tour]] in the U.S.<ref name="punknews">{{cite web|url=http://www.punknews.org/article/3035/the-damned-drop-off-rob-zombie-tour|title=The Damned drop off Rob Zombie Tour |website=Punknews.org|date=19 March 2002 |access-date=26 August 2015}}</ref>

===Lineup change, 40th anniversary, and new album (2004–2019)===
[[File:Captain Sensible of The Damned.jpg|thumb|[[Captain Sensible]] of the Damned performing live at the [[Manchester Academy]], 2018]]
Morrison and Vanian married and had a daughter, Emily, born on 9 February 2004. Around this time, Morrison retired from performing with the band, although she remained involved with the Damned as their manager. Her replacement on bass was Stu West.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

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'' (1979). On 21 October 2006, [[BBC Radio 2]] broadcast an hour-long [[Radio documentary|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.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

On 28 October 2008, the Damned released their tenth studio album, ''[[So, Who's Paranoid?]]'', a digital release, followed by a physical release on the English Channel label on 10 November (UK) and 9 December (U.S.).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idiomag.com/peek/43986/the_damned |title=The Damned News: The Damned to release So, Who's Paranoid? soon |website=Idiomag.com |access-date=5 July 2011}}</ref> To promote the album, the band appeared twice on American television, including a visit to ''[[The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.punknews.org/article/31017 |title=The Damned to appear on Late Late Show |website=Punknews.org |date=27 October 2008 |access-date=5 July 2011}}</ref> The band undertook a 23-date UK tour to promote their new studio album, supported by [[Devilish Presley]] and Slicks Kitchen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wfmu.org/ |title=WFMU-FM 91.1/Jersey City, NJ; 90.1/Hudson Valley, NY |website=Wfmu.org |access-date=5 July 2011}}</ref>

In November 2009, the band supported Motörhead on the UK leg of their world tour.<ref>{{Cite web|title=11/23/2009: Motorhead / The Damned / Girlschool @ Cambridge Corn Exchange {{!}} Concert Archives|url=https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/motorhead-the-damned-girlschool|access-date=2021-04-12|website=concertarchives.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/biography.php?band_id=4439&bandname=The+Damned|title=The Damned – Biography – Metal Storm|website=metalstorm.net|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref>

Continual touring occurred throughout the UK and Europe over the next few years. In 2012, the Damned played South America for the first time, with dates in [[São Paulo]] and [[Buenos Aires]]. 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rhythmfestival.com |title=Rhythm Festivals 2012 |website=Rhythmfestival.com |access-date=16 July 2012}}</ref>

On 7 November 2014, Sensible and Vanian appeared on [[Ken Reid (comedian)|Ken Reid]]'s ''TV Guidance Counselor'' podcast.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvguidancecounselor.libsyn.com/tv-guidance-counselor-episode-42-david-vanian-captain-sensible-of-the-damned|title=TV Guidance Counselor Podcast: TV Guidance Counselor Episode 42: David Vanian & Captain Sensible of The Damned|website=Tvguidancecounselor.libsyn.com|access-date=5 July 2023}}</ref>

In 2015, the Damned were featured in a documentary by director Wes Orshoski titled ''[[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, who had played on ''Phantasmagoria'' (1985) and ''Anything'' (1986), died of throat cancer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/bryn-merrick-bassist-who-joined-the-damned-as-they-made-a-transition-from-punk-heroes-to-goth-a6683836.html|author=Perrone, Pierre |title=Bryn Merrick: Bassist who joined the Damned as they made a transition from punk heroes to Goth pioneers|work=The independent|date=6 October 2015|access-date=6 October 2015}}</ref> At the time of his death, he had been playing in a [[Ramones]] tribute band called Shamones.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-14 |title=The Damned bassist Bryn Merrick dies aged 56 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/various-artists-1059-1224804 |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In May 2016, the band played a 40th anniversary show at the [[Royal Albert Hall]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalalberthall.com/about-the-hall/building-and-history/our-history/the-damned-are-denied-a-chance-to-perform-at-the-hall?url=/about-the-hall/building-and-history/our-history/the-damned-are-denied-a-chance-to-perform-at-the-hall/|title=The Damned are denied a chance to perform at the Hall|website=Royalalberthall.com|access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref>

In the summer of 2017, "Neat Neat Neat" was prominently featured in the action film ''[[Baby Driver]]'' and its [[Baby Driver – Music from the Motion Picture|soundtrack]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Baby Driver [Music from the Motion Picture] |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/baby-driver-music-from-the-motion-picture-mw0003055869 |website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> On 11 September 2017, the band announced that Stu West was leaving the band and that former bassist Paul Gray would be returning for the new studio album.<ref name="auto"/> ''[[Evil Spirits (The Damned album)|Evil Spirits]]'', the band's eleventh album and first in ten years, was released on 13 April 2018. It peaked at No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart, their highest-ever chart position, topping their previous high of No. 11 in 1985 (''Phantasmagoria''). The album, which was largely [[crowdfunded]] through [[PledgeMusic]], was recorded in November 2017 in [[New York City]] and was produced by [[Tony Visconti]]. 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-damned-evil-spirits-new-album-new-single-standing-on-the-edge-of-tomorrow-2225870|title=Listen to The Damned's new single as they announce first new album in 10 years|first=Sam|last=Moore|date=22 January 2018|website=NME|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref>

On 23 May 2019, the Damned started a tour performing their third studio album, ''Machine Gun Etiquette'' (1979), which they had not played in full since its release. The tour included venues such as the [[House of Blues]], Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival and [[Rebellion Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/69140/damned-to-play-all-of-machine-gun-etiquette-on-tour|title=Damned to play all of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' on tour|website=Punknews.org|date=12 February 2019 |access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref>

===Departure of Pinch, final original lineup shows, Darkadelic, and Scabies' return (2019–present)===
On 25 October 2019, Pinch announced his departure after 20 years with the band. 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 lineup of Vanian, Sensible, James and Scabies would play a series of shows. This would mark the first time in more than two decades that James and Scabies had played with Vanian and Sensible.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2020/10/the-damned-reunite-original-lineup-2021-tour/|title=Punk legends The Damned to reunite original lineup for 2021 tour|website=Consequence.net|date=21 October 2020|access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref> However, the [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]] pandemic forced the postponement of the tour until 2022.

In February 2022, Pinch was replaced by drummer Will Taylor. In February 2023, the band's next studio album, ''[[Darkadelic]]'', was announced and it was released on 28 April 2023. The album was preceded by the singles and music videos for "The Invisible Man" on 3 February 2023, "Beware of the Clown" on 10 March 2023 and "You're Gonna Realise" on 21 April 2023. All three music videos were directed by [[Martin Gooch]].<ref>[https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-damned-announce-new-album-darkadelic-share-new-single-the-invisible-man-3392122 The Damned announce new album ''Darkadelic'', share new single 'The Invisible Man']. ''NME''. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.</ref>

Former bassist Algy Ward, who had played on ''Machine Gun Etiquette'', died on 17 May 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hadusek |first=Jon |date=May 22, 2023 |title=Algy Ward, Founding Frontman of Tank and Onetime Member of The Damned, Dead at 63 |url=https://consequence.net/2023/05/algy-ward-tank-dead/ |website=Consequence.net}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Brannigan |first=Paul |date=May 22, 2023 |title=Algy Ward, former bassist with Tank, The Damned and The Saints, dead at 63 |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/algy-ward-former-bassist-with-tank-the-damned-and-the-saints-dead-at-63 |website=Loudersound.com}}</ref> After leaving the Damned, Ward had formed the [[NWOBHM]] band [[Tank (band)|Tank]] in 1980.

Will Taylor announced his departure as the Damned's drummer in November 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 November 2023 |title=Will Taylor Drums on Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0DrcBZSoVV29SDSbiPiDhtbCmGhk6VgffMqranknj1rVmRZyhc8fudj7iCvTswgzRl&id=100063628627570&paipv=0&eav=AfZR9VShWtnH8ctxV-57MNeOvDYKGis1ckYnpv3zjtYgTsQq_2AmWIgzuJZYrL7CAsg&_rdr |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref> Later that month, it was announced that original drummer Scabies had rejoined the band on a permanent basis.<ref>{{Cite twitter|number=1725490001037738265|user=thedamned|title=RAT'S BACK!!! We're excited to announce that Mr. Scabies has rejoined the band for tours, festivals and more in 2024!|date=17 November 2023|access-date=24 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-17 |title=RAT'S BACK!!! LEGENDARY DRUMMER REJOINS THE DAMNED PERMANENTLY!!!!! |url=https://vivelerock.net/blogs/news-1/rats-back-legendary-drummer-rejoins-the-damned-permanently |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Vive Le Rock |language=en}}</ref>

Founding member and original guitarist Brian James died on 6 March 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pearis |first1=Bill |title=Brian James, The Damned's founding guitarist, dies at 70 |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/brian-james-the-damneds-founding-guitarist-dies-at-70/ |website=BrooklynVegan |access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref> After his time with The Damned he co-founded [[The Lords of the New Church]], a supergroup with ex members of [[Dead Boys]], [[Sham 69]] and [[The Barracudas]], before focusing on a solo career in later years.

==Members==
{{main|List of the Damned members}}
'''Current members'''
*[[David Vanian]] (David Lett) – lead vocals (1976–present)
*[[Captain Sensible]] (Raymond Burns) – guitars, backing vocals (1979–1984, 1988–1992, 1996–present), keyboards (1979–1981), bass (1976–1978; 2022 reunion tour)
*[[Monty Oxymoron]] (Laurence Burrow) – keyboards, backing vocals (1996–present)
*[[Paul Gray (English musician)|Paul Gray]] – bass, backing vocals (1980–1983, 1989–1992, 1996, 2017–present)
*[[Rat Scabies]] (Christopher Millar) – drums, backing vocals (1976–1977, 1979–1996, 2022, 2023–present)

==Discography==
{{See also|The Damned discography}}
*''[[Damned Damned Damned]]'' (1977)
*''[[Music for Pleasure (The Damned album)|Music for Pleasure]]'' (1977)
*''[[Machine Gun Etiquette]]'' (1979)
*''[[The Black Album (The Damned album)|The Black Album]]'' (1980)
*''[[Strawberries (album)|Strawberries]]'' (1982)
*''[[Phantasmagoria (The Damned album)|Phantasmagoria]]'' (1985)
*''[[Anything (The Damned album)|Anything]]'' (1986)
*''[[Not of This Earth (The Damned album)|Not of This Earth]]'' (1995)
*''[[Grave Disorder]]'' (2001)
*''[[So, Who's Paranoid?]]'' (2008)
*''[[Evil Spirits (album)|Evil Spirits]]'' (2018)
*''[[Darkadelic]]'' (2023)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.officialdamned.com/}}
* [http://www.rockerzine.com/index.php/2011/10/the-damned-35-years-of-evil/ Captain Sensible Interview] (and video of interview and 35th anniversary tour), Rocker Magazine, 2011.
* {{discogs artist}}
* {{MusicBrainz artist|id=77d21c13-846f-4f48-9546-873949eff6ae|name=The Damned}}
* {{IMDb name|id=1504714}}
* [http://www.chrishunt.biz/features07.html The Damned] article by [[Chris Hunt]], published in [[Q (magazine)|Q Magazine]], 2003.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111006193601/http://www.funzig.com/damned-fine-nostalgia/ Review of 2006 BBC radio prog "''Is she really going out with him?''"]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120310172307/http://southsonic.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=343:the-damned-the-phoenix-exeter-190510&catid=27:live&Itemid=22 Review of The Damned – The Phoenix, Exeter 19/05/10]

{{The Damned}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Damned (band), The}}
[[Category:English punk rock groups]]
[[Category:English gothic rock groups]]
[[Category:English post-punk music groups]]
[[Category:English new wave musical groups]]
[[Category:Punk rock groups from London]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1976]]
[[Category:Stiff Records artists]]
[[Category:I.R.S. Records artists]]
[[Category:Bronze Records artists]]
[[Category:MCA Records artists]]
[[Category:1976 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Live Here Now artists]]
[[Category:Chiswick Records artists]]
[[Category:Nitro Records artists]]
[[Category:Cleopatra Records artists]]