A very underrated guitarist and songwriter from an underrated band. Their music is always cropping up in films, TV and adverts which, from 50 years ago proves the point. I had the pleasure of meeting him and the band a few times … … rest in peace.
Saw them play at Northampton Roadmender. Must have been around 25 years or so ago now. Brian James wasn’t playing then or I assume he wasn’t. The only two I remember was Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible. Not a band I was really into tbh but it’s always sad to see the musicians of my generation shuffling off this mortal coil. RIP Mr James.
Out of all the Punk tunes that came out,and there’s been some gems,the Damned’s track Love Song is the ear worm for me
I know he'd left the band by then but Machine Gun Etiquette has to be one of the greatest albums of all time. An exciting listen from start to finish. RIP
Even though they regularly came to the club I worked at I'd go to any gigs within 50 miles. One of the best was at the Top Club, Sheffield, when John Cooper Clarke was the support band Rat Scabies and Captain Sensible swapped instruments and they played a dozen Sex Pistols songs ... ... absolute madness but brilliant in every way possible.
Saw him at Gateshead supporting The Fall. Even though you'd heard much of his act before it was still engrossing. My brother saw him do a gig in Dipton once.....DIPTON! He said he was driven there from Newcastle, the car just seeming to get further and further away from civilisation, getting mistier and darker and more sinister. He was worried when he realised that he had to walk through the crowd to get on stage. At least when you walk on from the side of the stage you can take one quick look at the punters and walk straight off the other side, he said.
Seen The Damned in 2009 supporting Motörhead at NCH, and they were brilliant. Motorhead quite often had Punk bands supporting them, but it was The Damned most often. They were bloody brilliant, and got a hell of a reception from what was a mainly rock crowd. Their first 3 albums were phenomenal, I struggle to think of a better first 3 album sequence, with Machine Gun Etiquette being up there as one of the best Punk albums ever. I was talking to Dave Vanian outside and one thing that struck me was how small he was. R.I.P. Brian, another one of my mis-spent youth gone.
Had to Google that date, I must have seen Motorhead Bomber tour at nch a few decades earlier... support was Saxon apparently... wish I'd seen The Dammed supporting
Bomber tour was 79, with Saxon. Seen Saxon in 2008 supporting Motörhead. Saxon, Girlschool, The Damned, all touring buddies with Motörhead.
