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The Damned – Live at the 100 Club, London, 6 July, 1976 (12-Inch Album)
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THE DAMNED History
The Damned were formed in London in 1976 by vocalist Dave Vanian, guitarist Brian James, bassist Captain Sensible and drummer Rat Scabies. As one of the founding bands of the British punk movement, The Damned played a crucial role in shaping the genre while constantly reinventing themselves through punk, gothic rock, psychedelia and alternative rock. Their willingness to experiment set them apart from many of their contemporaries and helped secure their place as one of Britain’s most influential rock bands.
One of the most searched questions about The Damned is “Were The Damned the first UK punk band?” While several bands emerged around the same time, The Damned became the first British punk band to release a single, New Rose, in October 1976. They also became the first UK punk band to release a studio album, Damned Damned Damned, and the first to tour the United States, giving them a unique place in punk history.
Their debut album, Damned Damned Damned, produced by Nick Lowe, remains one of the defining records of the punk era. Songs including Neat Neat Neat, New Rose and Fan Club captured the speed, humour and raw energy that made the band instant favourites on the London punk scene.
Another common search is “What is The Damned’s biggest song?” Although New Rose remains their most historically important recording, many fans consider Smash It Up to be the band’s signature song. Released in 1979 on the album Machine Gun Etiquette, it demonstrated a more sophisticated sound while retaining the aggression and excitement of their early work.
Unlike many first-wave punk bands, The Damned refused to remain confined to one style. During the 1980s they embraced darker, gothic influences on albums such as The Black Album, Strawberries, Phantasmagoria and Anything. Dave Vanian’s haunting baritone vocals and gothic image helped establish him as one of the pioneers of gothic rock, influencing bands including The Sisters of Mercy, The Mission and Fields of the Nephilim.
Fans also frequently ask “Why did The Damned split up?” Internal tensions led to several break-ups and countless line-up changes throughout their career. Founding guitarist Brian James departed in 1977, while Rat Scabies and Captain Sensible also left and later returned at various points. Despite these changes, Dave Vanian remained the band’s constant frontman, preserving The Damned’s unique identity.
One of the band’s defining characteristics has been their unpredictability. Albums such as Machine Gun Etiquette, The Black Album and Strawberries demonstrated a willingness to incorporate psychedelic rock, progressive arrangements and melodic songwriting into their music, helping them evolve far beyond their punk roots.
The Damned reunited numerous times over the years, with various classic line-ups returning to the stage. Fans often search “Are The Damned still together?” The answer is yes. More than four decades after forming, the band continues to tour and record, remaining one of the longest-running groups to emerge from the original British punk scene.
The Damned’s influence reaches far beyond punk. Their music helped shape gothic rock, alternative rock and horror punk, inspiring artists including The Misfits, Green Day, AFI, The Offspring and countless others. Their combination of humour, theatricality and musical ambition continues to earn them new generations of fans.
Today, The Damned vinyl records remain highly collectible. Original UK Stiff Records and Chiswick Records pressings of Damned Damned Damned, Music for Pleasure, Machine Gun Etiquette, The Black Album, Strawberries and Phantasmagoria, together with coloured vinyl editions, remastered releases and rare live recordings, continue to be sought after by collectors worldwide. Whether you’re discovering the band through New Rose or exploring their gothic masterpieces, The Damned remain one of the most important bands in British rock history.
One of the most searched questions about The Damned is “Were The Damned the first UK punk band?” While several bands emerged around the same time, The Damned became the first British punk band to release a single, New Rose, in October 1976. They also became the first UK punk band to release a studio album, Damned Damned Damned, and the first to tour the United States, giving them a unique place in punk history.
Their debut album, Damned Damned Damned, produced by Nick Lowe, remains one of the defining records of the punk era. Songs including Neat Neat Neat, New Rose and Fan Club captured the speed, humour and raw energy that made the band instant favourites on the London punk scene.
Another common search is “What is The Damned’s biggest song?” Although New Rose remains their most historically important recording, many fans consider Smash It Up to be the band’s signature song. Released in 1979 on the album Machine Gun Etiquette, it demonstrated a more sophisticated sound while retaining the aggression and excitement of their early work.
Unlike many first-wave punk bands, The Damned refused to remain confined to one style. During the 1980s they embraced darker, gothic influences on albums such as The Black Album, Strawberries, Phantasmagoria and Anything. Dave Vanian’s haunting baritone vocals and gothic image helped establish him as one of the pioneers of gothic rock, influencing bands including The Sisters of Mercy, The Mission and Fields of the Nephilim.
Fans also frequently ask “Why did The Damned split up?” Internal tensions led to several break-ups and countless line-up changes throughout their career. Founding guitarist Brian James departed in 1977, while Rat Scabies and Captain Sensible also left and later returned at various points. Despite these changes, Dave Vanian remained the band’s constant frontman, preserving The Damned’s unique identity.
One of the band’s defining characteristics has been their unpredictability. Albums such as Machine Gun Etiquette, The Black Album and Strawberries demonstrated a willingness to incorporate psychedelic rock, progressive arrangements and melodic songwriting into their music, helping them evolve far beyond their punk roots.
The Damned reunited numerous times over the years, with various classic line-ups returning to the stage. Fans often search “Are The Damned still together?” The answer is yes. More than four decades after forming, the band continues to tour and record, remaining one of the longest-running groups to emerge from the original British punk scene.
The Damned’s influence reaches far beyond punk. Their music helped shape gothic rock, alternative rock and horror punk, inspiring artists including The Misfits, Green Day, AFI, The Offspring and countless others. Their combination of humour, theatricality and musical ambition continues to earn them new generations of fans.
Today, The Damned vinyl records remain highly collectible. Original UK Stiff Records and Chiswick Records pressings of Damned Damned Damned, Music for Pleasure, Machine Gun Etiquette, The Black Album, Strawberries and Phantasmagoria, together with coloured vinyl editions, remastered releases and rare live recordings, continue to be sought after by collectors worldwide. Whether you’re discovering the band through New Rose or exploring their gothic masterpieces, The Damned remain one of the most important bands in British rock history.
