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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZDAMNED, TheUK punk band, formed July '76 by Dave Vanian, vocals; Brian James, guitar; Captain Sensible (b Ray Burns, 24 April '54, Croydon), bass; Rat Scabies (Chris Millar), drums. Played legendary punk festival at London's 100 Club: first in genre to release an album, to have a top 30 hit and to tour the USA. First LP Damned, Damned, Damned '77, prod. by Nick Lowe, captured energy of live act (a treat for fans, with Captain Sensible cavorting in fancy dress, Vanian looking like Dracula's relative, Scabies in image of Keith Moon). James was the writer, e.g. classic punk tracks 'Neat, Neat, Neat', 'New Rose'. Music For Pleasure '78 prod. by Pink Floyd's Nick Mason; James left '78 (formed short-lived Tanz Der Youth, then with Lords of the New Church '82); Damned carried on (Culture Club's Jon Moss was drummer briefly '78). Increasingly disappointed die-hard punk fans with hit 'Love Song' (no. 20 '79 UK), LPs Machine Gun Etiquette '79, The Black Album '80; Strawberries '82 sold only to devoted fans. Sensible's solo career began with surprise no. 1 'Happy Talk' '82 (Rodgers and Hammerstein song from South Pacific); LP Women And Captains First (prod. by Tony Mansfield) also a surprise, mixing lightweight pop songs 'Wot' (also single hit), 'A Nice Cup Of Tea' with ballads: tribute to 'Croydon'; 'Brenda' co-written by ex-Soft Boy Robyn Hitchcock. Left Damned '83; red beret, love of cricket kept him in the news; anti-nuclear 'Glad It's All Over' was a hit '84. Best-of Sensible Songs incl. tame cover of Frankie's 'Relax': a likeable punk who lives at home with Mum and Dad could only happen in England. Meanwhile Damned's personnel even more various in '80s, with only Vanian and Scabies constants, but scored top 20 hits '85 with 'Grimly Fiendish', 'Shadow Of Love'; Phantasmagoria '85 was hit LP, reaching new mass audience: cover of Barry Ryan's 'Eloise' (no. 2 hit '68 UK) raced up the charts early '86, as if to emphasize change of direction; Anything '86 incl. cover of Love's 'Alone Again Or'. Not The Captain's Birthday Party '86 was a live LP with the original lineup; Light At The End Of The Tunnel reached the top 100 albums UK for one week (none did so in USA). Vanian, Scabies and Roman Jugg (keyboards, guitar) made Give Daddy The Knife Cindy '88 as Naz and the Nomads; Sensible had a low-key recording career; the Damned re-formed a number of times for tours, to USA '89 with Sensible, Vanian, Brian James and Scabies, though none of their records charted there. |