The Damned play The Royal Albert Hall
The Damned play the Royal Albert Hall 20th May 2016
The Damned played their first show on 6 July 1976, supporting the Sex Pistols at the 100 Club, they were the first UK punk band to release a single New Rose (22nd October 1976) and the first to release an album Damned, Damned, Damned (18th Feb 1977).
Despite heralding from the punk movement they were also one of the most ambitious musically, moving away from the breakneck garage sound of their debut and taking in elements from goth and psychedelia to prog.
From the punk rock classics of Love Song and Smash It Up, to the gothic Grimly Fiendish and the cover of Paul Ryan’s Eloise, the hits flowed. The band became regulars on Top Of The Pops and were playing to huge audiences, who have remained stubbornly loyal.
Earlier this year a documentary film was released in cinemas and on DVD. Filmed by director Wes Orshoski and titled The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead, the documentary charts the history of the band against a backdrop of interviews and tour footage from 2011-2014, and was edited together rough to make the film feel more like The Damned's first album.
Next year the band celebrate their 40th anniversary and wanted to celebrate it in the greatest of style and do something truly unique for the fans, so they booked the Royal Albert Hall and are planning a very special show, the content of which is being kept a closely guarded secret.
When asked what could be expected? Vocalist Dave Vanian enigmatically replied “expect the unexpected”.
Captain Sensible responded “Anyone informing the snotty bunch of oiks that we were back in '76 that the band may be playing the Albert Hall 40 years later would've undoubtedly been greeted with a prize selection of four letter expletives. The Damned had an surly edge back then... not exactly the urbane gents about town you find us today. How we managed to come through four decades of chaos and destruction is a miracle.... even scattering a few decent records in our wake as we went.
Our 40th anniversary show will be a celebration not just of a band but a special time in British music history... the dawn of punk, when seemingly anything was possible if you could strum a couple of chords on a guitar. And if the Albert Hall is good enough for messers Clapton and Wakeman then it's good enough for us. On the night a fun and varied setlist will shine a light around the darkest corners of the jolly old discography.... can't wait!”
For information about tickets and the venue visit: http://www.royalalberthall.com/
