|
|
Post by jk on Apr 16, 2021 12:48:03 GMT -5
The Damned is a band I'd known only from what I'd read about them. I could name the members of the classic lineup, I knew they were later joined by the preposterously talented Lu Edmunds (later of PIL) and that later lineups included a keyboardist called Roman Jugg -- that's his real name, not like drummer Rat Scabies (who claims he thought his up while scratching his scabies when a rat ran across his room) or bassist Captain Sensible. But until recently, I hadn't heard a note of their music. I shall be exploring their stuff whenever the mood takes me. Feel free to join in with your favourite tracks. I'd known for years that The Damned had covered Paul & Barry Ryan's "Eloise", a multi-section song possibly inspired by Richard Harris's "MacArthur Park", but assumed it was crap. It was only a year or so ago that I actually got round to giving it a listen and decided it was actually quite good. Dave Vanian is looking yummy in this Top of the Pops performance: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Damned_(band) |
|
|
|
Post by Al S on Apr 16, 2021 20:20:41 GMT -5
jk, I refuse to believe this Punk Anthem has passed you by:
|
|
|
|
Post by Al S on Apr 16, 2021 20:21:41 GMT -5
Great and faithful cover of Love’s classic mini-epic Alone Again Or:
|
|
|
|
Post by jk on Apr 17, 2021 4:33:48 GMT -5
jk, I refuse to believe this Punk Anthem has passed you by: I'm afraid you'll have to believe it, A. I'd been living in NL for two years when punk rock hit. I was thrown a list of names by a friend in the UK, but at the time that's all they were -- names. The Netherlands was more interested in home-grown and US punk stuff. The Stranglers' Rattus Norvegicus was my first big encounter with UK punk. I liked that, but found The Clash's debut underwhelming. Next up was Bollocks, which I bought and loved. Every home should have a copy. But no Damned until more than forty years later! I see they had the honour of releasing the first UK punk rock 45, "New Rose": en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Rose |
|
|
|
Post by jk on Apr 17, 2021 4:40:11 GMT -5
Great and faithful cover of Love’s classic mini-epic Alone Again Or: Pretty solid and respectful cover there. They're not trying to steal Love's thunder, or turn it into a parody the way some punk artists did with other people's songs. In that respect it reminds me of what The Stranglers did with "Walk On By". It's wonderful to see I'm not the only ****er posting in this thread. And two replies in, I've learned quite a lot already! Thanks, A.  |
|
|
|
Post by jk on Apr 18, 2021 8:15:30 GMT -5
By way of a non-musical interlude, I remember reading a hilarious Dutch newspaper review of a shambolic reunion concert by The Damned in NL, in all likelihood in the '80s. Drummer Rat Scabies was drunk out of his skull and every song, if Dave Vanian was to be believed, was called "Shut up, you ****ing w**ker!"  |
|
|
|
Post by jk on Apr 29, 2021 11:25:04 GMT -5
This godawful mess reminds me of the previous post!  Captain Sensible recorded a great studio version of "Jet Boy Jet Girl" with Dutch band The Softies ( here). The Damned played it live on many occasions after that but never recorded it. Warning: very strong language from the start.  |
|
|
|
Post by jk on May 1, 2021 6:52:30 GMT -5
For a moment I thought it was Lu (Edmonds) on guitar in this video of the excellent "Grimly Fiendish". Turns out it's the band's keyboardist Roman Jugg (his real name, truth being stranger than fiction at times). It sees The Damned pushing inexorably on in the direction of Goth: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimly_Fiendish |
|
|
|
Post by jk on May 31, 2021 4:06:36 GMT -5
|
|
Captain Sensible recorded a great studio version of "Jet Boy Jet Girl" with Dutch band The Softies (