The Damned, one of the UK's most influential punk bands, are reuniting for a 50th anniversary album and a show at Wembley Arena. The trio of Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible and Rat Scabies will release their first studio album together since 1995, marking a milestone for a band that has weathered numerous break-ups and line-up changes.
Reflecting on the band's longevity, Vanian noted that the diverse songwriting styles of its members have been both a challenge and a strength. 'Captain Sensible is a great fan of syrupy pop music and prog and glam rock. My writing is more melodramatic, more theatrical. And Rat Scabies was a mod who really loved bands like the Who. That melting pot would either not work at all, or be an absolute firecracker,' he said.
The band's history has been marked by rifts and reconciliations. Scabies left the band in 1977 while on tour in France, and later in the 1980s, Sensible departed after tensions over his solo success. Vanian and Scabies fell out over the release of the 1995 album 'Not of This Earth', but they have since reconciled. 'I didn't want us standing around a grave saying, 'We should have done that while we had the chance,'' Scabies said. 'Life's too short.'
The Damned released the UK's first punk single, 'New Rose', in 1976, but their sound has evolved to encompass psychedelic pop and goth rock. Despite their influence, financial insecurity has persisted. 'We wouldn't still be playing if we'd got stinking rich,' Vanian remarked. The band's 13 studio albums are spread across nine labels, and there have been 23 live albums and 30 compilations, many released without their control.
Now, the trio are focused on the future. 'They're genuinely funny blokes,' Sensible said of his bandmates. 'No one knows what Dave Vanian is really like, but he does very good impersonations from Carry On and On the Buses. And Rat has his ongoing hunt for the holy grail.' The band's reunion has brought a sense of closure, with Scabies adding, 'It's all water under the bridge. They say, 'Forgive and forget,' and we've benefited from that, for sure.'
