Another month of 2025 barely begun, and more sad news from the music world, with the announcement that Brian James, founder of key British punk band The Damned, died on Thursday (6th March) aged 70.
There have been many arguments about what the first punk record was. It definitely wasn't Anarchy In The UK by the Pistols for sure - and while The Saints (Australia) and The Ramones (US) may have the shout for first overall globally, New Rose by The Damned was the first UK punk single, and it was James who wrote it (like almost all of their first album).
Born Brian Robertson in Hammersmith, London, in 1955, James played in several bands in the mid-70's, including the key proto-punk band, London SS (which also included future Clash guitarist, Mick Jones). But in 1976, James, along with singer Dave Vanian, formed The Damned, and were joined by Rat Scabies (Chris Millar) and Captain Sensible (Raymond Burns).
As well as releasing the first UK punk single, they also got the first album out too, when Damned Damned Damned came out in February 1977, with James having written the majority of it. It was high octane stuff, and after supporting T Rex on what would be their last tour, The Damned became the first UK punk band to tour the States - and it was their furious playing that was much of the inspiration for the growth of the West Coast punk scene.
After the quickly released follow up LP, Music For Pleasure, didn't do so well at the tail end of 1977, the band dissolved temporarily, but James didn't come back.
He went on to form the rock band The Lords Of The New Church, with American musician Stiv Bators (of The Dead Boys). They would release three albums, with different line-ups, across the 1980's.
The 1990s saw some solo work, as well as a spell with Belgian band Dripping Lips. The noughties dawned with supergroup of sorts, The Racketeers, which included James, Stewart Copeland, Clem Burke (Blondie), Wayne Kramer (MC5) and Duff McKagen (GnR). There was more solo stuff, a reformation of The Lords, before in October 2022, he joined up with his old mates for one more tour with the original Damned line up.
***
The family statement on his Facebook page read:
"It is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of the true pioneers of music, guitarist, songwriter and true gentleman, Brian James....
Incessantly creative and a musical tour de force, and a career which spanned more than six decades, with his music also gracing film and television soundtracks, in addition to The Damned and The Lords Of The New Church, Brian worked with a plethora of punk and rock n roll's finest, from Iggy Pop to Wayne Kramer, Stewart Copeland to Cheetah Chrome....
With his Minna, son Charlie and daughter-in-law Alicia by his side, Brian passed peacefully on Thursday 6th March 2025."
***
Captain Sensible remembered those early days, and James in his Facebook tribute:
"The riffmeister, Brian, has gone - that final act that happens to us all. WHAT A LIFE Brian James had! When my Fairfield Halls cleaning chum and wannabe muso Chris Millar came back from an audition with freshly shorn hair, I thought - what kinda band has he just joined that thinks such a radical departure from the mid 70's hippie look might be a good idea?....
I'd not have jumped from guitar for anyone.... but Brian James had a blistering technique and a collection of adrenaline fuelled songs ready to go, so I had the obligatory haircut... I signed up for The Damned bassist job.....
And looking back I have to say what an absolute gent Brian was... whenever we met over the following decades, we would have a drink and bloody good laugh."
Michael Monroe, of Finnish glam rockers, Hanoi Rocks, said - "What a devastating loss - Brian James (RIP). A very dear friend. One of the sweetest guys ever... I feel privileged to have known him as a friend and to have worked with him. Thank you for everything, Brian."
Komentarze