The Damned

Caird Hall, Dundee, January 27

It’s more than 40 years since their initial explosion across the fledgling London punk scene, and some 10 years since the release of their last studio recording.

But as British punk legends The Damned return with new material and an extensive UK tour that brings them to Dundee’s Caird Hall tomorrow, founder member Captain Sensible says punk is as relevant now as it’s ever been – and he has a message for aspiring young musicians troubled by the state of the world today.

“Young musicians should understand they aren’t going to create anything new by enrolling in some rock school or other,” he says. “There’s so much of that in the south. Don’t listen to some lecturer teaching you a bit of Beatles, bit of Aretha, a bit of Zeppelin – you need to do it yourself. Find your own sound and do something radical and amazing.

“Preferably something to make Simon Cowell choke on his cornflakes!”

It was the summer of 1976 when Dave Vanian, Rat Scabies and Captain Sensible recruited guitarist and songwriter Brian James, played their first gig supporting the Sex Pistols at London’s 100 Club, quickly signed to Stiff Records and began writing the very first chapter of the punk rock history books – sticking up two fingers to the world while they were at it.

Their debut 7” single – New Rose – backed by a proto-thrash version of The Beatles’ Help – stole a march on the Pistols by becoming what is widely acknowledged as the very first punk record ever released.

The band really came into their own with their second single – Neat Neat Neat – a track which Captain Sensible cites as his favourite because it’s “great to jam on”.

When the Damned bring the Evil Spirits tour to Dundee, supported by fabled Stray Cats drummer Slim Jim Phantom, and joined again by former Damned bassist Paul Gray, the set list will chart the band’s “musical adventure” from the creation of punk through to dabbling in 1980s garage psychedelia and goth.

However, Captain Sensible is confident Saturday’s gig will go a lot more smoothly than one particular Dundee show, back in what the band affectionately calls the “chaos years”.

“We assembled at the London record label office without Dave (Vanian), who was incapacitated,” Captain Sensible recalls.

“So as a stand in we called actor Heavy Metal Kids singer Gary Holton, who was a mate. When Gary hit the mic later that evening he knew of only one song lyric – ‘Stab Your Back’ – and employed it in every song. I wonder if anyone in Dundee remembers that debacle? Having said that, it’s a bit late to ask for your money back!”.

The Damned.