Rat Scabies has been reunited with producer Nick Lowe for the first time since the recording of The Damned's classic debut album in 1976.
Lowe produced the band's debut single 'New Rose' followed by the album Damned Damned Damned, widely accepted as the first ever UK punk single and album.
The pair came together last weekend on a session by The Spammed, the charity band that Scabies plays in alongside Specials bassist Horace Panter, musician and actor Micko Westmoreland, ex-Banshees and Specimen guitarist Jon Klein, Terry Edwards of Gallon Drunk and NJE fame and comic actor Kevin Eldon.
Lowe was called in to produce the band on a version of his own classic song '(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding', which first appeared as a single by Lowe's pub-rock pioneers Brinsley Schwarz in 1974.
With recording taking place at Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler's British Grove Studio - with studio time generously donated by Knopfler for the purpose - the track will feature on Viva -Songs Of Freedom, a new compilation released in the New Year by the Specialized Project, to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
“I suppose I have never been able to afford working with Nick since”, quipped Scabies.
On recording the song, Lowe commented, “It’s a good song which has been covered so many times over the years, I now scarcely feel I had anything to do with it. I was flattered to be invited and very pleased for an opportunity to get out of the house and spend time in the stimulating company of similarly under-employed musicians.”
Pics courtesy of Ashley Jones & Harry Pye