THE DAMNED return to Aylesbury Friars club for the first time since 1979 this Thursday.
The Black Album/Strawberries line-up of Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Paul Gray and Rat Scabies will return to the legendary venue as one of the most requested bands among Buckinghamshire music lovers.
The Damned were the first UK punk band to ever release a single, ‘New Rose’ in 1976, and an album Damned Damned Damned in 1977.
They were also the first UK punk rock band to tour USA and over the years have enjoyed nine top forty singles ‘Love Song’ and ‘Smash it Up’ (1979), ‘Grimly Fiendish’, ‘The Shadow Of Love’ and ‘Is It A Dream?’ (1985), their biggest hit ‘Eloise’ which reached No 3 and ‘Anything’ (1986), as well as ‘Gigolo’ and ‘Alone Again Or’ in 1987.
Their biggest album was undoubtedly 1985’s ‘Phantasmagoria’ produced in New York by legendary David Bowie collaborator Tony Visconti.
Friars co-founder David Stopps said, "The Damned have only played Friars Aylesbury once before, on 1 Dec 1979, but it is remembered as one of the best Friars gigs ever.
"It was with the original line-up of singer Dave Vanian, guitarist Brian James, bassist Captain Sensible and drummer Rat Scabies. The band had many break-ups and periods of key members not being present in the band but the big news is that Rat Scabies rejoined The Damned permanently in November 2023."
The band were due to play Friars Aylesbury in May 2020 but sadly this had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. Now they're back.
Stopps adds, "From their first gig in July 1976 supporting The Sex Pistols at the 100 Club, The Damned have had a long and notorious career with involvement along the way from Chrissie Hynde, Lemmy, Nick Mason and Culture Club’s Jon Moss amongst many others.
"This will be a long overdue Friars homecoming for one of the most exciting and influential bands of the past forty years."
There are still a limited number of tickets available for this very special show, and the band have even produced a one-off limited edition t-shirt to mark the event, only available to fans attending on the night.
Support at the show comes from psychedelic pop legends Doctor and The Medics, and Bowen.