The UK's first ever punk album, Damned Damned Damned is being rereleased through BMG on Friday 17 February, almost 40 years to the day since it was first released by Stiff Records.
To celebrate, Vive Le Rock presents this video exclusive of Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible's 40th Anniversary Q&A last year at The British Library - and we're giving you the chance to win a copy of the album on CD!
Recorded at the fabled Pathway Studios in Newington Green, North London, Damned Damned Damned has been fully remastered and is being released as part of BMG's The Art Of The Album series, refocusing attention on the album as a format. It comes with new, comprehensive and extensively researched sleevenotes by noted punk writer John Ingham.
Talking of the album’s recording, Captain Sensible reflects, “Damned Damned Damned was almost ‘un-produced’ by our Stiff stablemate Nick Lowe, who managed to capture the energy of our live set spectacularly. Nick was known as ‘Basher’ as there was no messing about. It’s fairly manic, but also tuneful and, listened to now, still sounds pretty fresh to my ears…. The guitars don’t sound nice – they’re a raw, fuzzed-out thrash – that’s punk rock. Pathway was a rough and ready studio round the back of an Islington garage. It was so dark and dingy in there – you had to be careful or you’d knock your beer over. The sessions took two days, after which the tape was recycled for an Elvis Costello album so there’s no chance of a remix… Not that you’d want one – it’s perfect!”
Available on vinyl, CD and download, you can pre-order it here.
The band are about to embark on an extensive World Tour, taking in Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, USA and Canada, but will return in time to headline Camden Rocks on 3 June.
Thanks to The Damned and BMG, Vive Le Rock has three CD copies of the album to give away. Just drop us an email to info@vivelerock.net with Damned Damned Damned in the subject box and the answer to the following question....
What other band were 'mistakenly' pictured on the original back cover of Damned Damned Damned?
Good luck!
Read our review of Damned Damned Damned and the story of the band's fast and furious year in Vive Le Rock's 1977 Punk Special - out now!
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