Brian James, founding guitarist and principal early songwriter for the legendary UK punk band The Damned, has died on the age of 70.
James’ passing was reported on his Fb web page, with no reason for dying listed. The guitarist, who was born in London in 1955, had simply turned 70 on February 18th.
Previous to The Damned, James performed within the proto-punk bands London SS, The Subterraneans, and Bastard. He shaped The Damned in 1976 with singer Dave Vanian, bassist Captain Wise, and drummer Rat Scabies.
James wrote many of the songs on the band’s first two albums — Damned Damned Damned and Music for Pleasure — together with “New Rose,” which is taken into account the first-ever UK punk single (previous any releases by The Conflict or Intercourse Pistols). Nonetheless, he give up the band on the finish of 1977, the identical 12 months each of these albums have been launched.
He went on to kind the band Tanz Der Youth earlier than beginning the group The Lords of the New Church with Stiv Bators, releasing a couple of albums within the early ’80s. He additionally launched quite a lot of solo albums all through the years, together with his most up-to-date being 2015’s The Guitar That Dripped Blood.
James reunited with The Damned briefly within the late ’80s, and once more in 2022 for a sequence of exhibits within the UK. The total assertion posted on the guitarist’s Fb web page sums up his profession as follows:
“It’s with nice unhappiness that we announce the dying of one of many true pioneers of music, guitarist, songwriter, and true gentleman, Brian James. Founding member of The Damned, author of the primary ever UK punk single, ‘New Rose,’ Brian was the principal songwriter of the band’s debut album, Damned Damned Damned, which was launched in February 1977. Parting methods with the Damned following the discharge of their second album, the Nick Mason-produced Music for Pleasure, Brian created the short-lived Tanz Der Youth, earlier than he shaped The Lords of the New Church together with his good friend and fellow rocker Stiv Bators.
In a wave of pleasure, headed by the dual powers of Brian James and Stiv Bators, three profitable studio albums adopted for The Lord of the New Church, spawning singles reminiscent of “Open Your Eyes,” “Dance with Me,” and “Technique to My Insanity.” All the time in search of new challenges and eager to work with completely different musicians, through the years that adopted, Brian shaped The Dripping Lips and guested on completely different information, whereas creating the Brian James Gang and dealing on his solo albums.
Incessantly artistic and a musical tour de drive, over a profession which spanned greater than six a long time, together with his music additionally gracing movie and tv soundtracks, along with The Damned and The Lords of the New Church, Brian labored with a plethora of punk and rock ‘n’ roll’s best, from Iggy Pop to Wayne Kramer, Stewart Copeland to Cheetah Chrome. Most lately, greater than 4 a long time after the discharge of the epoch-making ‘New Rose,’ the unique members of The Damned reformed for a sequence of very particular and emotional UK exhibits in 2022. Along with his spouse Minna, son Charlie, and daughter-in-law Alicia by his aspect, Brian handed peacefully on Thursday sixth March 2025.”
The Damned continue to tour with a lineup of Dave Vanian, Captain Wise, Rat Scabies, Paul Grey, and Monty Oxymoron. As of this posting, the band has not launched any statements concerning James’ passing.
Our condolences exit to Brian James’ household, associates, and varied bandmates all through the years throughout this troublesome time. Watch footage of James performing with The Damned beneath.
