Photo by Dod Morrison
The Damned broke big from the U.K.’s early punk scene along with The Sex Pistols and The Clash, but sometimes seem to not get as much credit for their accomplishments. But The Damned was Brit punk’s “band of firsts:” The first to release a single—“New Rose” (1976)—which starts with the spoken question, “Is she really going out with him?” before kicking into high voltage and giving you 2 minutes and 40 seconds of a low-fi rock beatdown; the first to release an album—Damned Damned Damned (1977)—narrowly beating those other two bands to the marketplace; the first to play the U.S.; and the first to break up and reform, which they have done many times.
They are essential influences on the West Coast Hardcore scene in the United States—you can hear it in “Love Song” from Machine Gun Etiquette—and on Goth rock and punk—listen to “Eloise.” The Damned really have left an indelible mark on popular music, and they still celebrate that with their fans.
House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, 7 p.m. April 9, $26 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
