The Damned played their first gig on July 6, 1976, supporting The Sex Pistols at the 100 Club in London. They were the first of the London punk bands to get a record deal and release a single, "New Rose".
Original Lineup
"Dave Vanian" (David Lett) - vocals
Brian James (Brian Robertson) - guitar
"Captain Sensible" (Ray Burns) - bass (although for most of his career with The Damned he played guitar and did vocals)
"Rat Scabies" (Chris Millar) - drums
Lead Guitarist and main writer on the first album James left the group in 1978 which collapsed everything for a brief period wherupon the band started up again variously as The Dimned and The Doomed (to avoid potential trademark problems) with Capt. Sensible on the usual instrument he played with Johnny Moped and the Mopeds - the electric guitar. A brief interlude with Lemmy Kilmister of Hawkwind and Motorhead playing bass, the position was filled by Algy Ward of the Australian punk band The Saints. Ward would later be replaced by Paul Gray and Roman Jugg.
Discography Highlights