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 Captain, Will you and the Damned ever play in Calgary... I missed you at the I-beam in San Fran in 1990
Dennis Samek
 I'd love to but (all correspondents like this please take note) the way it works is we get invited to play by a local promoter who deals with the bands agent. Then when they have knocked together some deal or other the band say either yes we fancy that.... or maybe not this time if that's all right with us. As far as I know we have not been offered a show in Calgary recently Dennis.... but you could always pay my airfare and I could sing a few tunes in your living room (he's only SEMI joking too - Tintin). |
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Hi there Captain, do you remember going paddling in Trafalgar Square after The Damned 10th anniversary gig in Finsbury Park. I do....... : )
Woody, Blackburn
Yes, I remember it well. After jumping up for the encore with my former colleagues somehow I got persuaded to get completely sozzled with a buncha fans hell bent on frolicking in the cold dirty water of the aforementioned fountains. But that wasn't the weirdest bit..... which was waking up the next morning in a strange room with my ugly mug plastered all over the walls - what a shocker. |
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Hi Captain, My dad took me to my first Damned gig on Thursday in Oxford (he's been going for years) and I really like your stripped trousers. I can't find any on the internet. Can you point me in the right direction please. Looking forward to your next visit to Oxford as dad said we are going. I loved it.
Lotte M, Bloxham
Nice one Lotte. As for the trousers, 'twas in a shop in Camden where I got them. Halfway from the tube station towards the famous Stables Market, on the right side of the street there's this chaotic clothes place next door to the Music and Video Exchange with 4 floors chock full of assorted clobber piled up all over the bloomin' place. Enjoy. |
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Hiya Captain. Not really a question, but coming to see you tonight 06/06/10 at the 02 in Newcastle and there will be three generations from my family there. My son Scott who's 14, first time to see you live, my dad Des who is 68! and seen you before and myself 44 and seen you more times than I can count. Hows that for a band that appeals to all ages, eh!!!!! Looking forward to it have a good one.
Daz Hawkes
I worked out that Des must've grown up listening to rockers like Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis so he'd know a thing or two about kick ass music. I hope Scott enjoyed himself, we certainly did as Newcastle is the perfect place for a final date party.
Did you catch the excellent Texas Terri's set where their poor drummer got the full end of tour treatment from Pinch and his henchmen Jon and Magic Dave? There was honey on the drums and sticks, talc in the high hats and then they 'tarred and feathered the poor stick twiddler with even more honey and the contents of a pillow. Tsk, tsk.
The chaos is just about viewable from across the stage via a saved Ustream video from the gig... |
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Hello Ray, I have always supported the Damned (and various Doomed line-ups!) back in the day, and I have caught up with you live (in London) for the last three years or so. I just want to ask you to confirm whether you have had a change of management, and, or, an internal strategy change re: your live performances?
What I mean by this is that last night's set was brilliant because, it would appear, there is now less emphasis on the need to parody the 'punk' hype (which is admittedly fun, but most of us are over 50 now!), and more focus is now on a well balanced and really interesting set. There also appears to be a much tighter and diverse musical output, which is really interesting, and on this basis I cannot for the life of me see why that this does not receive widespread critical acclaim in the music press.
I really rated the gig last night, and apologies if this observation sounds a little patronizing/serious. I can assure you that it is not meant to be! I hope that you continue in this vein for a long time to come! Thank you again for a great experience.
Tom
We have an ongoing band joke when things go pear shaped... 'don't worry, we'll be going professional next week'. There has been no conscious decision to shake off any punk trappings though, but it has to be said the band don't go on stage inebriated these days.... which might account for the fact that we play more of the right notes in the right order.
Also, we DID feel the need to shake the set up a little as we didn't want things to get too predictable.
It is difficult to do the setlist.... everyone's got their own take on what should be in there - and what to leave out. Maybe we could get braver still next time...... |
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Captain, a recent concert (June 1988) was brought to a halt when a Birka wearing bass player invaded the stage to disrupt a concert at London's famed Sheperds Bush Empire......the concert, a goodwill event headlined by actor/singer/vampire Tom Cruise was thrown into chaos......one concert goer, Jackie from Hertford said...."why are these Muslim Fundamentalists allowed to take our country, and our Government, and our Power Station....I came here to see Cliff Richard......not some **** in a veil, and shorts.....why, he may be a suicide bomber".
Other people at the show were of the same view.....apparently, an ordinarily well behaved and docile audience were so outraged, that fighting was reported.......even spitting....extraordinary scenes.
We say...people should show their faces at all times....we believe in the freedom of the state to monitor your clothes.....Birkas may conceal vulnerable women of humility and great piety....lets expose them, make them be the women that we want them to be.
Nigel Farrage
Yes indeed, this is a thorny subject for a liberal Nigel. Women should not be forced to hide their faces behind masks for any reason, let alone religion.... and I'm sure y'all know what I think about THAT subject by now.
The problem is that issues like birqas are used to whip up anti muslim sentiments in the population enabling the government to justify these unpleasant wars. |
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Ahoy Captain, Any tips on giving up smoking? Supplementary.....I wish to say thank you, for the many years of entertainment, and inspiration. I first saw our Damned at Brighton Top Rank in 1981, then some 20 times over the next 10 or so years, til the Final Damnation concerts in the early 90's.....after that, you got lost or I got lost. Be that as it may......I was happy to see you again at the Concorde 2 a few weeks back, strange that, for me, it comes back to the town where my Damned adventure first began, after seeing you in such diverse places as Hammersmith, Brixton, Woolwich, Brockwell Park, and f***ing Leeds. (My most seeingist band at that time were Siouxsie and the Banshees, who managed to play class venues such as Gloucester Leisure Centre and Cambridge Corn Exchange, and that beautiful valley in Lorelai, with nutter Jazz).
Seriously though, I would like to say thank you.....you and Dave and all of your associates and colleagues from the first days put into words and song the attitude of millions.....that attitude will never go away, for it is the very essence of our human condition.....just needs a few heroes to voice what we feel. Thanks Cap.
Pete, Burgess Hill
Nice complimentary ramble there Pete, thanks for that.
Advice to give up smoking? Well, I'm sure you've lost the odd relative to cancer the same as I have. Does this not indicate that quitting might be a good idea? You have to go for it.... if not for YOUR sake but for your friends and family who will miss you dreadfully if you go before your time. |
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Dear Cap, What advice would you give to any young bands/artists that want to make it in the music industry?
James, Edinburgh
Concentrate on your songwriting, do your own thing, dare to be different, play every gig you can, join the MU, write lyrics that mean something, don't expect to get rich. |
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What is happening with Dead Men Walking? It seems to have gone a bit quiet. Was the album ever released?
Shaggy, Marlborough
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Hello Cappy! My name is Brian Wasyk and I live in Canada.
Will there be a second pressing of THE DEAD MEN WALKING~Graveyard Hits Vol#1?
Brian, Canada
I doubt there will be a repress of Graveyard Smashes Brian, you'll need to find some nice person who has a copy who can help you out.
When I joined the Dead Men I thought the band belonged to the 4 members but I have since found out that it was Kirk's manager's project which precipitated it's disintegration. A shame all round as I rate Kirk Brandon, Slim Jim and Mike Peters highly and we all got on great while travelling around doing shows chatting about politics and life and stuff.
There was talk of Jim, Mike and myself doing some shows under a different name (without Kirk's managers involvement) but then the Stray Cats reformed and that idea went off the boil. We'll have to wait and see.... |
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Cap', Jim from Colorado. Just saw my first Damned video on the interweb, "Love Song" from German TV. What was up with that audience, they looked a little scared. I was laughing so hard I was crying when you pulled the neck off of the guitar. Did they stick around for autographs, or did they head running for the doors?
JD , Colorado, USA
Hi JD, in those days punk was still new and the studio audience had possibly never been exposed to a bunch of maniacs like us before. Music was real tame in the mid to late 70s (Osmonds, Emmylou Harris, etc) so it was easy to shock and we would often see audiences dwindle during shows while we were playing. At a gig in High Wycombe in 1976 we emptied the whole place if I recall correctly. |
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Good afternoon Captain, Sitting at my desk, listening to Dark Asteroid and I thought to myself..."I should write the Captain with a question and a compliment".
The music you have made with The Damned and anything else is so awesome. I'm 36, but only found the Damned back in 2003. Sad but true...It's amazing the amount of great music you guys have made over the years and continue to make. Been listening to the Tiki Party concert you just released through Itunes and man it's awesome...
Question:
Will it ever be possible to see the Damned or the Captain in North Carolina in the US? Or would I have to travel a ways to ever see you guys in the USA? Thanks for all the music you have made.
Bert Wilson, High Point, NC, USA
Same here. Every time I listen to Dark Asteroid (especially on the Ipod) it is an entrancing and compelling experience. We were really going for it in the studio - a band clearly having fun improvising and pushing the boundaries. Pinch had baked some cakes earlier which we had all enjoyed....
As for touring, we are no spring chickens any more so it's a fair guess we are not going to ever do huge tours again. That's probably why we go to the major cities and neglect the smaller places. Sorry and all that but if you're desperate to see us you might have to take a trip. |
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Hi there Captain, There's a YouTube video of you blokes (The Damned) on the main page of www.officialdamned.com playing on The Late, Late Show and you're wearing a 'WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD ORDER' t-shirt. I bought the very same t-shirt printed in a different colour many milenia ago, in a galaxy far, far away (well, Sydney Australia to be exact) and for the screaming bloody Jesus of it all have never been able to find it again. It has been chewed up and spat out of a sharehouse floor or such since it's original purchase. I was wondering if you could ease my inquiring mind here and tell us where you sourced this little gem of my wayward youth?
Matthew
My Aussie chum Brian P made them. He does a good line in anti establishment t-shirts and is a genuine all round good egg. He doesn't rate Sly Stallone for some reason though.... |
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Cap, so how did I come to this conclusion .... well, I observed at both Exeter and Falmouth that more blokes have copied Stu's hairstyle than the rest of you! Note: no bleached blonde or blonde flash in hair ... or afros, few spikey ones though! So, how do the rest of you feel about this?
Andy (aka p9c7), Truro, Cornwall
PS thanks for the chat, doodle on my cd cover of SWP and signing at Falmouth and the change of set.
You may be right..... there does seem to be rather a lot of Stu hairstyle copyists in the audience at the moment! |
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Dear Captain Sensible! I am editing the book in the forthcoming Gary Holton & Casino Steel "Anthology" cd dvd set due late october. I believe Holton was in the DAMNED for about 30 minutes around christmas 1978. Would you pls confirm this and maybe help us with a quote? Thanx a million!
Mvh Tom Kristensen
Yes, Mr Vanian was incapacitated so we decided to phone Gary rather than cancel our short Scottish tour.
After some haggling over his fee on the phone he said yes and thus we all found ourselves in a car heading for the M1, which we arrived at via an offie where Mr H purchased a bottle of Remy Martin..... which got in the way of him learning the songs en route as he had passed out within minutes of finishing the bottle.
So Gary was forced to sing the lyrics to the only Damned song he knew ('Stab Your Back') for every tune on the setlist - which didn't go down great with the fans if I recall correctly.
We got him back with the old shaving his eyebrows off when asleep routine. |
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Hey Captain, Just watched this Curtain Call on youtube (live version). Where was that gig? Apart form New Rose, this is one of my favourite Damned traxs. A'ppy days.
Sean
Sorry, I haven't a clue where the gig was. Great to see that short lived lineup again though. Thanks Sean. |
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Hi Cap! I am a super fan of the Damned and I say: Ever come to Argentina? Here is a lover of English music in all genres. Unfortunately we are a little off-center rock world, but we are fans! The only band that could not come were the Beatles (only Paul) and Pink Floyd (Waters several times) including Pistols. Gradually the bands are realizing that between Argentina, Chile and Brazil is an interesting market to explore. Will be a dream if you dare to come. From me a big hug to all! From Argentina with love and admiration.
Jose Luis, Argentina
Thanks Jose, and we are DEFINATELY looking to head down your way in 2011 if it's at all possible to get together. |
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Capt - saw you play in Exeter last night. Have to ask, how come you look so bloody young for your age? I swear that you and Vanian have stopped the ageing process by some pact with Satan! So what is it? Veggie food, good beer - nightly facials ......
Jez , Exeter
While I'm hoping my trendy vegetarianism might have had some positive effect on my general well being Mr Vanian could indeed have devised some other way of keeping the ageing process at bay for I recall a time many years ago when, as I was helping him shift some furniture around his dwelling I espied a pentagram peeking out from under the carpet. I'm not sure if I really bought his "it must've been a previous occupant" excuse. True story. |
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Hi Capt, Saw you at the Exeter Phoenix last night, 19th May, bl**dy marvellous, thanks for a cracking gig, you were all on top form! As well as being a long time Damned fan, I'm a long time Buzzcocks fan too. As yourselves and they are probably the only punk bands from the original era still gigging and recording I wondered how you'd got along with them over the years?
Clive Morley, Chudleigh Knighton, Devon
I love the Buzzers.... as a band, as songwriters, as characters. We played a tattoo convention in Costa Mesa with them earlier this year and it was their caravan that I hid in to escape Lemmy who was demanding that I listen to Headcat's new album. Now't wrong with the music but the fact that you'd inhale the smoke from about 40 of Lemmy's rancid fags while listening to it put me off somewhat.
It was no hardship hanging out with Pete and Steve though as they always have plenty of bubbly on their rider. Very posh! Having said that, the Damned have cut the beer down to 6 bottles these days..... the rest is red wine, Port and whiskey. |
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The Russell Club, Manchester summer 1979 - How many drinks do I owe you?
Now let's see what your memory's like Me Old China. Once upon a long time ago (the summer of '79 I do believe) the Damned did a gig at the Russell Club in Manchester. I fact, you did two, a matinee (early doors about 12:30pm) for the kids and then the evening show.
Well, at the time I was living (if you can call it that) in a radioactive hovel, known as Seascale in West Cumbria. Miles away from anywhere (except of course Windscale and Sellafield. I was a big Damned (and Ruts) fan and was determined to see the band on that particular tour. A couple of mates were up for it too - the idea being we hitch down to Manchester, see the matinee, hitch back that afternoon in time for tea and crumpets. A round trip of about 250 miles.
We saw the matinee gig (supported by - if memory serves correct, the bloody awful Nightmares in Wax!) The Damned were good (if a little subdued) and duly went on our way....
....As far as the Boddington's pub across the road. Now this is where our plans began to unravel, because soon, the mighty nectar that was Boddingtons (When it WAS Boddingtons) took over, we got pissed and spent up. With no more potatoes to spend on beer, we began to collect our belongings and stumble out. To cut a long story short (Too late!! I hear you cry...) we were en route to the door we bump into someone wearing a T Shirt with the legend 'This is not Captain Sensible'. Neat trick, for verily 'twas you: Appalled and impressed in almost equal measure at our travel heroics to see what you felt was a crummy matinee, you insisted we stay for the evening performance - "That'll be the real thing!" Whereupon we wailed "But we've no money!!" You paid for our drinks the rest of the afternoon/evening AND got us into the gig - (nothing of which I remember, incidentally, I was so pissed) by letting us use the dressing room as a through route!
So my question is: How many drinks do I owe you? If you answer correctly I'll be happy to return the favour at Shepherds Bush. Parkinsons' permitting.
Andy Daly, Middlesex
[Just out of interest, I wound up teaching Art in South East, then West London for many years, till Ill health forced me to give up. Sometime around '93 or thereabouts, a fellow teacher, hearing about my musical tastes and favourite bands etc said to me: Y'know you've got Foxy's son in one of your classes? And sure enough, for more than a year, I'd been teaching Lawrence without knowing who he was! Needless to say I quickly (and shamelessly) engineered a meeting with the great man; whereupon we became quite good friends. Anyway, the point of all this is: I remember one evening distinctly: he and I had been for a beer and gone back to the house at Ladygate Lane, to sit and chew the fat a bit (I sat and played that Cherry Red SG he had) We got talking guitarists, and I happened to say that in my humble opinion I felt that you were certainly a much more inventive guitarist than Brian James. To which Paul replied: "He's a fucking genius the Captain - really under-rated" - So now you know!]
Paul Fox and the Ruts...... what a band!
Great story Andy, and yes.... I remember the Russell Club well for all sorts of reasons as it was a chaotically run place at the best of times. Wasn't 'Gordon the Moron' from the Jilted John story a stagehand there? I believe that when Iggy Pop demanded a qualified medical practitioner with oxygen cylinder to be on hand while the show was in progress Tony Wilson dressed Gordon up in a halloween nurse costume and got him to mince about in the wings during the performance much to Mr Pop's disgust!
And do you remember the beer pumps in that Boddingtons pub were on the counter meaning you could watch your beer being dispensed into the glass as you purchased it? Needless to say we bought quite a few as this was a real novelty - with the result that some of our gigs at the Russell Club became a little frenetic to say the least. |
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Hey Captain, How are you? Just been listening to Rabid (over you)/seagulls on my early 80's juke box and felt inspired to email you again. Still no luck in obtaining a copy of Graveyard Smashes so if there is someone who has one to sell (or give) a copy can they email me on joolsc64@gmail.com.
What music are you listening to at the moment? Since moving to rural Australia it seems that unless you listen to country music you are branded a freak and I hate country so would like suggestions of good music from someone with your good taste. Keep up the good work.
Joolsie Egg
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Hi Captain, I wondered if you could suggest a few psychedelic records, for a beginner to try out?
Paul Wilkinson,
Leighton Buzzard
Hi Joolsie and Paul, visit www.pooterland.com. It's all in the above website - a veritable goldmine of cosmic goodies.
Check out some of THESE.... all absolutely wonderful records:
1) Groundhogs - 'Thank Christ For The Bomb'
2) Brian Auger's Oblivion Express - 'Brian Auger's Oblivion Express'
3) Syd's Pink Floyd - 'Piper at the Gates Of Dawn'
4) Pink Fairies - 'Never Never Land'
5) Soft Machine - 'Vol 1+2'
6) Egg - 'The Polite Force'
7) Electric Prunes - 'Lost Dreams'
8) Bee Gees - 'First' (really)
9) Stray - 'Stray'
10) Jimi Hendrix - 'Smash Hits'
and some more recent bands we've worked with that I dig.....
www.myspace.com/thepainsofbeingpureatheart
www.texasterri.com
www.thealarm.com
www.myspace.com/edtudorpole
and there's an eclectic MP3 comp of some of my 70s fave tracks here. |
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