 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Punk rock giants The Damned rarely play London but tonight they will shake to it’s core the modestly sized venue that is the Islington Academy. They are part of a special benefit show for guitarist Paul Fox,
[see The Ruts] and the event is sold out.
Not always taken seriously back in ‘the days’, they have quieten their detractors by being able to laugh in the face of adversity to remain one of the last bastion of that musical genre. Armed with their generations transcending appeal, [as proved by tonight’s crowd], and their timeless awesome back catalogue, their longevity is well deserved and no surprise to me.
Despite my frequent bouts of bingeing on The Damned and nothing but, I haven’t seen them live for a very very long time [and yes I do feel shame]. In fact since the days when it was compulsory for Captain Sensible to strip down to his birthday suit. Actually not very sensible when you think about all the cigarette butts and various objects flying towards the stage.
Apparently those days of clothes discarding are long gone and “thank God for that! “ a very dignified Dave Vanian will say on the subject.
Tonight is extra special to me for so many reasons.
It’s all for a good cause and both Mr Vanian and The Captain will be sharing the stage, which hasn’t always been the case, bringing the essence of The Damned to life once more. Really it shouldn’t be any other way and I’ve always thought of Captain’s absence as nothing short of sacrilegious.
We know that the set will be short as it’s already late and we are expecting headliners The Ruts with Henry Rollins to come on next.
To screams of delight The Damned have invaded the stage, Monty Oxymoron behind his keyboards, Pinch gets to his drums and Stu West straps on his bass, now enters The Sensible one, looking like a demented teenager in a white shirt and black jeans combo teamed with his trademark red beret and white rimmed dark glasses.
As they launch into “Love Song” you know that something really special is happening right before your eyes. Within seconds Dave Vanian makes his entrance and now we’re talking greatness!
He hasn’t sang a single word yet but his stage presence is as potent as ever. This sophisticated, ageless icon remains enigmatic, charismatic and soooooo sexy! How the fuck does he do it?
As the quintet is feeling energetic and playing to perfection, the next thirty minutes will be loud and frantic as a selection of all time favourites fill up the venue.
Songs that, with the passing of time, have become anthems for a whole generation and the next.
We are singing to “Second Time Around”, better than the original version “Eloise”, “Neat Neat Neat”, “New Rose” and to finish “Smash It Up”, like it’s 1977.
Where this gig lacked in gratuitous full frontal nudity it made up for with an electrifying atmosphere. The chemistry between Dave and Cappy is still present. A smile here, a glance there, it’s so beautiful to see.
The half hour is over and just as we started to warm up The Damned say good bye, leaving us teased, hot and bothered.
Tonight is a good taster of what they are capable of, and I see that they are still able to make me feel dazed and confused. In a good way.
Six classic tracks + Dave Vanian + Captain Sensible = 30 minutes of memorable and perfect damnation.
Long live The Damned.
Words and Pictures: Florence ACHERY
www.officialdamned.com
www.myspace.com/thecaptainsensible
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
    
|
