Brian James, the founding guitarist for the visionary and influential U.Ok. punk band The Damned, has died. He used to be 70.
James’ demise on March 6 used to be showed on his authentic Fb web page, even though no reason used to be indexed. “It’s with nice disappointment that we announce the demise of one of the crucial true pioneers of song, guitarist, songwriter, and true gentleman, Brian James,” the commentary learn.
The Damned have an exceptionally essential position in rock historical past, liberating “New Rose,” arguably the first-ever punk unmarried within the U.Ok., in 1976. The Damned additionally had been the 1st band in their scene to free up a studio album (1977’s “Damned Damned Damned”) and to excursion the US.
The London-born James started his song profession within the proto-punk band London SS, which featured long run individuals of the Conflict and Technology X. He quickly met any other native band, Masters of the Bottom, which featured long run Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde, vocalist Dave Vanian, bassist Captain Smart and drummer Rat Scabies. Minus Hynde, James fashioned The Damned with the opposite 3 individuals in 1976. The band made its debut that 12 months, and opened for the Intercourse Pistols at 100 Membership, a infamous London venue that helped codify the scene.
5 weeks ahead of the Intercourse Pistols launched “Anarchy within the U.Ok.,” probably the most well-known early punk unmarried, the Damned launched “New Rose.” The short and frenetic unmarried penned through James stripped down and supercharged the British rock of the technology, smeared it with black eyeliner and lipstick, and introduced a brand new sound and subculture to the arena.
A punk target market crowsd the entrance of the level observing The Damned carry out with a brand new lineup together with Dave Vanian, left, and Brian James.
(Erica Echenberg / Redferns by means of Getty Pictures)
The Damned quickly would accompany the Pistols on a temporary excursion. After taking part in the U.S., the Damned arguably kicked off each the hardcore punk and goth-rock subcultures in Southern California — bands like Black Flag had been impressed through their minimalism and ultra-fast tempos, whilst proto-goths like Christian Dying and 45 Grave had been captivated through their transgressive aesthetics.
James used to be the main songwriter at the Damned’s first two albums, however after 1977’s “Track for Excitement,” the Damned in brief broke up and re-formed with out James. He went directly to excursion as a member of Iggy Pop’s reside band, recorded solo subject material with the Police’s Stewart Copeland on drums, and co-founded the band Lords of the New Church with Stiv Bators. The unique lineup of the Damned now and again reunited for reside displays, first in 1988 and maximum lately in 2022.
“At all times searching for new demanding situations and prepared to paintings with other musicians,” his circle of relatives’s commentary learn, James used to be “often ingenious and a musical excursion de drive, over a profession which spanned greater than six a long time.”
James is survived through his spouse, Minna, son, Charlie, and daughter-in-law, Alicia.
