THE
DAMNED
The
Cresset, Bretton Centre, Peterborough
Wednesday, 2nd August, 2006
Reviewed
by Cardinal Cox
Write Dope on Pnuk part 15
I first saw The Damned sometime in
the early Eighties, when the support act was The Anti-Nowhere
League. The Damned were (arguably) the first British punk band to
release a single, to release an album, to split up and to reform.
Tonight's gig, though, was a bit special as they now have two
local(ish) members. On drums for a while now has been Pinch, ex
of Grantham's English Dogs and now a resident of California. When
Patricia Morrison left to concentrate on her's and Dave Vanian's
baby, Stuart West, who had been in a late incarnation of The
English Dogs (and before that Monks Of Science), was invited to
try out.
But back to the night. Local lads Yello Snow opened with a half-dozen
numbers including 'YMCA'. Where the singer proved to be dyslexic
when it came to the movements. Mind you, halfway through another
song he took out his mobile 'phone to read a text. Probably from
someone in the audience. Or the mum on the merchandise coffee
table. Next up were The Ruined (who have recently released a
split CD with Destructors666) doing horror-punk songs about
zombies in a Misfits-style. They deserve to reach wider audiences.
I had earlier bumped into the bass player from the band I'd been
in at school and we discussed that for these local bands this had
to be the gig of their careers so far. Playing with a band who'd
been around for thirty years. We then realised that when we were
going, if we'd wanted to support an act that had been going for
thirty years, it would have had to have been George Formby or
someone, as rock 'n' roll wasn't that old when we were lads.
Next up were Devilish Presley who do a swampy Cramps sort of
rockabilly. Just two of them (they use a drum machine or somesuch)
but pretty good. I had a bit of a chat with them afterwards. A
couple of albums are available - 'Disgraceland' and 'Mephisto'.
Ah, but to the main guys. Dave looks more Bono (sans hat) than
Byron these days, but the Captain still wore his red beret. And
he kept his trousers on, a first in my recollection. The hits
came fast, 'Love Song' and 'Just Can't Be Happy Today'. Before
long it was 'New Rose', but not before Capt. had harangued us
about how they'd been a real band unlike McLaren's boy band The
Sex Pistols. Sure, I remember The Damned doing 'Anarchy In The
UK' at gigs years ago. 'Little Miss Disaster', 'Neat Neat Neat',
'Eloise' and 'Melody Lee'. 'Ignite', 'Absinthe' and 'Smash It Up'.
And the encores of 'History Of The World' and 'Jet Boy, Jet Girl'
(while I was shouting: "Samplan Pour Moi").
A great night, I got myself around several pints, the band were
great, I babbled away to people I hardly knew, the band wre great...oh,
and the band were great. Hope they'll return next tour.
© All work copyright of Cardinal Cox.