Brian James, founding member of The Damned, has died aged 70.
The guitarist, who was a part of the group’s authentic line-up, wrote the primary UK punk single New Rose and helped the band create their debut album, 1977’s Damned Damned Damned.
A spokesperson for report label Straightforward Motion stated: “I can confirm that Brian passed away peacefully yesterday with his family present.”
Picture:
The Damned in 1978. Pic: Sheila Rock/Shutterstock
James’ fellow band member, bassist Raymond “Captain Sensible” Burns, stated in an Instagram publish: “The riffmeister, Brian has gone – that final act that happens to us all, for most is a sad and miserable affair but while it’s truly awful our mate has been taken I prefer to celebrate the life… and what a life Brian James had.”
He added: “And looking back I have to say what an absolute gent Brian was… despite having to occasionally endure some pretty appalling behaviour by yours truly he never once lost it with me – and whenever we met over the following decades we would have a drink and a bloody good laugh.”
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A press release on James’ Fb web page stated he was “one of the true pioneers of music, guitarist, songwriter, and true gentleman” and a musician who was “incessantly creative and a musical tour de force” over his lengthy profession.
It stated: “With his wife Minna, son Charlie, and daughter-in-law Alicia by his side, Brian passed peacefully on Thursday 6 March 2025.”
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The Damned supported the Intercourse Pistols on their Anarchy Tour of the UK and went on to play with T Rex on Marc Bolan’s ultimate tour earlier than he died.
James left the band after it launched its second album, Music For Pleasure, and was a part of the short-lived Tanz Der Youth earlier than he shaped The Lords Of The New Church with American singer Stiv Bators and drummer Nick Turner.
The band launched the songs Open Your Eyes, Dance With Me and Methodology To My Insanity.
James went on to work with The Dripping Lips, create his personal band the Brian James Gang, and launch solo albums.
In 2020 he and The Damned lead singer Dave Vanian, drummer Christopher “Rat Scabies” Millar and Burns introduced the band would reform greater than 4 many years after it started in 1976.
James carried out with the group in 2022.
Burns stated: “When BJ, Rat, DV and myself got back together for The Damned originals shows it was magical in all sorts of ways… that we were chums again of course but also the way we managed to recreate our ’76 garage punk sound right from the first chord in rehearsals.
“We had been all up for doing it once more too… however that’ll by no means occur now, sadly.”
The band’s set in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Friday would be dedicated to James, he added, “with out whom The Damned would by no means ever have occurred”.
