The Damned announce 50th anniversary show shocked they're ‘still breathing'
The Damned have announced a 50th anniversary concert at London's OVO Arena Wembley, admitting they 'never thought [they'd] make it this far'.
Taking place on April 11, 2026, the show will see the band supported by Peter Hook And The Light, The Loveless featuring Marc Almond, and The Courettes.
Announcing the gig, The Damned had some rather frank thoughts on their mortality.
'Half a century on and who'd have thought The Damned would still be upright and breathing?', they said honestly.
'We have shared some tragic losses along the way, but like a finely-tuned engine, The Damned still has the power and finesse to excite, entertain and accelerate into our 50th year…
'To mark this milestone event, we've booked OVO Arena Wembley for the 11th of April 2026 and, after a lot of careful deliberation, have put a bill together for a night for you to remember and will be joined by The Courettes, Peter Hook, and Marc Almond.' https://www.instagram.com/p/DLPREYZowL8/
As for what fans can expect from the gig, the details are still being planned.
'We haven't made up the set list as yet, but with 50 years of catalogue to choose from, only the best songs from our chequered history will be performed – and with the passion and commitment all good music lovers deserve,' they assured.
Continuing their grand promises, they concluded: 'You know we won't disappoint; we never thought we'd make it this far, and neither did you.'
Presale begins on Wednesday, June 25, at 10am, while general sale starts on Friday at 10am.
Reacting to the band's announcement, fans could barely contain their excitement.
'Omg fantastic line up as well ❤️❤️❤️', commented Instagram user @lou_lou_di_di.
'Hopefully you're in control of the event and the mic doesn't get cut half way through the song as per last night in MK. What was going on? Bonkers', commented @winston.krone after an unfortunate incident over the weekend.
While the current members are certainly showing no signs of slowing down as they continue gigging, their latest show was thrown into chaos when faults meant they had to leave the stage.
Taking to social media after a slot at Forever Now Festival in Milton Keynes, Burns shared his frustrations.
'Wow.. that doesn't happen often – only 35 mins into our #forevernow set and had the plugs pulled on us mid Neat Neat Neat. Happened to the Happy Mondays too. Backstage concensus was the stage power was inadequate.. whatever, @thedamned are v sorry to any disappointed fans', he shared.
The group are currently made up of original members Dave Vanian, real name David Lett, Captain Sensible, real name Raymond Burns, and Rat Scabies, real name Christopher Millar, along with Paul Gray, and Monty Oxymoron, real name Laurence Burrow.
Formed in 1976, The Damned's first single New Rose, released in the same year, is widely thought of as the first British punk single.
Their debut album, Damned Damned Damned, is still seen as the first punk album released by a UK group.
The band are best known for songs such as Neat Neat Neat, Smash It Up and Eloise, a cover of the 1968 Barry Ryan song. They have had one UK top 10 single and two UK top 10 albums. More Trending
News of their celebratory show comes after Brian James, the band's original guitarist, died aged 70 in March.
The punk trailblazer's death was announced via his official Facebook page, with a statement hailing him as 'one of the true pioneers of music'.
His Damned bandmate Burns shared in tribute on X: 'We're shocked to hear that creator of the Damned, our great chum Brian James, has sadly gone. A lovely bloke that I feel so lucky to have met all those years ago and for some reason chose me to help in his quest for the music revolution that became known as punk.'
James penned the group's debut release and was the lead songwriter on their first record.
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: Steven Spielberg thought he had 'a heart attack' on harrowing 70s blockbuster set
MORE: Bay City Rollers icon reveals he suffered 'horrific' abuse at hands of predator manager
MORE: Steven Spielberg 'disappointed' after being snubbed for his legendary 70s blockbuster
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
U2 guitarist The Edge hails ‘monumental day' as he becomes Irish citizen
David Howell Evans, 63, was born in Essex in England to Welsh parents, but his family moved to Ireland when he was just a one-year-old. His Irish citizenship was conferred at a ceremony in Killarney, Co Kerry on Monday. Some 7,500 people will officially become Irish citizens across Monday and Tuesday. He described an 'amazingly joyful event'. 'For all of us, a monumental day,' he told RTE, wearing the distinctive hat he is known for, as well as an Irish flag badge on the lapel of his jacket. 'I'm a little tardy on the paperwork – I've been living in Ireland since I was one but the time was right and I couldn't be more proud of my country for all that it represents and all it's doing. 'It's showing real leadership right now in the world and this couldn't have come at a better moment for me.' The Edge, a guitarist in U2, has been involved with the band since its formation in Dublin in the late 1970s, going on to win scores of music awards. U2 is also noted for speaking out with songs such as Sunday Bloody Sunday about the shooting of unarmed protesters in Londonderry in 1972 by British soldiers, New Year's Day which became associated with the Polish Solidarity movement and Pride (In The Name Of Love) in tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. They also strongly supported efforts to secure peace in Northern Ireland with the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in 1998. The band played Sunday Bloody Sunday last month with a call to 'stop war' at the Ivors award ceremony. The performance came as the group became the first Irish songwriters to be awarded an academy fellowship at the 70th year of the awards ceremony, hosted at London's Grosvenor House.
Graziadaily
2 hours ago
- Graziadaily
I've had this summer dress on my moodboard for weeks – it's finally back in stock
Nobody's doing summer dressing quite as well as Rixo right now. Its brilliant collaboration with Dragon Diffusion has been responsible for summer's most exciting handbags, and its vintage-inspired dresses have a pretty extensive celebrity fan club that includes Kate Middleton, Olivia Rodrigo and Sofia Richie. So it's safe to say that we've been fans of the British label for a while now. And just when we thought we couldn't love the label anymore, along came the dress of the season: the Edina. Classic yet timeless, the Edina has all the makings of a classic white summer dress – from its breathable cotton construction to its breezy ankle-skimming length. So what makes it special? The vintage Rixo touch, of course. Inspired by the brand's cult-favourite Ellery blouse, the maxi dress features a similar classic V-neckline trimmed with an oversized lace collar, evoking Prairie dress comparisons in the best way possible. Add to that a flattering ruffled hem and puffed sleeves, and you've got a dress that looks instantly polished and easy to wear. Little surprise, then, that our favourite influencers have been wearing the dress on repeat lately. Edina Cotton Maxi Dress Delicate, vintage-inspired and fashion editor-approved, this pretty white maxi will see you through everything from garden parties and race days to beachside dinners on holiday with ease. Then there's the details – from the intricate lace panels and delicate floral embroidery down the front to the micro pleats that subtly sculpt your shape – that make the Edina anything but basic. As with every other dress in Rixo's archives, the Edina has been designed to flatter across body types. If, like me, you're under 5'3" and find yourself tripping over most maxis, the Edina dress is available in a shorter length specifically for petites, while the adjustable waist tie helps adjust the shape to be as loose or fitted as you prefer. As wearable as it is appealing, the Edina dress is a moment in itself, which means styling it is as easy as it gets. Wear it with dainty Mary Janes and a straw bag for an unmistakably elegant weekend look or throw it on with wedge heels and some sleek sunglasses for a garden party or even a day at Wimbledon. The vintage-inspired dress could just as easily belong in one of your mum's old Kodak moments as it will on your Instagram grid. So naturally, it sold out fast after its initial release. Now that it's finally been restocked, we'd advise against hesitation. Whether you plan on twirling through Europe in the pretty white maxi or donning one for any upcoming event on your social calendar, Rixo's Edina dress isn't one you'd want to miss out on. Aubrie Cotton Midi Dress A boho spin on white dresses, the Aubrey is inspired by nightdresses from the 70s and features a smocked bodice that flares out into a tiered A-line skirt. Simply add a basket bag, wedge heels and a head scarf for a retro summer look. Hilary Cotton Dress If you're determined to stick to darker shades through summer, the Hilary cotton maxi makes for an excellent black dress for warmer weather. Boasting the same gorgeous lace panels, embroidery and ruffled hem as the Edina, this versatile maxi is incredibly easy to dress up or down depending on your preference. Main image credits: ©Instagram/@dianekari Hitanshi Kamdar is a senior commerce writer for Grazia. Hitanshi is always on the hunt for the latest trends, emerging designers and the internet's most bizarre style discourse. When not writing, she can be found IDing outfits during Netflix binges and shopping for the latest It-girl shoe trends.
South Wales Guardian
3 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
The Damned announce 50th anniversary show at Wembley Arena
Taking place on April 11 2026, the show will see the band supported by Peter Hook And The Light, The Loveless featuring Marc Almond and The Courettes. Announcing the gig, The Damned said: 'Half a century on and who'd have thought The Damned would still be upright and breathing? 'We have shared some tragic losses along the way, but like a finely-tuned engine, The Damned still has the power and finesse to excite, entertain and accelerate into our 50th year… 'To mark this milestone event, we've booked OVO Arena Wembley for the 11th of April 2026 and after a lot of careful deliberation have put a bill together for a night for you to remember and will be joined by The Courettes, Peter Hook and Marc Almond. 'We haven't made up the set list as yet but with 50 years of catalogue to choose from, only the best songs from our chequered history will be performed – and with the passion and commitment all good music lovers deserve. 'You know we won't disappoint, we never thought we'd make it this far and neither did you.' It comes after Brian James, the band's original guitarist, died aged 70 in March. The group are currently made up of original members Dave Vanian, real name David Lett, Captain Sensible, real name Raymond Burns, and Rat Scabies, real name Christopher Millar, along with Paul Gray and Monty Oxymoron, real name Laurence Burrow. Formed in 1976, The Damned's first single New Rose, released in the same year, is widely thought of as the first British punk single, while their debut album Damned Damned Damned is seen as the first punk album released by a UK group. The band are best known for songs such as Neat Neat Neat, Smash It Up and Eloise, a cover of the 1968 Barry Ryan song. They have had one UK top 10 single and two UK top 10 albums.
