Brian James, founding guitarist of punk's The Damned, dead at 70
Brian James, the founding guitarist for the visionary and influential U.K. punk band The Damned, has died. He was 70.
James' death on March 6 was confirmed on his official Facebook page, though no cause was listed. 'It is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of the true pioneers of music, guitarist, songwriter, and true gentleman, Brian James,' the statement read.
The Damned have an exceptionally important place in rock history, releasing 'New Rose,' arguably the first-ever punk single in the U.K., in 1976. The Damned also were the first band of their scene to release a studio album (1977's 'Damned Damned Damned') and to tour the United States.
The London-born James began his music career in the proto-punk band London SS, which featured future members of the Clash and Generation X. He soon met another local band, Masters of the Backside, which featured future Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde, vocalist Dave Vanian, bassist Captain Sensible and drummer Rat Scabies. Minus Hynde, James formed The Damned with the other three members in 1976. The band made its debut that year, and opened for the Sex Pistols at 100 Club, a notorious London venue that helped codify the scene.
Five weeks before the Sex Pistols released 'Anarchy in the U.K.,' the most famous early punk single, the Damned released 'New Rose.' The fast and frenetic single penned by James stripped down and supercharged the British rock of the era, smeared it with black eyeliner and lipstick, and announced a new sound and subculture to the world.
The Damned soon would accompany the Pistols on a brief tour. After playing the U.S., the Damned arguably kicked off both the hardcore punk and goth-rock subcultures in Southern California — bands like Black Flag were inspired by their minimalism and ultra-fast tempos, while proto-goths like Christian Death and 45 Grave were captivated by their transgressive aesthetics.
James was the primary songwriter on the Damned's first two albums, but after 1977's 'Music for Pleasure,' the Damned briefly broke up and re-formed without James. He went on to tour as a member of Iggy Pop's live band, recorded solo material with the Police's Stewart Copeland on drums, and co-founded the band Lords of the New Church with Stiv Bators. The original lineup of the Damned occasionally reunited for live shows, first in 1988 and most recently in 2022.
'Always looking for new challenges and keen to work with different musicians,' his family's statement read, James was 'incessantly creative and a musical tour de force, over a career which spanned more than six decades.'
James is survived by his wife, Minna, son, Charlie, and daughter-in-law, Alicia.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cloonee Postpones L.A. Shows Amid ICE Raids: ‘I Will Not Throw a Party Whilst the Latino People Who Have Supported Me in This City Are Hurting'
As protests continue in Los Angeles following sweeping ICE raids, electronic producer Cloonee has postponed a pair of shows meant to happen in the city this weekend. 'For the past four years now, I have called this city my home,' the British artist wrote Tuesday (June 10) in a statement posted to social media. 'Like the city, my fans are diverse and it breaks my heart to see what the Latino community is going through right now. More from Billboard Doechii Calls Out ICE Raids & President Trump at 2025 BET Awards: 'People Are Being Swept Up & Torn From Their Families' Leon Thomas' 'Mutt' Snatches Third Radio Crown of 2025 The Alchemist Could've Been on Lil Wayne's 'Tha Carter VI': 'I Was Just Overthinking It' 'I have therefore decided that the right, responsible and only decision is to postpone this weekend's events,' he continues. 'Our time together is meant to be one of celebration, and now is not the time for celebrating.' Read the complete statement below. These shows were scheduled to happen June 13-14 at City Market in downtown Los Angeles, an area of town that's seen myriad raids by ICE amid federal immigration efforts. Cloonee's shows are now scheduled to happen July 11-12, with all tickets valid for the corresponding new dates, with refunds also available for the next seven days. According to the L.A. Times, an immigrants-rights leader in the city reported that 'about 300 people have been detained by federal authorities in California since sweeps began last week.' The situation has been inflamed after the Trump administration deployed the National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles amid protests over ICE raids. Cloonee is one of many artists who's spoken out on the ICE raids and their aftermath, with Doechii using her speech at the BET Awards in Los Angeles on Monday (June 9) to say that 'I do wanna address what's happening right now outside of the building. There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order. Trump is using military force to stop a protest. And I want y'all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us. What type of government is that?' 'For the past four years now, I have called this city my home. Like the city, my fans are diverse and it breaks my heart to see what the Latino community is going through right now.I have therefore decided that the right, responsible and only decision is to postpone this weekend's events. Our time together is meant to be one of celebration, and now is not the time for are moving this weekend's shows to the new dates of Friday, July 11th and Saturday, July 12th. All tickets will remain valid for the new corresponding date. If you are unable to join us at that time, you may cancel your tickets for a full refund in the next 7 days. All ticket buyers will receive an email to the address used to purchase the tickets with a refund link, or reach out to our team at understand this may upset a large number of ticket holders who, like myself, have waited months for these shows, and I do not take this decision lightly.I see you, I hear you and I simply will not throw a party whilst the Latino people who have supported me in this city are hurting so take care of yourselves, prioritize your safety and your community above all else. I will make this up to you in a months Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Country musician Conner Smith fatally hit pedestrian with truck. No charges now, but probe ongoing
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country musician Conner Smith fatally hit a pedestrian while driving his truck in Nashville over the weekend, and he currently faces no charges as an investigation continues, police said. Metro Nashville Police said Smith, 24, hit Dorothy Dobbins, 77, Sunday evening while she was crossing the road inside a marked crosswalk. Dobbins, a retired attorney, later died at a hospital. The Tennessee Bar Association posted on its website that Dobbins had been out walking her dog when she was hit. Police say Smith showed no signs of impairment. They believe the 'preliminary contributing factor' appears to be that Smith did not yield the right of way to the pedestrian. Smith's attorney, Worrick Robinson, said his client is cooperating with the investigation. 'His heart goes out to Ms. Dobbins' family during this incredibly difficult time," Robinson said in a statement. Dobbins was a leader in the city's legal aid and family law communities, where she practiced for over 40 years, according to posts by the Bar Association and the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. She played a 'foundational role in opening Nashville's first domestic violence shelter,' according to a Facebook post from the Legal Aid Society, and she wrote the state's first order of protection legislation. Smith was a 2024 new male artist of the year nominee at the Academy of Country Music Awards. He released his first full-length album, 'Smoky Mountains,' in 2024. The Nashville native has had gold-certified hits with 'Take it Slow' and 'Creek Will Rise,' according to his label, Big Machine. Smith had performed at Nashville's CMA Fest over the weekend. ____ Associated Press writer Travis Loller contributed to this report.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Robert De Niro, Joe Jonas, Allison Janney and More Attend Chanel's 18th Annual Tribeca Artists Dinner
Following Friday's Through Her Lens luncheon, Chanel and Tribeca teamed again on Monday evening for the annual artists dinner, now in its 18th year. Several guests ducked past the step and repeat to head straight into The Odeon, like Robert De Niro, Christy Turlington, Ed Burns and Tory Burch. The rest — Sofia Coppola, Thomas Mars, Jon Hamm, Anna Osceola, Joe Jonas, Allison Janney, Lily James, Kyle McLachlan, Lily Allen, Lucy Liu, Grace Gummer, Louisa Jacobson, Celine Song, Maude Apatow, Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld, Maisy Stella, Role Model, Mariska Hargitay, Peter Hermann, Molly Gordon, Chase Sui Wonders, Cooper Hoffman, Alisha Boe, Whitney Peak, Nicole Beharie, Lola Tung, Laufey, Wizkid, Barbara Bush, Tommy Dorfman and Hailey Benton Gates — posed in various Chanel ensembles before mingling over cocktails inside a tented entrance to the restaurant. More from WWD Alexandra Cooper Wears Shiny Strappy Sandals and Matching Corset Dress for 'Call Her Alex' Tribeca Film Festival 2025 Premiere Paris Jackson Styles Botanical Whimsy in Fendi for 2025 Tribeca Film Festival EXCLUSIVE: Chanel Launches Circular Materials Hub Nevold The dinner honors the collection of artists who donated original pieces to the filmmakers of the 2025 festival filmmaker winners. This year's contributing artists included Alteronce Gumby, Faith Wilding, Jane Dickson, Jeffrey Meris, Lauren Halsey, Marilyn Minter, Naudline Pierre, Raúl de Nieves, Simphiwe Ndzube and Tuan Andrew Nguyen. On the red carpet, Blake Lively made a surprise appearance, hours after a judge dismissed Justin Baldoni's lawsuit against Lively and Ryan Reynolds. She was ushered past James, who was waiting to walk onto the carpet, and later turned back to apologize to the actress. James was in town for the Tribeca premiere of her thriller 'Relay,' in which she stars with Riz Ahmed. 'We shot the movie in New York so to be able to have our American launch here felt potent and right and I just loved watching the movie — I hadn't seen it on a big screen so it was really special,' James said of the premiere, which was Sunday evening. 'It's a thriller so you can feel the energy in the room. You could feel that the audience was really with us. Riz Ahmed is so wonderful and I just felt really proud,' James added. 'It's so wonderful to see movies in a cinema, on a big screen.' Janney was fresh off presenting at the Tony Awards, which she did alongside Bryan Cranston; the two costar in the Tribeca movie 'Everything's Going to Be Great.' 'To be able to come to this dinner is such fun for me, because I've always wanted to be able to come and I've always been too busy,' Janney said, wearing a golden Chanel trenchcoat with embellished buttons. 'It was actually the first thing I tried on that they sent for me and I was like 'yes please. And more,'' Janney said of the look. 'I love it.' The following day, the actress was off to Rome to film a movie for Ridley Scott, 'one of my heroes.' In the midst of the work schedule she fully plans to make time for some Roman fun. 'Oh, you better believe I will,' she said. 'I'm going to do some shopping and walking around and eating gelato and all the things you do when you're in Rome.' Sui Wonders, who stars in the series 'The Studio,' was naturally in a Chanel look for the night, something not too far off for her character Quinn. 'I wore a lot of Chanel. I had a vintage Chanel bag that I carried all around Vegas that was incredible, but so much vintage YSL, some vintage Miu Miu,' she said of the costumes. 'There was one vintage Miu Miu top that had naked women on it that was really good. I wanted to keep the Chanel bag so badly, but we have season two so it's all in a warehouse waiting to be used again.' Inside The Odeon, Hamm kissed Gummer's hand and wiggled his finger at James for a hello; Allen chatted with tablemate Nas; Jonas and Gummer compared the art books at their seats, and Role Model, Laufey and Dorfman posed for photos. The waiters stayed busy with orders for martinis and glasses of Champagne as trays of shrimp cocktail hit the tables and the room settled in for dinner. Launch Gallery: Blake Lively, Sofia Coppola and More at the Chanel Tribeca Artist's Dinner Best of WWD A Look Back at SAG Awards Best Dressed Red Carpet Stars SAG Awards Wildest Looks of All Time on the Red Carpet, Photos From the Archive: A Look Back at Marc Jacobs Annual Holiday Party [PHOTOS]
