Celebrating Brian James, 18th February 1955* to 6th March 2025.
The Grim Reaper has been relentless so far this year. I was putting the finishing touches to a tribute to Roy Ayers when i saw the news of Brian's passing. I added a footnote to that day's post, promising that I would write about Brian in a future post.
As i finished and uploaded this post's accompanying Dubhed selection, news broke that Stedman Pearson of Five Star has died. I'll be honest, I loathed Five Star's music as a teen so you won't be seeing a dedicated post here, but nevertheless, enough obituaries already.
Brian James first and greatest achievement in music was co-founding The Damned in 1976 and writing - singlehandedly, in most cases - most of the songs that appeared on their first two albums, Damned Damned Damned and Music For Pleasure, both released in 1977.
The Damned had split by 1978, and although they officially reformed without James in 1979, the albums, B-sides and radio sessions capture moments of genius and brilliance.
Not that I was switched on to this at the time, I wasn't even in double digits, age-wise, and my first (and only) time seeing The Damned live was in 1986 by which time Brian James was long gone and the band a much different prospect from their punk origins.
For obvious reasons, I've focused today's selection exclusively on The Damned circa 1976-77. Mostly drawn from the two albums, with a few John Peel sessions and a Beatles cover B-side to boot. All in, 45 minutes of The Damned at their blistering best.
Before then, an appetiser. I couldn't resist including a trio of clips available on YouTube, all featuring Brian James on guitar, although the camera in the third pick seems to favour Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible.
Starting as things must with the debut single New Rose, followed by Fan Club live at The Roxy in London on 13th January 1977 and finally a performance of Neat Neat Neat on ITV kids' show Supersonic on 26th March 1977. Stirring stuff and infinitely preferable to The Nolans.
After that tasty delight, scroll to the bottom for a 17-song Saturday selection. As they say, damned if you do...
Cheers, Brian.
1) I Fall (Album Version By Nick Lowe)
2) I Feel Alright (Album Version By Nick Lowe)
3) Don't Cry Wolf (Album Version By Nick Mason)
4) Help! (Single Version By Nick Lowe) (Cover of The Beatles)
5) You Take My Money (Album Version By Nick Mason)
6) Feel The Pain (Album Version By Nick Lowe)
7) Creep (You Can't Fool Me) (Album Version By Nick Mason)
8) Fan Club (John Peel Session, Transmitted 16th May 1977)
9) Stretcher Case (Album Version By Nick Mason)
10) Sick Of Being Sick (John Peel Session, Transmitted 16th May 1977)
11) Your Eyes (Album Version By Nick Mason)
12) New Rose (Album Version By Nick Lowe)
13) Idiot Box (Album Version By Nick Mason)
14) Neat Neat Neat (Album Version By Nick Lowe)
15) Problem Child (Album Version By Nick Mason)
16) Stab Your Back (John Peel Session, Transmitted 10th December 1976)
17) See Her Tonite (Album Version By Nick Lowe)
* the consensus is that Brian was born in 1955, though some sources state 1950.
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