The Damned, first UK punk band to come to the States and play, performing their landmark CBGB’s gig in New York City on April 7, 1977, photographed by Ebet Roberts.
Sure, The New York Dolls and The Ramones might have paved the way but, as had been the case ever since the mid-’60s British Invasion, the English just seemed to have a distinctly better grasp on image and packaging.
By 1977, The Damned had alredy made a name for themselves and were notorious even across the Atlantic, so when they came, even The Rolling Stones publicist thought it would make a great story for his band to be associated the vanguard of the UK punk scene, so he arranged for a supply of cream cakes, prostitutes and drugs to be sent to their dressing room, as a friendly welcome from The Rolling Stones, and invited all his NY media pals to attend the show.
They were scheduled to play two sets a night, with The Dead Boys as their support act, so this was gonna be sort of a celebrity punk death match, and The Dead Boys had actually delivered a thundering performance, opening for them, but…
“…But, before a note was even played, by merely walking onstage, The Damned made The Dead Boys seem small, provincial, tame, and harmless.
Dave Vanian, The Damned’s singer, was dressed in 19th century black-black-black, looking like a cross between a Victorian Dracula and an undertaker in the Wild Wild West….
Brian James, the guitarist, while dressed way down in standard jeans, dark t-shirt, worn black Chuck Taylors, appeared to be stumbling around in his own little world….
Rat Scabies, the drummer, was in what is now classic Punk style, but that night, seemed wildly fashion-forward. His bright rust red jacket had one sleeve attached only by safety pins, and was covered with badges and small tears, his shirt in tatters, his hair, a lunatic’s rat’s nest version of the classic Jeff Beck Mod cut.
Bassist Captain Sensible’s presence, however, was the crowning visual achievement. He was wearing a beatnik beret, ludicrously hideous cheap women’s sun glasses, his hair a totally artificial day-glo red, a Love Boat captain’s jacket and.. a tutu…
After strutting around the stage and openly mocking the New York crowd, suddenly, without warning or even a count in, they launched, catapulted, tore, into “I Feel Alright” by The Stooges. It wasn’t the beginning of a song, it was Detonation! Their power, energy, and volume was all simply breathtaking. They slammed into the main riff (sort of a sped up version of “Spoonful”) with a frantic and almost desperate ferocity. I can vividly remember sensing the whole of CBGB sort of just collectively gasping, “Holy Shit!…
If The Damned had walked offstage at that point, after just that one song, I would’ve considered them one of the top three or four bands I’d ever seen in my life…
…The Punk Revolution had officially started….
…I’m very glad I went to the early show. I had some friends who experienced the late show 90 minutes later. The Damned came out on stage and announced that Mick Jagger had sent them some pies and without any warning started hurling real pies into the audience, as in, maybe 20 of them. Within 60 seconds, dozens of people down front were covered in cherry and blueberry gunk, chocolate ooze, lemon meringue, whipped cream and crust. The band stood there, cackling and pointing at their goo-splattered victims before smashing into this mess with the same opening number, ‘I Feel Alright’…”
Binky Philips, former musician & record store manager, record label owner.
Read through the whole juicy review of the gig, here.
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