The Sex Pistols and the Clash stole all the headlines, but when it comes to British punk, it was the Damned who were first out of the blocks.
The Londoners released their fast-and-furious first single “New Rose” 40 years ago this October — a full month before the Sex Pistols put out “Anarchy in the UK,” and almost half a year ahead of slowpokes the Clash, who arrived in March 1977 with “White Riot.” On Saturday and Sunday, the Damned mark their anniversary with shows at the Gramercy Theatre. Guitarist Captain Sensible (a k a Ray Burns) tells The Post about jamming with Chrissie Hynde, dodging Sid Vicious and being sneered at by Patti Smith.
Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders was a member of a very early incarnation of the Damned (called Masters of the Backside). Did you spot her talent?
She had the amazing voice but waited until the guitar technique matched that before she fronted a band. That way she couldn’t be pushed around. After a rehearsal in which she’d played guitar, Chrissie and the rest of us hit the tube [subway]. While we waited for the train she burst into song — “Thin Line Between Love and Hate” [originally by NYC group the Persuaders, later covered by the Pretenders] echoed round the tunnels. I thought . . . “Blimey, wait till the world gets a load of this!”
Why did you want Sid Vicious (later of the Sex Pistols) to try out as the Damned’s singer before Dave Vanian started?
I liked Sid, and while he’d have been “interesting” as a frontman, I think we dodged a bullet there. I always thought the Vicious thing was ironic; wasn’t he a bit skinny for a tough guy? Dave Vanian’s a truly phenomenal singer [with] an amazing voice . . . the swine!
What was it like to meet the New York City punks when you first played at CBGB in 1977?
We got on great with the Dead Boys and Ramones, but there was less of a welcome from Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye, who looked down their noses at us. My “posh radar” was instantly alerted by this pair striding in our dressing room demanding in haughty tones that we get the hell out, as it was now theirs. [They had a show later that night.] I thought . . . “Hmm, not a lot of punk camaraderie there.”
The Damned are a staple Halloween band, thanks in part to Vanian’s vampire-chic look. What’s the creepiest Halloween show you’ve ever played?
There was one in Milan where all the power went off midperformance, and after a lot of shouting and bumping into people we discovered — once the lights went back on — that all the equipment, amps, guitars, drums had disappeared. Poltergeists, or particularly innovative thieves? It was a wacky one, whatever!