RIP Brian James

[Ken]

Sad loss.

https://www.brooklynvegan.com/brian-james-the-damneds-founding-guitarist-dies-at-70/

[uwe]

Fan Club was the first song I heard on German radio in early 1977 that was announced as "the new Punk music".

While the Sex Pistols were more outrageous, The Clash more political, The Jam better songwriters and The Stranglers better musicians, it was The Damned that garnered initial attention from music papers. Unlike the Sex Pistols with their endless stream of scandals and being thrown out of TV studios and gig venues + losing recording contracts, you could actually see The Damned play live and finish tours! 😂 

James had that proto-look of a new generation guitarist (i.e. who did not want the old guard look of Ritchie Blackmore or Jimmy Page) you saw later on so often with other bands - from The Smiths' Johnny Marr to Oasis' Noel Gallagher.

Unrest in peace.