It has now been half a century that The Damned have been entertaining the world with their music, an entire fifty years of their lives. Just don’t remind Dave Vanian of that, it makes him feel old. And judging by his performance last night, he is anything but.
Doors opened early yesterday evening, and with no support and The Damned promising a two hour set as part of their Final Damnation tour, fans were lined up and patiently awaiting for the doors of their beloved Powerstation, who has hosted more than one legendary English band in their time, to swing open and invite them in.
Watching the crowd was like observing a living time capsule of music, old The Damned tour shirts spanning the last thirty years were on display along with artists such as The Buzzcocks, Sticky Little Fingers, The Jam and of course Iggy Pop.
A contingent of younger fans made straight for the barrier, their arms automatically hugging that metal bar that thousands before them have done, chomping at the bit to witness a band that many in the room had witnessed on multiple occasions, for their very first time. Music is indeed generational, and nights like these create an atmosphere that just cannot be replicated.
The stage was set, a huge backdrop displaying The Damned’s name in large lettering adorning the wall. As the lights dimmed and the intro music played a roar from the crowd welled as Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies, Paul Gray and of course keyboardist Monty Oxymoron took their places. And then there he was, Dave Vanian himself, in his signature black suit complete with gloves, shades and hat.
“Who chose that shite music? Was it you?” Captain Sensible pointed at a member of the audience while laughing away. Dressed in red and white, his red beret perched atop his head he already looked like he was having the night of his life. Wasting no time they launched straight into Street Of Dreams, Vanian clutching his vintage mic, his baritone voice still smooth as syrup, his hands gesturing towards the crowd as he prowled the stage; the epitome of dapper.
Wake The Dead saw Sensible and Gray entwine their guitar and bass in a dance that enraptured the crowd, Gray, shades in place almost giving Vanian a run for his money on best dressed in the band. “That was a new song, that we played a couple of years ago before the album [Darkadelic] came out, remember? Sensible asked those before him. “Now I’m gonna blow my bloody nose” the English humour never rests.
“Here’s a song about an inconsequential little blue planet, called Earth” Vanian addressed the room as the quintet performed History Of The World (Part 1). Banter would be a feature of the set throughout the night, and frankly any true follower of the band would expect nothing less. Occasional calls for requests, at times dismissed with a tongue in cheek tirade by Vanian himself.
Stranger On The Town with its ska and 2-tone influences soon had the crowd bopping in unison, Scabies at one point keeping the bass drum going without missing a beat as his tech quickly assisted with changing out a snare drum. At seventy-one Scabies isn’t planning on letting a small technical hitch stop him from playing a near perfect set anytime yet.
A brief discussion on Tim Tams and why apparently the band were only worth one packet in their greenroom – Captain Sensible was indeed on fire last night – led into Alone Again Or, the music video for which was filmed on a whim in Broken Hill, Australia. The flight there in a tiny Cessna aircraft part of the bands folklore due to the pilot reportedly falling asleep mid-flight!
Live last night, the track featured Vanian on a kazoo, much to the amusement of Sensible and Vanian missing a verse, which he waved off with cheeky smile and referred to it as their “avant-garde version.” It is safe to say that while the song may have originally been penned by Bryan MacLean of the rock band Love, The Damned certainly made it their own
Speaking of avant-garde, a favourite among many of the goths present was Shadow Of Love a song released in 1985 along with other favourites such as, Marian by Sisters of Mercy, Love Like Blood by Killing Joke and of course Cities Of Dust by none other than Siouxsie and the Banshees and it still sounds just as good as it did when released, Vanian’s sultry baritone enveloping the words before they slunk off the edge and curled themselves lovingly around the ears of those in attendance.
I Just Can’t Be Happy Today had the fans gleefully singing along to the chorus before the iconic bass line of Life Goes On was delivered with swagger by Paul Gray as he sauntered across the stage, Sensible taking a spin as lead vocalist and doing so with aplomb.
The lights changed to Frankenstein green, and smoke swirled in from the edges for Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, Vanian discussing how every man including himself has an angel and a devil constantly chattering on their shoulder. He smiles wryly, as he once again flourishes his microphone. Hard to believe that this was the man that originally wanted to be a graphic designer but turned up to the audition for lead singer in 1976 due to founding members Brian James and Rat Scabies asking him to. He got the job, mainly because the one other person invited to audition never showed up. That person was of course none other than Sid Vicious of The Sex Pistols.
Grabbing a spotlight, Vanian shone it over the audience for Is It A Dream before they delivered the iconic Eloise (originally written by Barry Ryan). The fans threw themselves in behind it as Vanian clawed the air with his gloved hand while singing the anthemic chorus. Followed by Fan Club, the song showcasing an almost funkier side to The Damned’s back catalogue it was noted that they were gearing up. An electricity was running through them and pulsating out through the audience.
A young crowd surfer appeared, in the traditional Jesus Christ pose as he floated atop a seas of hands much to the amusement of Vanian and crew, and it only seemed to drive them harder; fans of the infamous British TV series The Young Ones cheering loudly as Captain Sensible enquired who was a fan, before they launched into Nasty which featured in the horror-themed episode in 1984; The Damned writing the track specifically for the vampire storyline.
A cover of the Creation track Making Time led into a stonking version of Ignite, the stage bathed in red. At this point Vanian had abandoned his hat and jacket, revealing a crisp white shirt, the shades of course staying locked in place along with the gloves. The front rows were going wild, both Vanian and Sensible holding their mic stands out over the top of them so that they could sing the words back to their idols.
Without allowing anyone to catch their breath, The Damned slid straight into Love Song, the energy in the room palpable as Second Time Around came crashing in behind. But it was Neat Neat Neat that saw Vanian deliver some serious hip swinging, as everyone watching bopped up and down and shook their heads as they chirped back the three word line. Once again, it is moments like these that make you realise just how important live music is.
Bidding goodnight, everyone knew there would be an encore, and The Damned did not keep them waiting long before returning, Sensible taking a large empty can of what looked to be lager and using it as a slide on his strings, which produced the most delightfully haunting sound for the rather appropriate Curtain Call; Scabies and Sensible taking the song out before Scabies threw down a drum solo as if it were a challenge to anyone questioning his abilities after fifty years of playing.
New Rose garnered the exact reception one would expect at a The Damned show; their very first single released in October of 1976 still sounding as fresh and vital as it did back then thanks to the band treating it with the reverence it deserves.
Unexpectedly the iconic beat of the Jefferson Airplane classic White Rabbit filled the air, The Damned doing it justice, Vanian especially performing it with just the right level of theatrical drama.
Thanking Auckland for showing up and giving it their all, the five piece played their 1979 hit Smash It Up (Part 1) in dedication to Marc Bolan of T.Rex, a man who never learned to drive for he feared dying in a car crash; sadly, years later at the age of 29 that was exactly how he left the world. To finish The Damned moved straight into Smash It Up (Part 2), finishing on a crescendo as Vanian dedicated to the set to the recently departed Dolly Parton.
But it wouldn’t be a Damned show without Captain Sensible having the last word; “That was hard work you know?” The grin grew wider “But a lot better than the Sex Pistols”
Fifty years on and The Damned still know how to put on a show, The Final Damnation tour a walk through their illustrious career and frankly absolutely unmissable.
By Sarah Kidd
Photography by Greg Haver
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