The Damned's founding guitarist Brian James dies aged 70
He wrote their seminal song 'New Rose'
Last updated 7th Mar 2025
Brian James, original guitarist of punk pioneers The Damned and writer of their seminal song ‘New Rose’, has died just two weeks after his 70th birthday.
James’ death was confirmed in a post on his official Facebook page, which described him as “one of the true pioneers of music” and a “true gentleman.” No cause of death has been revealed.
Born in Hammersmith, London on 18th February 1955, Brian James co-founded The Damned alongside vocalist David Vanian, bassist/guitarist Captain Sensible, and drummer Rat Scabies in 1976.
In October of that year, the Brian James penned ‘New Rose’ was released on Stiff Records, and it’s rightfully regarded of the greatest songs of the punk rock genre.
As The Damned’s principle songwriter, Brian James wrote almost all the material on their first studio albums, February 1977’s ‘Damned Damned Damned’ and November 1977’s ‘Music for Pleasure,' including the classic song 'Neat Neat Neat.'
He left The Damned in late 1977 and went on to form the fleeting Tanz Der Youth, before teaming up with Stiv Bators from The Dead Boys for The Lords Of The New Church.
In 2001, James recorded the album ‘Mad for the Racket’ with MC5's Wayne Kramer, Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan, Stewart Copeland and Clem Burke as the supergroup the Racketeers.
James briefly shared the stage with The Damned at London’s O2 Kentish Town Forum in 1988, and in 2013 he toured the band’s material with Rat Scabies and they reimaged the songs together on James’ third solo album ‘Damned If I Do.’
In October 2020, The Damned’s original line-up of Dave Vanian, Rat Scabies, Captain Sensible and Brian James reunited for a five-date headline tour in July 2021.
Due to the pandemic, the shows were postponed twice and eventually took place in October and November 2022.
RIP Brian James.
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Brian James, original guitarist of The Damned, died two weeks after his 70th birthday on 6th March 2025. James' death was confirmed in a post on his official Facebook page, which described him as "one of the true pioneers of music" and a "true gentleman." No cause of death was revealed. Born in Hammersmith on 18th February 1955, Brian James co-founded The Damned alongside vocalist David Vanian, bassist/guitarist Captain Sensible, and drummer Rat Scabies in 1976. In October 76, the Brian James penned 'New Rose' was released and it's rightfully regarded as one of punk's greatest songs. As The Damned's principle songwriter, he wrote almost all the material on their first studio albums, February 1977's 'Damned Damned Damned' and November 1977's 'Music for Pleasure.' The original Damned line-up reunited in 2020 and they played five UK shows together in autumn 2022.
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