The Damned are the type of band that doesn't need a formal introduction.
Their discography, influence and longevity speak for themselves. And now, 50 years on from the release of their first track, they still carry the passion for music that had them pioneering punk in the UK in 1976.
It was that very emergence into the sweltering punk scene of the 1970s in Britain that brought forth the sound that has effortlessly cemented its relevance and impact in the history of music.
But much like all genres and many bands, there is nuance and evolution that occur over the tenure of any given career. The Damned are no exception as they prepare to make their way to Australia as part of a broader world tour.
Catch up on all the latest features and interviews here.
With shows at Sydney Opera House on September 10, Tivoli in Brisbane on the 11th, and The Forum in Melbourne on September 13, the band will have the opportunity to play the best of all their hits, namely in venues such as the Opera House that wouldn’t otherwise showcase the sounds of punk.
And yet that’s perhaps the most punk thing a band can do. For Rat Scabies, founding drummer of the band who rejoined in 2023 after nearly three decades away, the expression of punk came about through conviction over authenticity, and a means to push for individual and public freedoms.
“There was a lot wrong with the world in the 1970s,” explains Rat. “I’m not comparing it to now, but we had a lot of strikes, a lot of power cuts, a lot of poverty, and life wasn’t that great in England at the time.
“So, punk really was a backlash to that. It was the next generation looking at the previous one and saying, ‘you know what, that doesn’t work’. That’s not what I want to be a part of. I don’t want to be in some shit job in a factory for 30 years.
“There was a definite freedom that came from punk, freedom of the way you thought about things, politically and in every other respect.”
And it was the empowerment that came through the experience of speaking out, specifically through the means of art, and maybe more importantly, music, that spoke to Scabies.
“I think there’s one thing that punk taught everyone, and that is in times of crisis you should stick together,” he says. “You’re much stronger as a group than you are individually. And I think that applies quite a lot today.
“I think that when you’re in times of crisis, war, strife, the best key for survival is that everybody gets on the same page and makes sure they’re protected by the others. It’s about promoting strengths and covering weaknesses, and that’s what you do as a group.”
That conviction — one that has seen the band’s sound ebb and flow while holding together their core approach — is one of the reasons The Damned are still playing live music today.
“Punk isn’t something you can turn on and off,” Rat says. “You need to hold firm in your attitude. If people like that, then they come and see you play. But I’ve never really been one for trying to uphold some objective idea of what punk is. I think it’s beyond definition.”
And so, The Damned are excited to be once again coming out to Australia, a destination that has provided them with a sense of achieving their wildest dreams and engaging with a unique culture.
“We were once little urban punks, and Australia was always so far away,” he states. “The thought of ever even being able to go there once was beyond our wildest dreams. To actually be able to come over and be well received, in a way that’s meant we can come back, is just great.
“Australia is always a laugh. There’s something about it that’s always fun. It’s lively, and people are running around, noisy and brash, and people aren’t afraid to have a good time. They’re also not afraid to tell you what they think, because of that, we’re going to have to be playing our best game, but that’s a fun task to have at hand.”
Expect a high-octane performance from the punk rockers — fifty years in, The Damned are coming to Australia to put on a show.
The Damned tour dates
10 September: Sydney Opera House, Sydney
11 September: The Tivoli, Brisbane
13 September: The Forum, Melbourne
Grab your tickets here.
