The Damned were the first British punk band to release a record.
The Damned release 'New Rose'
17 September 1976
"New Rose" was recorded in a single afternoon (17 September 1976) and was in the shops just over a month later, ahead of the release of the first Sex Pistols single. Though the Ramones, and Australian band The Saints had already released punk singles, "New Rose" became the first recording issued from the UK punk scene. Producer Nick Lowe thought the band the worst thing he'd seen since the Pistols, but decided that the experience of recording them would be 'a good laugh'. "We did that purely on cider and speed", recalls bassist Captain Sensible. The record did not chart, but was instrumental in accelerating a feeding frenzy among record labels desperate for a punk band to add to their roster.
A tale of two cities, London and New York and the birth of punk.
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Nick Lowe
Singer-Songwriter
Produced the single.