With a full moon rising above Bridgwater on a clear Wednesday night, this was an ideal scene for the original gothic-punk quintet known as The Damned to be playing. Love Minus Zero (named after a Bob Dylan song) were the support band for the evening. I must say I was seriously impressed by this group, so much so that I went to see them again the following night when they played my local! You can listen to my interview with Love Minus Zero, which I recorded in the back of their van, by clicking on this audio link: Love Minus Zero This London-based quartet features Perrett brothers Jamie and Peter on vocals/guitar and bass respectively.
 | | Love Minus Zero |
These two guys were one-time members of Babyshambles, alongside the infamous Pete Doherty. They quit to create The Cuts, which was later renamed Love Minus Zero. The current lineup now also features guitarist Eliot Vernon and the fantastically named Polish drummer Oskar Starski. By the time I arrived, the band was already a couple of songs into the set, which was predominately a mid-paced bluesy-rock new-wave style, albeit with a small smattering of ska in places (like in forthcoming first single Psycho Baby). I thought singer Jamie's voice was pitched somewhere between Muse's Matt Bellamy and Radiohead's Thom York. At its most intense, it became very nasal and whiny, a la John Lydon, especially in numbers like Watery Eyes, during which, on tiptoes, Jamie would twist into his guitar as though attempting to snap its neck. There was also a definite Only Ones feel, and it was no surprise when the band performed a pretty-much-perfect rendition of that band's Another Girl Another Planet. When I later discovered that Jamie and Peter (Jr) are in fact the sons of the Only Ones singer/guitarist Peter Perrett, this was understandable, although there is plenty more going on in their sound to ensure that they are not living in the shadow of their father.
 | | Love Minus Zero |
Unfortunately, they didn't get many people dancing along. Nevertheless, most people paid attention and gave appropriate applause. The last song was, I felt, the best. Although I didn't know its title, it had such bitter and twisted lyrics, and was so angry, I assumed it could only be as the result of a personal failed relationship, especially as it segued into Kanye West's Goldigga and a distorted Pussycat Dolls' Dontcha. I was somewhat disappointed when Peter later told me the song was actually P.I.M.P. originally by 50 Cent. The Damned Now, when anyone discusses 1976 punk rock, three bands invariably come to mind: The Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. For me, The Damned are the best. They may not have the political ideals of The Clash or the reactionary nature of The Sex Pistols, but I feel they are the most charismatic and have the best tunes.
 | | The Damned |
They were the true originators of UK punk, being the first punk band to form, first to release a single, first to release an album, first to tour the USA, first to split up and first to reform. Yet (scarily) 30 years later, they are still going strong. They have oft been criticised for their cartoonish nature and accused of not being the real deal, having changed their style somewhat over the years, but their first Stooges-influenced garage-punk album (recorded in a cupboard on a budget of about £25) is still, in my opinion, one of the best albums ever released. It may have been 30 minutes of out-of-control cacophony, but it demonstrated a talent that led them to much commercial success in later albums such as Machine Gun Etiquette and The Black Album, by which time Sensible had transitioned from bass to lead guitar. Tonight at The Palace, the kings of punk hit the stage at around 9.30pm, by which time the atmosphere was electric. Sensible, wearing his trademark red beret and a spoof Coca-Cola T-shirt, is ever the clown and after a few seconds of technical problems, he announced: "Good evening Doncaster, we're The Damned," and the band launched straight into Wait for the Blackout. | "Everyone should attend the forthcoming punk gigs in Bridgwater and keep the scene alive." | | Pinch from The Damned |
This resulted in the dance floor filling with sweaty fans of all ages, and some seriously old-looking punks demonstrating that they can still bust the moves despite their plastic hips and catheters - the melee didn't stop for the next hour and 45 minutes. Dave Vanian appeared on stage for the start of the first verse. He was predictably dressed in black, with a pair of stylish purple sunglasses to add to his cool. He was once a gravedigger, used to drive a hearse and sleep in a coffin - perhaps the Dracula image isn't just an act and he really is a vampire, because he has hardly aged at all. For a man who will be 'celebrating' his 50th birthday later this year, he has the looks and physique of a man half that age. Maybe the Grecian 2000 helps! There's no doubting that he is also a fantastic vocalist with a rich vibrant voice and a charismatic manner, slipping effortlessly from a shout to a croon and back again, like a punk version of Tony Hadley. His sparring partner, Sensible, on the other hand continues to age disgracefully (bleaching his hair and acting like an eternal teenager), despite morphing into old man Steptoe as he indulges in some stupid banter about Jimmy Saville's catch phrase being rubbish and Sweet being the original boy band. Because of him, I'll never be able to watch the dog on the Churchill insurance advert ever again, oh no no no no no!
 | | A fan of The Damned! |
Second song in was the bombastic New Rose, their first-ever single, which, despite being released 30 years ago, sounds as fresh as ever. By this point, the band was firing on all cylinders, sounding as good as ever. An awesome sound from the PA ensured everything was crystal clear in the mix. The rhythm section of Stu on bass and Pinch on drums was faultless throughout. As tight as Vanian's trousers, they both turned in intense performances and ensured that things didn't get too chaotic. Mid-set, Pinch shouted out a message of support to promoter Matt and suggested that everyone should attend the forthcoming punk gigs in Bridgwater and keep the scene alive. I can only echo that sentiment. The usually wacky keyboard player, Monty Oxymoron, appeared to be in a distinctly subdued mood (hiding behind his fish tank and only occasionally peeping over the top), rather than running around the stage and throwing himself around like a mad marionette with its strings cut. A couple of newish songs were aired tonight: Perfect Sunday and Little Miss Disaster, but also an extremely varied selection of back catalogue material with absolutely no filler.
 | | The Damned |
Predictable numbers included their biggest hit Eloise, an extended Neat Neat Neat and Love Song, alongside the risqué Jet Boy Jet Girl, Plan 9 Channel 7 and History of the World, as well as some rare gems like 13th Floor Vendetta, Rabid (Over You), which the Captain informed us was getting only its second live-airing ever despite being over 25 years old and Alone Again Or (originally by Love), which was dedicated to the recently deceased Arthur Lee (from Love) and Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd). The band concluded the set with (a particularly feverish) Smash It Up and left the stage to rapturous applause, only to return a few minutes later to encore with a truncated version of the 17-minute epic Curtain Call, before finally launching into an extended version of my favourite-ever Damned live song I Feel Alright (a cover of the Stooges 1970). By the time it concluded, I was drenched in sweat and grinning from ear to ear. With this, the house lights were switched on and the DJ blasted out the Captain's number-one hit Happy Talk to ensure everyone departed promptly! | 
