The iconic punk rock guitarist Brian James has tragically died aged 70. James was a founding member of The Damned, as well as The Lords of the New Church, and will be remembered as a “pioneer and true gentleman.” He wrote almost all the material on The Damned’s first two albums, “Damned Damned Damned” and “Music for Pleasure“, before leaving the group in 1977.
A statement posted on his Facebook account read: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of the true pioneers of music, guitarist, songwriter, and true gentleman, Brian James.
Born in London in 1955, James, was, by his teens, already touring Europe with a hard-nosed, proto-punk band by the name of Bastard. Mostly ignored in the UK, Bastard would dissolve by the mid-’70s, leaving James to return to London. Once back in his home city, James formed – with, among others, Mick Jones, later lead guitarist for the Clash – the controversially named London SS.
Though never successful in their own right, the London SS would spin off multiple bands that played an incalculable role in shaping what would come to be known as punk rock – the aforementioned Clash, and the Damned, which James would eventually co-found after the London SS.
Comprised originally of James on guitar, Dave Vanian on vocals, Captain Sensible on bass, and Rat Scabies on drums, the Damned got their start shortly after the Sex Pistols, but beat the Pistols to the punch in releasing their first single. Written entirely by James, that 1976 single, “New Rose“, is nothing less than a milestone in punk rock history. Relentless in tempo, anarchic in energy, and driven by a haywire rockabilly riff, strains of its DNA can be found in just about every subsequent song with the word “punk” attached to it in any way.
“Founding member of The Damned, writer of the first ever UK punk single, “New Rose”, Brian was the principal songwriter of the band’s debut album, “Damned Damned Damned“, which was released in February 1977. “Parting ways with the Damned following the release of their second album, the Nick Mason-produced “Music for Pleasure”, Brian created the short-lived Tanz Der Youth, before he formed The Lords of the New Church with his friend and fellow rocker Stiv Bators.
Though never reaching the high profile of the Damned, the Lords of the New Church were an indie favourite on both sides of the Atlantic in the early- to mid-’80s.
“In a wave of excitement, headed by the twin powers of Brian James and Stiv Bators, three successful studio albums followed for The Lord of the New Church, spawning singles such as “Open Your Eyes, Dance with Me“, and “Method to My Madness”.
“Always looking for new challenges and keen to work with different musicians, over the years that followed, Brian formed The Dripping Lips and guested on different records, while creating the Brian James Gang and working on his solo albums.
“Incessantly creative and a musical tour de force, over a career which spanned more than six decades, with his music also gracing film and television soundtracks, in addition to The Damned and The Lords of the New Church, Brian worked with a plethora of punk and rock ‘n’ roll’s finest, from Iggy Pop to Wayne Kramer, Stewart Copeland to Cheetah Chrome.
“Most recently, more than four decades after the release of the epoch-making “New Rose”, the original members of The Damned reformed for a series of very special and emotional UK shows in 2022.
“With his wife Minna, son Charlie, and daughter-in-law Alicia by his side, Brian passed peacefully on Thursday 6th March 2025.”
The Fat Angel Sings 