Brian James, the pioneering punk rock guitarist who helped shape the genre with The Damned, has passed away at the age of 70, as confirmed by a post on his official Facebook page.
“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,” the statement reads.
The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Born in London in 1955, James was already touring Europe in his teens with the proto-punk band Bastard. While largely overlooked in the UK, the band disbanded in the mid-’70s, prompting James to return to London.
Upon his return, James formed the controversial London SS with, among others, Mick Jones, who would later become the lead guitarist for The Clash. While the London SS never achieved success, it gave birth to several bands that played a key role in the development of punk rock, including The Clash and The Damned, which James co-founded.
The Damned, initially consisting of James on guitar, Dave Vanian on vocals, Captain Sensible on bass, and Rat Scabies on drums, quickly became one of punk’s foundational acts. Though the Sex Pistols were also emerging at the same time, The Damned beat them to releasing their first single.
In 1976, James wrote New Rose, a single that remains a landmark in punk rock history. With its fast tempo, anarchic energy, and rockabilly-inspired riff, New Rose laid the groundwork for nearly every subsequent punk song.
In early 1977, the band followed up with their debut album Damned Damned Damned, which again featured the majority of James’ songwriting. One track, Neat Neat Neat, became another iconic punk anthem.
However, despite the band’s growing influence, tensions within the band began to surface. The group’s second album, Music for Pleasure, produced by Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason, was a far more divisive release. Written almost entirely by James, the album’s mixed reception and the band’s relentless touring schedule led to James’ growing disillusionment.
By early 1978, The Damned split, though they later reunited that same year. James, however, did not return, only briefly rejoining the band in the late ’80s and again for a tour in 2022.
After leaving The Damned, James demonstrated his musical versatility. He toured with Iggy Pop, collaborated with MC5’s Wayne Kramer and The Police’s Stewart Copeland, played with the Belgian band Dripping Lips, and worked on various film and television soundtracks. He also fronted his own band, the Brian James Gang.
One of his most notable projects after The Damned was his role in the punk supergroup Lords of the New Church, which featured Dead Boys frontman Stiv Bators. While the band never achieved the fame of The Damned, they became an indie favorite in the ’80s.
In a 2022 interview with Louder, James shared his thoughts on his time with The Damned: “We weren’t shouting about anarchy or giving it the big Clash number, but that was never what we were in it for. We just loved music and wanted to play. It was about expression—action, y’know? The fun was a bonus. We might’ve been larking about a bit onstage, but we were still coming up with the goods.”
James leaves behind a legacy as a true pioneer of punk rock and a beloved figure in the genre’s history.
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