Brian James, the influential guitarist and chief songwriter for the British punk band The Damned, passed away on March 6 at the age of 70. Known for his role in igniting the punk rock revolution in Britain in the 1970s, James brought a rare level of musicality to the genre, which was often known for its raw and aggressive style.
His death was confirmed via a post on his Facebook page, though no cause of death or location was provided.
James formed The Damned in London in 1976, alongside Dave Vanian, a former gravedigger and lead vocalist, Captain Sensible on bass, and Rat Scabies on drums. The band quickly became part of the pioneering wave of British punk.
While The Damned did not stir up the same level of societal controversy as bands like the Sex Pistols, who famously mocked the Queen and defied authority, or take on the political activism seen in The Clash, they still made history. The Damned became the first British punk band to release a single, “New Rose” (written by James), in October 1976, followed by their debut album Damned Damned Damned in 1977, and they were the first to tour the United States.
James was a crucial component of the band’s sound, composing most of the tracks on their early albums, including their second, Music for Pleasure, which was released in late 1977. His guitar work garnered praise from Led Zeppelin’s legendary guitarist, Jimmy Page, who was a fan of The Damned.
“We used to call Brian the riff-meister,” Captain Sensible recalled in a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone. “That’s why Jimmy Page was such a fan of the band at the time.”
Writing “New Rose” was an important achievement for James. The song, although a somewhat conventional love song, stood out for its fiery intensity and unique style, redefining rock ‘n’ roll and showing an unrestrained approach to music. British music journalist Dave Thompson described it as “a stunning return to basics which threw every last iota of expertise and experience to the winds.”
Born Brian Robertson on February 18, 1955, in the Hammersmith district of West London, James adopted the surname “James” in 1976 to avoid confusion with Brian Robertson, the guitarist from Thin Lizzy. Growing up in Crawley, a town south of London, he developed an early interest in music, influenced by artists like the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, and British blues guitarists such as Peter Green.
In his mid-teens, James left Hazelwick School in Crawley to focus on music and formed a band called Train, which released the single “Witchi Tai To” in 1969. Later, he was drawn to the raw energy of American punk bands like the Stooges. He formed the hard-edged band Bastard before relocating to Belgium, where they found some success. However, the band broke up upon returning to England, and James joined London SS, a band that included future members of The Clash and Generation X.
London SS didn’t achieve much success, but it led James to his next defining moment when he teamed up with Rat Scabies to form The Damned. The band went on to join the Sex Pistols for a chaotic tour of Britain in late 1976, although many shows were canceled due to the Pistols’ wild antics.
The Damned’s second album, Music for Pleasure, was a rushed effort, produced by Nick Mason of Pink Floyd, a band not typically associated with punk. While the album was critically dismissed, it marked the beginning of changes within the band. Rat Scabies and James both departed soon after, and the remaining members continued with new lineups, touring and recording for years to come.
Following his time with The Damned, James formed Tanz der Youth and later teamed up with Stiv Bators from the Dead Boys to form Lords of the New Church in 1981. The band achieved some success, with songs like “Open Your Eyes” (1982) and a cover of “Live For Today” (1983) earning them airplay on MTV.
James remained active throughout the years, releasing five solo albums and collaborating with a supergroup, Racketeers, in 2001, which included musicians like Wayne Kramer (MC5), Clem Burke (Blondie), Stewart Copeland (The Police), and Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses). In 2022, he reunited with the original members of The Damned for a series of performances in the UK.
James is survived by his wife, Minna, and his son, Charlie.
His legacy lives on, with “New Rose” being covered by bands like Depeche Mode and Guns N’ Roses. In 2020, he was awarded the Vive Le Rock Pioneer Award for lifetime achievement.
Reflecting on the honor in an interview with The Observer, James joked, “They describe me as a pioneer. A pioneer! Does that mean I have to wear a Davy Crockett hat to the ceremony?”
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