The Damned will tour Australia in 2024, the punk, goth-rock icons bringing their classic line-up for one, final run of shows down under.
A storied band who released the first ever punk single – 'New Rose' some five weeks before Sex Pistols' created 'Anarchy In the UK' – The Damned emerged in 1976, quickly becoming mainstays of the burgeoning UK punk scene. They would also be the first British punk band to tour United States.They released a string of albums in the late '70s and throughout the '80s – 1977's debut 'Damned Damned Damned', 1979's 'Machine Gun Etiquette', and 1980's 'The Black Album' (the first to feature the line-up of Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies and Paul Gray).
It is that classic line-up who have recently reformed, after Will Taylor announced his departure from The Damned recently opening the door for original drummer Scabies to return to the fold.
The Damned's most recent album – and their 12th overall – landed earlier this year, titled 'Darkadelic'.
Set to headline concerts in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth in March, this will be the first time Vanian, Captain Sensible, Scabies and Gray have played live together since 1989.
"It seemed like the right time," shares Rat Scabies. "We wanted to do this while we are all still upright, breathing and capable of doing it at a high level and challenge ourselves and each other for the fans.
"We will play the best of 'Machine Gun Etiquette', 'The Black Album' and 'Strawberries' albums and chuck in all the other classics.
"Paul's playing great (just did the Professor And The Madman album thing with him), as is Captain and Dave's singing great too, so it's going to be amazing to be back."
Tickets on sale from 9am (local time) on 7 December.
The Damned 2024 Tour Dates
Wed 20 Mar - The Tivoli (Brisbane)Thu 21 Mar - Enmore Theatre (Sydney)
Fri 22 Mar - Northcote Theatre (Melbourne)
Sun 24 Mar - Hindley Street Music Hall (Adelaide)
Tue 26 Mar - Astor Theatre (Perth)
