The Damned

On 5 April 2026 The Damned play at Melkweg in Amsterdam. Formed in 1976 in London, the band are among the pioneers of British punk. With “New Rose” they delivered the first British punk single; shortly afterwards came their debut Damned Damned Damned, and as one of the first punk bands they toured the United States. Singer Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible have been the constant presence over the years, while the sound shifted from raw punk to gothic rock, post-punk and a dark, theatrical pop approach.

On stage they continue that trajectory: early songs alongside material from Machine Gun Etiquette (1979) and Phantasmagoria (1985), without losing the drive that propelled them from the start. The set delves into different periods, making audible how the group has repeatedly reinvented itself without abandoning its foundation.

Almost fifty years after their beginnings, The Damned remain active and in motion. At Melkweg that long history comes together in a performance that places past and present side by side and demonstrates how the repertoire still works, from punk roots to the more cinematic, nocturnal atmospheres of their later work.