From the press release:
February 19 celebrated the 38th anniversary of the release of The Damned’s debut album, Damned Damned Damned. Four Worlds Media with Let Them Eat Vinyl celebrates the UK punk stalwarts with a series of limited and special releases, including remastered reissues, multi-disc live cds, colored double vinyl pressings, and more.
Set for release March 10, Another Live Album From The Damned, (colored double-vinyl released February 10), is a special live album recorded at Manchester Academy during the band’s 2010 tour. It is part of their Graveyard Chronicles series that explores their unreleased and rare recordings. It features twenty-one songs; many rarely seen on the band’s set list. So, Who’s Paranoid was the first new album from the band in seven years on its original release in 2008. Meticulously reworked, this cd reissue (colored double-vinyl released February 10), includes three bonus songs. Finally, Tiki Nightmare: Live In Londoncaptures the band at renowned Shepherds Bush Empire in 2002 while in support of their album Grave Disorder. The band burns through album standouts plus classics “New Rose” (covered by Orange Goblin on Small Stone Records Sucking The 70’s Pt. 2, released in 2006) and “Neat Neat Neat.” The colored double-vinyl set, released February 10, features nineteen songs.
In addition, The Chiswick Singles… And Another Thing is a 24-song vinyl collection that includes A- and B-sides from the band’s years with Chiswick Records. Completely restored and remastered, the colored, double-vinyl set includes career highlights “I Just Can’t Be Happy Today,” “The History Of The World Pt. 2,” “Disco Man,” “Love Song,” and “Smash It Up.” Machine Gun Etiquette is the third album from the band. Far more experimental than their previous recordings, the album blended punk, psychedelia, and pop. AllMusic.com says, “The Damnedbring in a wide variety of touches and influences to create a record that most of their contemporaries could never have approached.” Both saw North American release January 27 on limited-edition colored, 140-gram vinyl. And still to come is the June 30 North American release of the deluxe hard cover, triple-vinyl pressing of The Black Album. “The Damned are one of the greatest bands in rock and roll history, and this album solidifies this reputation,” notes Amazon.com.
“If punk ever had an ideal of doing your own thing, breaking the rules, The Damned embody it,” says Pitchfork. Formed in 1976, The Damned has released ten studio albums and countless additional recordings making them one of the longest running and most successful punk bands of their time. A documentary film by New York-based filmmaker/photographer Wes Orshoski is set to premiere at South By Southwest on March 19. The 110-minute film includes appearances from Chrissie Hynde, Mick Jones, Lemmy Kilmister, members of Pink Floyd, Black Flag, Guns N Roses, Sex Pistols, Blondie, Buzzcocks, and more. Billboard notes it best saying, “sometimes it takes 25 years for a band to get its due respect. While the Sex Pistols and The Clash are usually credited as the seminal English punk bands, it was actually The Damned who put out Britain’s first official punk single (“New Rose,” October 1976). With its machine gun-style guitar riffing, infectious pop hooks, and catchy, anthemic chorus, that two-and-a-half-minute classic is loudly echoed in the poppy punk of Green Day, Offspring, and just about any angst-fueled tune being banged out in a garage today.”
With the longest stable line-up in their multi-decade history, The Damned remain vital, energized, and ready for continued years of anarchy, chaos, and destruction. New dates will commence April 16 in Madrid. For official tour details, visit the band’s official websitewww.officialdamned.com.
