The Damned classic line-up reform for ‘first and final’ time in 35 years

For the very first and final time in 35 years, UK punk rock legends The Damned are bringing their classic line-up down under for an Australian tour.

The reassembled line-up of Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies and Paul Gray will perform in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide before wrapping up the tour at Perth’s Astor Theatre on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

The Damned will perform the highlights from their seminal albums, Machine Gun Etiquette, The Black Album and Strawberries, as well as fan favourites like Neat Neat Neat, New Rose and more.

“It seemed like the right time,” said 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 album and chuck in all the other classics. Paul’s playing great (just did the Professor and the Madmen album thing with him), as is Captain and Dave’s singing great too so it’s going to be amazing to be back.”

Released in October 1976, New Rose is recognised as the very first single by a punk band, coming out five weeks before the Sex Pistols’ Anarchy In the UK. They were also the first British punk band to tour the United States, inspiring the first wave of west coast hardcore and punk.

The Damned play Astor Theatre on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Tickets are on sale Thursday, December 7 from metropolistouring.com