They are notable for being the first of the British punk bands to release a single, put out an album, and tour the United States. Their debut album, Damned Damned Damned, was released six months before The Sex Pistols' debut, Never Mind The Bollocks.
The Damned have dissolved and reformed many times, with singer Dave Vanian remaining the sole constant. They have incorporated many styles in their music, most notably garage rock, psychedelic music, the British theatrical rock of Screaming Lord Sutch and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, and New Romantic.
In addition to serving as inspiration for many of the young bands who created hardcore punk in the US, The Damned are also generally regarded as one of the founders of goth music.
Original members Dave Vanian (David Lett), Captain Sensible (Raymond Burns), and Rat Scabies (Chris Millar) were all members of the semi-legendary Masters of the Backside which included future Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde.
Original guitarist Brian James (Brian Robertson) was a member of the early punk band London SS, a unit that never played live, but whose members later found fame in bands including The Clash and Generation X. Rat Scabies was also tried as the drummer for London SS, but was rejected.
Maintaining the goth connection, between 1996 and 2004 the bass guitarist of the Damned was one-time the Sisters of Mercy / the Sisterhood / Gun Club member Patricia Morrison. Morrison married Dave Vanian in 1996 but left the band after the birth of their daughter Emily. She originally joined the band after bassist Paul Grey was injured during a concert.
Discography:
Damned, Damned, Damned – February 25, 1977 (# 36)
Music For Pleasure – November 18, 1977
Machine Gun Etiquette – November 2, 1979 (# 31)
The Black Album – October 20, 1980 (# 29)
Strawberries – October 1, 1982 (# 15)
Phantasmagoria – July 15, 1985 (# 11)
Anything – December 5, 1986 (# 40)
Not of This Earth – November 11, 1995 (Retitled I'm Alright Jack & The Beanstalk in the UK, Germany and Sweden)
Grave Disorder – August 21, 2001
So, Who's Paranoid? – October 28, 2008
Evil Spirits – April 13, 2018
Darkadelic - April 28, 2023
Anything
The Damned Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sacrifice my soul for anything, anything
I gotta clear this town
No sense in hanging around
Cause anything anything anything
Is better than this
Where can the action be
Cause anything anything anything
Is better than this
I am the wicked boy
Who takes your favourute toy
Or anything anything
You show me someone
Who doesn't want no fun
Or anything anything anything
Is better than
I could never be
What you need in me anything
I could never be
What you see in me anything
I can take alot
I'll just take a shot at anything
What you got
I'll make my girl scream
I'll be her love machine anywhere
Anyway
She only wants my tricks
But we do have our kicks
At anything anything
Is better than this
I'm out of control
Sacrifice my soul for
Anything anything anything
Is better than this
I could never be
What you see in me anything
I could never be
What you see in me anything
The Damned's song Anything is an upbeat and energetic tune about a desire for excitement and fun, even at the sacrifice of one's own soul. The lyrics suggest a restlessness and dissatisfaction with one's current situation, with the singer tearing into their clothes and wanting to "clear this town." For the singer, anything is better than their current state of ennui.
The song takes on different perspectives, with the singer describing themselves as both the one who takes others' favorite toys and the one who cannot be what someone else wants or needs. Ultimately, the song is about the desire for pleasure and gratification, with the singer wanting to make their girl scream and be her love machine anywhere. Despite the whimsical and fun tone of the song, there is an underlying sense of cynicism and unhappiness with oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
I tear into my clothes
I am so desperate and uncomfortable that I am willing to destroy the very things that cover and protect me.
Sacrifice my soul for anything, anything
I am willing to give up my very being for the chance at something better.
I gotta clear this town
I need to get out of here, I need to go anywhere else.
No sense in hanging around
There is no point in staying around here, everything is dead and unfulfilling.
Is better than this
Anything, no matter how dangerous or unhealthy, is better than this miserable existence.
Where can the action be
Where is the excitement and stimulation that I crave?
To fill this need in me
To satisfy the deep, insatiable hunger that I carry inside me.
I am the wicked boy
I am dangerous and unpredictable, a force to be reckoned with.
Who takes your favourute toy
I will take anything you hold dear, just to feel the pleasure of control and possession.
You show me someone
If you find me someone who does not want to have fun,
Who doesn't want no fun
Someone who is not interested in having a good time,
Is better than
I will leave them be, because anything is better than being around someone who is no fun.
I could never be
I know myself too well to believe that I can change.
What you need in me anything
I will never be what you require, anything and everything.
What you see in me anything
Whatever you see in me, I cannot be that for long.
I can take alot
I am strong and can tolerate a great deal of pain and suffering.
I'll just take a shot at anything
I'll try anything, take any risk, for even the smallest chance at something better.
What you got
I want whatever you have, even if it is not enough to satisfy me.
I'll make my girl scream
I am willing to use and manipulate others, even those closest to me.
I'll be her love machine anywhere
I will give her what she wants, as long as satisfies my own needs as well.
She only wants my tricks
She is not interested in me, just in what I can give her for a short time.
But we do have our kicks
We find pleasure in each other's mutual use and abuse.
I'm out of control
I am unable to regulate or restrain my own impulses and desires.
Is better than this
Anything, anything, is still better than the dull, empty life I am leading now.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROMAN JUG, BRYN MERRICK, CHRISTOPHER JOHN MILLAR, DAVID VANIAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tense99
This is the only band I can think of that went through such dramatic change musically without sucking.
deeppurplefan96
@MadDrBob I dont see how "I think you missed "without sucking" was a dig on the bands.
It is the same as implying someone is short sighted for liking something, thereforce it was a dig on the person and not on the band.
MadDrBob
@deeppurplefan96 it was a dig on the bands, not you. I'm trying to be apologetic here. Have a nice day.
deeppurplefan96
@MadDrBob I didn't ask for your dogmatic opinions, nor do i care about them.
MadDrBob
@deeppurplefan96 I don't care much for Depeche Mode, and New Order was about the worst band I've ever seen. I do like Weller, and some of Killing Joke's output, though.
Excuse the snark, it's all subjective. Nothing personal.
deeppurplefan96
@MadDrBob Actually, i didn't.
pineapplepeanuts
How am I just now discovering this band?????? And I thought I knew goth.....I am ashamed. This is fucking awesome. \m/
lazytedrocks
Started as one of THE first UK punk bands. Check out Damned Damned Damned and Machine Gun Etiquette. Then Black Album and Strawberries.
Skip Music for Pleasure. Only 3 good tracks, Problem Child, Politics, and Stretcher Case
Frontman Video
You need to get the Damned album "Phantasmagoria" which is where they fully embraced the whole goth thing. A strong album from start to finish. They've always had the goth overtones throughout their whole career though. Moreso in these later years. Their album "Grave Disorder" from 2001 is a perfect blend of everything. One of my favorite Damned albums.
BarakaResurrection
Better late than never! ;)