The Damned is a punk rock band started in 1976 in London, UK. Despite being… Read Full Bio ↴The Damned is a punk rock band started in 1976 in London, UK. Despite being one of the definitive early punk bands they were also one of the most ambitious; with their later albums moving away from gothic rock to psychedelic rock.

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

Stab Your Back
The Damned Lyrics

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Stab your back
Stab your back
Stab your back
Stab your back
Stab your back
Stab your back
Stab your back
Stab your back

Well, you used to hang around on the rails yeah
You know that was your patch
But there's a brand new kid in town
Never gonna let you gonna live it down

He's gonna stab your back
Stab your back
Stab your back
Stab your back
Stab your back
Stab your back
Stab your back
Stab your back

Well I'm gonna stab your back
You ain't nothing but a dead hag
Now that you're twenty-five
Never gonna live 'till you're twenty-nine

I'm gonna stab your back
Stab your back
Stab your back
Stab your back
Stab your back
Stab your back

Stab your back
Stab your back

Overall Meaning

The Damned's song "Stab Your Back" is a high-octane punk rock anthem that conveys a message of betrayal and revenge. The repetition of the phrase "Stab Your Back" alone sets the tone for the song's aggressive theme. The song opens with the chorus, which features the phrase "Stab Your Back" repeated eight times. The repetition creates an emphasis on the concept of stabbed backs, instantly grabbing the listener's attention.

The song then goes on to paint a picture of a territorial dispute between two punks, one an established veteran and the other an up-and-comer. The older punk, who used to hang around on the rails, has his patch threatened by the younger kid in town. The lyrics indicate that the young punk will do whatever it takes, even if it means backstabbing, to claim the territory. The older punk is therefore warned that his back is not safe.

The lyrics go on to get even more intense as the younger punk explicitly refers to stabbing the older punk in the back. The line "Now that you're twenty-five, never gonna live 'til you're twenty-nine" is a warning that the older punk's time is up, and that he will be eliminated by the younger punk. Overall, the song conveys a feeling of aggression and hostility, as two punks fight for control of their turf.

Line by Line Meaning

Stab your back
Repetition to emphasize the cruel act of backstabbing