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
The Trip
The Damned Lyrics
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Sing out loud but never prayed
Grimly fiendish wears a coat that's black and long
He doesn't know that it's all wrong
Simply fiendish, a child caught in a grown up world
No lies convince the court
Once a week I could be found on the faces all the frowns
Just for today
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Let me get the story straight
You never gave me a break
It's a case of give and take
You didn't make me good you just painted me green
You made me part of your forgotten dream
Grimly fiendish, we'll send you just where you belong
Where the children can't be found
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Hide and seek, tried so hard and just to find that crime could pay
Just for today
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
Bad lad bad boy
The Damned's "The Trip" describes Grimly Fiendish, a character who appears to be a child trapped in a grown-up world. Grimly Fiendish "plays the game that never plays" and wears a black coat that he doesn't realize is wrong. It's not quite clear what game he is playing or what he's doing wrong, but his childlike innocence conveys a sense of not belonging to the adult world.
The second verse shifts tone a bit, beginning with "Let me get the story straight." The singer seems to be addressing someone who never gave him a break and only painted him green, making him part of a forgotten dream. Grimly Fiendish, we learn in the last verse, will be sent someplace where children can't be found. This could mean a literal interpretation, that Grimly Fiendish will be sent to jail, or it could mean that he'll be forced to grow up and shed his childlike tendencies.
Overall, "The Trip" is a surreal and mysterious song that doesn't give a lot of concrete information. The lyrics leave many unanswered questions, perhaps intentionally so. It's interesting to consider who Grimly Fiendish is and why he's such an outsider in the adult world.
Line by Line Meaning
Grimly fiendish plays the game that never plays
The person referred to as Grimly Fiendish is playing a game that doesn't have rules, so there is no way to win or lose.
Sing out loud but never prayed
Despite singing loudly, Grimly Fiendish has never prayed, possibly implying a lack of belief in organized religion.
Grimly fiendish wears a coat that's black and long
Grimly Fiendish dresses in a customary goth fashion with a long black coat, to match his persona.
He doesn't know that it's all wrong
Despite the look, Grimly Fiendish doesn't realize that he's not conforming to the social norms, which may be a cause for concern.
Simply fiendish, a child caught in a grown up world
Grimly Fiendish retains a child-like essence, unable to fully understand how to navigate an adult world.
No lies convince the court
It is likely that Grimly Fiendish has had dealings with the legal system and lies have not persuaded them.
Once a week I could be found on the faces all the frowns
Grimly Fiendish is receiving negative attention from their peers, perhaps due to their behavior and appearance.
Hide and seek, tried so hard to find that crime could pay
Grimly Fiendish may have a history of engaging in criminal behavior as they consider it being easier due to the risk of being caught.
Just for today
Grimly Fiendish has given in to their desires for one day, possibly hinting at a lapsed moral compass.
Bad lad bad boy
These repeated lines repeat the idea that Grimly Fiendish is not conforming to expectations, possibly to a dangerous extent.
Let me get the story straight
The singer wants to set the record straight when it comes to their relationship with Grimly Fiendish.
You never gave me a break
Grimly Fiendish has not made things easier for the person narrating this song.
It's a case of give and take
The singer doesn't feel that their relationship with Grimly Fiendish was symbiotic; it was more of a one-way street.
You didn't make me good you just painted me green
Grimly Fiendish may have made an attempt to change the singer, but failed to deliver a positive outcome.
You made me part of your forgotten dream
The singer feels like they were part of a delusion or fantasy that Grimly Fiendish had that has now been forgotten.
We'll send you just where you belong
Grimly Fiendish may face repercussions or punishment for their behavior and actions, and the artist doesn't believe they'll be missed.
Where the children can't be found
The place Grimly Fiendish is being sent is meant to be too dangerous or unsettling for children to be around.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRYN MERRICK, CHRISTOPHER JOHN MILLAR, CLIVE THOMAS JACKSON, DAVID VANIAN, ROMAN JUG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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