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

Would You
The Damned Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Suddenly, you are twice the man you used to be
Excessive fame in quick death
Would it be different
If he had gone instead
Would you be so hot if you wern't dead?

Famously, you spoke of love philosophy
You're a hypocrite, your

Cruel lack of empathy is long forgot
Would you be so hot if you wern't dead?

Tragically,
There's others better than you, don't you see
Damn the groveling writers
Who disregard your flaws

I have to ask
Would you be hot if you wern't dead?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Damned's song Would You seem to be a commentary on the phenomenon of posthumous fame. The opening lines, "Suddenly, you are twice the man you used to be / Excessive fame in quick death" suggest that the subject of the song has achieved a level of fame and recognition that they didn't have while alive, and that this fame is due to their death. The lyrics then ask the question, "Would it be different / If he had gone instead / Would you be so hot if you weren't dead?" Here, the song seems to be questioning whether the subject's fame would exist if they had simply retired or left the spotlight without dying. Is their fame really about their talent, or is it just because they are no longer around?

The next verses seem to accuse the subject of being a hypocrite who spoke of love and philosophy but had a "cruel lack of empathy" that is now "long forgot." The final verse suggests that there are other artists who are better than the subject, and that some writers and critics are willing to overlook the subject's flaws out of a desire to be associated with their posthumous fame. The final line of the song, "Would you be hot if you weren't dead?" seems to be a direct challenge to the idea that the subject's fame is deserved.

Overall, The Damned seem to be exploring the idea that posthumous fame is often self-serving for those who are left behind, and that it can distort the truth about the person being celebrated. The song is a reminder that true talent and achievement are not defined by death, and that the work and legacy of an artist should be evaluated on its own terms, regardless of whether they are alive or dead.

Line by Line Meaning

Suddenly, you are twice the man you used to be
Your fame and notoriety has increased greatly since your death

Excessive fame in quick death
Your fame happened extremely fast due to your untimely death

Would it be different
What if the situation was reversed?

If he had gone instead
If someone else had died instead of you

Would you be so hot if you weren't dead?
Would you still be as famous if you were alive?

Famously, you spoke of love philosophy
You were known for discussing love and relationships in public

You're a hypocrite, your
However, you were not genuine in your beliefs

Cruel lack of empathy is long forgot
People have forgotten about your history of being insensitive

Tragically,
Unfortunately

There's others better than you, don't you see
There are other people who are more deserving of praise

Damn the groveling writers
Critics who praise you are insincere