October 15th 1989 – Leicester University
We had spotted this one in the local paper (The Mercury sometimes did things well ;-)). Naz Nomad and The Nightmares? Who? There was a thing in the 80s which was real fun, where bands would tour under false names. Usually when they wanted to trial out music or just to be pedantic.
We’d got wind that this false name was actually a wheeze of Dave Vanian, The Damned lead singer, the was a messy time for them where Brian James and Captain Sensible had both left the band over the past couple of years and the most recent albums signalled a change of direction from punk to more gothy……..although, to me, The Damned I would grow up to love would be the more punky stuff.
The band was:
- Dave Vanian as Naz Nomad – vocals
- Roman Jugg as Sphinx Svenson – guitars and keyboards
- Rat Scabies as Nick Detroit – drums
- Bryn Merrick as Buddy Lee Junior – bass
Phantasmagoria was the start of the change, which did ok with the “Shadow of Love” and “Grimly Fiendish”. The next album didn’t do ver y well, “Anything”, but I loved it. Ultimately though, The early Damned albums were the best, through 1977 to 1982 with:
- Damned Damned Damned (1977)
- Music for Pleasure (1977)
- Machine Gun Etiquette (1979)
- The Black Album (1980)
- Strawberries (1982)
I wasn’t ready for this music in these years as I didn’t really get into music properly until late 79/80.
The Damned are credited with the first ever punk record, “New Rose” which has such a searing start and aggressive riffs, when you hear it for the first time it’s an immediate WOW or it’s just not your thing……you can guess which way I went!
At this point, I only knew a few songs, but after this concert, I would love seeing them play live in their reincarnations.
A quick word here for a stalwart of The Damned music scene, not someone I know well, but would speak to over the year and he would be an early life character to look back and say “never judge a book by their cover”. His name is Johnno and it’s fair to say my life until now hadn’t really bought me into contact with the like.
He was a friendly, tattooed and pierced to the eyeballs (literally). Geoff had come across him at previous rock gigs and said hello and a nicer fella you couldn’t find!! Genuinely interested in you and a massive Damned fan. He followed them around the country, but was a Leicester lad.
I never really dressed the part, but the beauty with punk (despite what some might think) was that everyone was welcome.
My nice sheltered upbringing in middle class suburbia had just been opened up to realise we are all the same, it was a pivotal moment in my growth in life.
The band themselves for the night were Dave Vanian (Vocals and madness), Rat Scabies (Drums and further madness), Roman Jug (Guitar and keyboard) and Bryn Gun (Bass Guitar).
Captain Sensible had recently split from the band, so it was intriuging to see them back on the road again as Naz Nomad.
Another electric atmosphere, as the lights went down, all of a sudden the riffs opened up and The Damned were on stage firing out “Ignite”. Vanian then ran on stage dressed as a mummy in a flash suit, how he could see, we weren’t sure, but he was a maniac singing and running round.
Absolutely stunning start to a gig and in my Top Ten (probably at number 1 for opening salvos). It was a mix of old and new, although I have no record and can find no record of the set list for the evening….I’ve put down the set list from the night before at Sheffield Leadmills, as I guess it must have been about the same. Not many Damned songs, mainly covers.
All I know is that we were up the front, pogo-ing, pushing and bouncing in one big happy, sweaty mess. Some were stage diving, which again, wasn’t for me, but added a great thing to the atmosphere.
Rat Scabies was the comical bad boy, who received a few boos, cans and derogatory songs…mainly in reasonable test. 😉
I thought at the time, coming out soaked through into a wet old car park….I’ll do that a few more times! As venues go, The Percy Gee building at the Uni was spot on!! Really looking forward now to seeing a full Damned gig…..if they stayed together!!
Set List
- Ignite
- …….and probably something like this….
- Action Woman
- She Lied
- Kicks
- Don’t do it some more
- Oh Yeah
- You must be a witch
- Nobody But Me
- I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)
- Looking At You
- Search and destroy
- Backdoor Man
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