The Damned - Peel Session 1979

[@Andrew-kb4px]

Just to hear how original and forward thinking this was and then realize that it's still the 70's! These Peel Sessions are priceless!

[@mikebryan7060]

Absolutely tremendous recordings. Sad to hear of Algy Ward's death today.

[@patrickbuzzo1970]

😢

[@bighill8272]

Yet another assassinated victim of coNvid-1984?

[@kevinadamson7571]

Been a fan for 40 years and going to see them for first time next week and cant wait. Still got first three albums.

[@VincentRE79]

Were they good?

[@soup_is_good_food5743]

"GOD THIS IS BORING! GOD THIS IS BORING! SACK THE DRUMMER! SACK THE DRUMMER!" I chuckled audibly. I love music with a sense of humor. And then "I'm So Bored" -- the "I Feel Free" ripoff. Heh. Not to mention the "Cars" parody.

[@davecollins9128]

I remember hearing this at the time - absolutely flipped me out!

[@redxross]

Dave Vanian if you're listening out there - I've been quarantined for three weeks but today all I need to be content is an open window and your singing :D

[@tonyajm8289]

They were having a scream doing this and so talented. Brilliant.

[@woody5831]

First saw them in 1979 with Ruts supporting seen them lots over years sad to say haven't seen them do a great show in good 15+ years i love the different lyrics on cant be happy

[@derekrogerson1240]

King George’s hall Blacburn

[@VincentRE79]

This is definitely part of their finest hour.

[@mikebryan7060]

Their best line up and MGE is their all time best album without any doubt. This session is just bloody brilliant.

[@VincentRE79]

@@mikebryan7060 The first album was probably the best, MGE a close second.

[@Shikta-poobah67]

“The best” is always just a matter of opinion. Pure subjectivity. It’s your favorite album, more to the point. That said, there isn’t even any one album that I consider my favorite. There’s a three album run, that begins with MGE, through the Black Album, and finally with Strawberries… plus all the intermittent singles, EP’s, and side projects from that period (1979-1982). I could never narrow it down to just one album, no way. During that timeframe, *NO ONE* could touch them. I felt that way about it then, and I still do to this day, over 40 years later.

[@VincentRE79]

@@Shikta-poobah67 Were you not a fan of early Damned circa 78/79?

[@Shikta-poobah67]

@@VincentRE79 I’m a huge fan of that era actually. They’ve been my favorite band for over 40 years. I love all the various different phases and lineups to some degree, even the MCA period and the weird early 90’s lineup with Alan Lee Shaw (live at least). The original lineup with Brian was absolutely amazing. It’s just that the whole ‘79-‘82 period, to me personally was the best of the best. Again, that’s just my personal preference. I’m not stating it as fact for everyone else.

[@daevidharvey7113]

Just fantastic , what a superb execution from a superb band - so many great songs . For those that may have not followed up completely "So, Who's Paranoid?" is quite possibly their finest !!

[@garethjohn6067]

"evil spirits" is the best of the recent albums due to Paul Grey's return.his previous albums having been "the black album" and "strawberries".

[@Shikta-poobah67]

Really? Their finest? Ok then.

[@macthedrummer1]

Rat Scabies Brilliant

[@Zopf-international]

Yeah listen to Rat go go go!

[@ralphchunksoup4234]

Rabid Love ....that shit spreads

[@ralphchunksoup4234]

Lol yes

[@shropshirecca5108]

Their greatest session by a country mile, and one of the top sessions by any group on Peel. Shame the master tape went 'missing' from the BBC...

[@Shikta-poobah67]

I thought that was a different session, from earlier that year? The one with (I believe) Melody Lee and Burglar.

[@Shikta-poobah67]

Actually, now that I’ve had some time to dig through the ol’ memory banks, that ‘missing’ session was from late ‘78, and it was the very first proper recording from the reformed lineup, or rather the MGE lineup (not to be confused with ‘The Doomed’, which featured Lemmy on bass). Vibracobra has generously uploaded that session on to his/her channel, but it’s taken from a cassette recording off the radio. He/she has done a bang up job of cleaning it up. Sounds great. You would almost think it was taken from the original master tape.

[@damnedrover]

Rumour has it that Cliff Richard broke into the BBC late one night and took it for his own personal collection.

[@aarthoor]

Great live band. They always knew how to have a good time! Love the new lyrics here too.

[@LW1962]

Bring back the damned to Edinburgh. Missing these great gigs. Come back Dave. We're waiting...

[@slocamel]

Liar on this session is as good as music gets

[@Shikta-poobah67]

Could’ve done without the extended drum solo, but yes other than that minor complaint it doesn’t get any better.

[@gallows565]

the Rat is one the most underrated drummers of all time :(

[@mikebryan7060]

Undoubtedly the best punk rock drummer of all time.

[@Shikta-poobah67]

Only ‘underrated’ by the rock mainstream. He’s actually rated *VERY* highly by everyone I know, myself included.

[@Demonykann]

Everything that I needed today!!!!! 🖤🖤🖤

[@randasalines6]

Que guay, the damned me alegran la vida! Gracias por colgar esto.

[@sunboy1000]

Thanks for posting

[@arnolddalby5552]

I can be happy in 2019 listening to one of the best bands of the late 20th century with Meatloaf. In the 20th century we used to listen to The Damned and Meatloaf through a 200 watt amp with an 8 band graphic equaliser and massive speakers which was miles better than an iPhone or Galaxy smartphone. In the future a smartphone is smarter than most folk on Earth. Hahaha.

[@Shikta-poobah67]

Never thought I’d see the Damned and Meatloaf uttered in the same breath, much less mentioned with the same level of reverence, but then again this is 2023. This definitely wins the “most bizarre comment” award. Congratulations.

[@jonathannorris8992]

Went to see them back in the early 80’s and they tee always great. Went to see them in Auckland a few years back with a certain amount of trepidation as I didn’t want those memories marred by watching a load of old blokes making a hash of the songs that were backdrop to my youth. Well I shouldn’t have worried, even though I couldn’t get up to the front due to my horrible long COVID they were stunning. And I have to mention what a top bloke capt was for congratulating the young kiwi support act who did look a tad fazed at all these bald pommy blokes bouncing around like maniacs.

[@thirdofaman]

Thank you for uploading.

[@eeeboytvr]

Is it me...I can't just be happy today?

[@georgelee8914]

The damned are original new wave george

[@thedamnedrose6665]

"Bit too old for this game naaaahhh" love them. Thanks for posting!

[@stevehastings5161]

Were all very old & grey now! At least we know how great The Damned is & always will be! In musical history! & our lives!

[@valentin1808]

Terrific

[@FrankFalcon-ey9gw]

Thanx for this

[@AtZero138]

Cassette was.. Gold

[@freddiesmith7821]

Just can't be happy on this is better the album version

[@lastoftheurgents1965]

the bit at the end of Smash it up sounds like be Bop deluxe

[@jamescolekreecanyon]

It does doesn’t it ! Never heard this ending- neat

[@janemillerick9614]

we're all damned. ;)

[@stevenhorn5106]

I remember seeing The Damned for the second time at Middlesbrough Rock Garden. They were doing the Machine Gun Etiquette set. At the end when they came out for the encore Captain Sensible appeared without a stitch on. If you don't know The Rock Garden, it wasn't a big place and I was stood about 10ft from the stage and Captain started peeing on everyone at the front. 😂 The good old days.😊

[@lucapasseroni6371]

they making fun of CREAM with" I'm so glad" chanciing in "I'm so bored" and TUBEWAY ARMY with " are friend electric"!

[@Ngorongoro89]

And too The Specials with "Gangster"

[@iltonwhite]

Cars, not Are Friends Electric mate.

[@Shikta-poobah67]

And if you listen closely to the fade out on Disco Man, you’ll hear Paul break into “Walking On The Moon” by The Police.

[@UltimaThule1968]

Did they actually get Alasdair Ward sober enough to play the bass on that? LoL

[@jonathansutcliffe3401]

i should think he would be sacked for being sober...

[@beefheart1410]

I've owned "MGE" since it's release in 79 but never noticed the guy with long hair sat behind / to the side of Scabies on the above photo from the back of the album sleeve. Is it Lemmy? The guy's profile looks like Lemmy's!

[@lilyjenkins6274]

That guy is named 'Alasdair Mackie Ward' better known as Algy. He's a fantastic bassist, and funnily enough Lemmy was a big inspiration of his!

[@garethjohn6067]

Algy is the guy with the yellow shirt to the right of sensible.i think it is Lemmy behind Mr scabies.

[@patricknicholson9407]

I have NEVER noticed that before! I think it’s Lemmy

[@Zopf-international]

The day after.. In high school..

[@gasutrias9961]

😍

[@Kelly14UK]

This fantastic album would have been even better if these idiots did Smash It Up 1 to 4. Just think how it would have appeared. Apparantly there's a studio of Teenage Dream. The version of Liar on this is fresher and livelier than the lp one.

[@iltonwhite]

Did you know it's Algy playing guitar and Bass on Liar all, Captain contributed was backing vocals?

[@Kelly14UK]

Hey is that right? @@iltonwhite

[@iltonwhite]

@@Kelly14UK It certainly is mate, same on MGE too!

[@iansmith8263]

Don't forget, The Damned were one of Jimi Hendrix's favourite bands; he thought Captain was a superior guitarist to himself.

[@aarthoor]

Um, Hendrix died 6 years before the Damned even formed. And Sensible played bass for the first 3 years.

[@iansmith8263]

@@aarthoor it took 5 long months for someone to take the bait.

[@lookbovine]

You’re thinking of ZZTop.

[@Shikta-poobah67]

I can’t believe there were actually people who took this at face value.

[@jonnyboy5000]

I googled it 😅

[@jonathansutcliffe3401]

tididiy tddididy dee.. mick must have fallen out with damned...

[@ferroxglideh5621]

It's another justice...

[@georgelee8914]

The banned are original new wave George

[@kevcatnip7589]

Poor GARY NUMAN,,, He kind of had the last laugh for thity years......

[@iltonwhite]

Algy was a great bass player, the mix on MGE does him not favours whatsoever!

[@Mistymisterwisty]

I think Captain is on record as saying that Algy recorded practically nothing on MGE. It's nearly all Captain playing bass apart from the Love Song intro and Liar. The album was either all but completed by the time Algy joined, or Sensible thought he could do better.

[@iltonwhite]

@@Mistymisterwisty I know Captan once said that he played the Bass solo in Anti-Pope, but I've not known him say he did anything else Bass wise on the album, he may have wrote some of the lines (eg I just Can't Be Happy, Smash It Up pt 1) But having heard a good few bootlegs of the MGE line up, I'd say it's all mainly Algy on the album.

[@beefheart1410]

Personally, I think the bass sounds great on MGE! I was under the impression that the only track Ward didn't play on was "Smash It Up" as he didn't like it. I understood Sensible plays the bass on that track. Plus, Ward had been in the band for quite some time before they went into Wessex to record the album. I think it's true they had problems with Ward getting smashed a lot but I'm not sure whether this was live, in the studio or both.

[@sharklostworld]

@@Mistymisterwisty according to wikipedia and the back of the album, algy played bass on everything but smash it up (both parts) and just can't be happy today as well as the bass solo on anti-pope

[@Shikta-poobah67]

@@MistymisterwistyI don’t know where or who you heard that from, but it’s a flat out fallacy. No truth to that whatsoever. I’ve had it on very solid sources for many years that Algy, though extremely inebriated (as was characteristic for him), played every single note of bass on that album, with the sole exception of “Smash It Up Pt 1”, which Captain played bass on. However he (Algy) did play bass on Part 2. Yes, the mix on the album isn’t the greatest with the bass, but if you listen closely you’ll hear his trademark style of picking with a steel plectrum. Especially at the beginning of “Love Song”.

[@NameNotAlreadyTaken2]

After finally hearing the orignal version, I think the Offspring did a fine cover of Smash It Up.

[@Shikta-poobah67]

It’s been over two years and still no one has clicked thumbs up on this one. That should tell you all you need to know. 😅

[@NameNotAlreadyTaken2]

@@Shikta-poobah67 Interesting.

[@Amend-nr5wg]

in a gay bar la da da da da dee dee dee dee dee with your back to the wall gay bars!

[@hughbetcha436]

Thanks for the lyrics! 😆

[@garethjohn6067]

The lyrics would not be allowed these crappy pc days.happy innocent days!