The Damned Timeline – Rock Lineage

Overview

The Damned formed in London in 1976 and became a cornerstone of UK punk—credited as the first UK punk band to release a single (“New Rose” in 1976), release a studio album (Damned Damned Damned in 1977), and tour the United States. Wikipedia

Key firsts

First show: 6 July 1976 (100 Club, supporting the Sex Pistols) Wikipedia
First UK punk single: “New Rose” (released 22 Oct 1976) Wikipedia
First British punk studio album: Damned Damned Damned (released 18 Feb 1977) Wikipedia
Early US tour: Spring 1977 (often cited as influential on early US hardcore tempos) Wikipedia

1976–Aug 1977 — Original lineup (founding era)

Dave Vanian — vocals
Brian James — guitar
Captain Sensible — bass
Rat Scabies — drums Wikipedia+1

Era notes: Birth of “New Rose” and the first album cycle. Wikipedia

Aug 1977–Feb 1978 — Second guitarist, then breakup

Dave Vanian — vocals
Brian James — guitar
Captain Sensible — bass
Lu Edmonds — second guitar (added Aug 1977) Wikipedia+1

What changes: The band’s second album era (Music for Pleasure) and turbulence; the group broke up in early 1978. Wikipedia+1

1979–1980 — Machine Gun Etiquette era

Dave Vanian — vocals
Captain Sensible — guitar
Rat Scabies — drums
Algy Ward — bass Wikipedia+1

1980–1984 — Expansion + keys era

Dave Vanian — vocals
Captain Sensible — guitar
Rat Scabies — drums
Paul Gray — bass (joined early 1980), Wikipedia
Roman Jugg — keys/guitar (joins early 80s; becomes major member) Wikipedia+1

Era notes: The band expands into a five-piece and releases early-80s albums including The Black Album (1980) and Strawberries (1982). Wikipedia+1

Aug 1984–1989 Post–Captain Sensible stretch + gothic-leaning era

Captain Sensible leaves in 1984; Roman Jugg moves into lead guitar responsibilities during this period. Wikipedia+1
The band’s mid-80s albums include Phantasmagoria (1985) and Anything (1986). Wikipedia+1

1988–1992 — Reunion activity

The original quartet reappeared for part of a 1988 special show later released as Final Damnation (1989), with additional reunion-era touring into the early 1990s. Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2

1996–2004 — Captain returns; later lineup becomes the modern template

Dave Vanian — vocals
Captain Sensible — guitar
Paul Gray — bass (returns for this era) Wikipedia
Monty Oxymoron — keyboards (since 1996) Wikipedia+1
Drummers rotate through late-90s/early-00s, with Pinch becoming a long-running drummer from 1999 onward. Wikipedia

2017–present – Current-era lineup (with Rat back for recent touring)

Dave Vanian — vocals
Captain Sensible — guitar
Paul Gray — bass (returned 2017) Wikipedia
Monty Oxymoron — keys Wikipedia+1
Rat Scabies returned for recent touring/festival dates (announced for 2024 activity). Wikipedia