Role: Guitar (founding)
Years: 1976–1978; later reunion involvement Wikipedia+1
Overview
Founding guitarist and key early songwriter; widely credited with writing “New Rose,” the first UK punk single. Wikipedia+1
Brian James played in London SS with Mick Jones, later of The Clash. James later co-founded The Damned, writing all the material on the first two albums before leaving in 1977.
In later years, he formed Tanz Der Youth. He then played in Iggy Pop’s solo band in 1979.
He later formed Lords of the New Church with Stiv Bators, ex-Dead Boys, until they broke up in 1989.
From 1992 to 1996, Brian James played with the Dripping Lips
In 2001, James played in the Racketeers.
He reformed Lords of the New Church for 2002-2003.
After that, he formed The Brian James Gang.
In 2022, he played five gigs with The Damned.
Brian James died on March 6, 2025, of unknown causes.