The Damned at State Theatre in St. Petersburg, Florida on May 13, 2017. Credit: Photo by Caesar Carbajal
One of Britain’s most beloved punk-rock exports arrives with heavy hearts this week, following the death (and ocean burial) of its founding guitarist Brian James, who wrote and released “New Rose” more than a month before the Sex Pistols gave the world “Anarchy in the U.K.”

While James left The Damned after its second album, Music For Pleasure, he’s still fondly remembered by remaining members including founding member Captain Sensible (aka Raymond Burns, pictured), who said this about James: “A lovely bloke that I feel so lucky to have met all those years ago and for some reason chose me to help in his quest for the music revolution that became known as punk.”

Tickets to see The Damned play Jannus Live in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, May 14 are still available for $40.

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Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...