The Damned founding guitarist Brian James dead at 70

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By ( Classic Rock ) published

Brian James wrote much of The Damned's early material as they carved their place in punk rock history

Portrait of Brian James of The Damned, at home, London, 1980.
(Image credit: Erica Echenberg/Redferns)

Brian James, the guitarist who was a founding member of iconic UK punk band The Damned, has died at the age of 70.

His passing was confirmed in a statement posted on his Facebook page today, March 6.

James wrote most of the material for, and appeared on, the first two albums by the Damned – Damned Damned Damned and Music for Pleasure, both released in 1977. Later that year, James left the band but returned for a spell in the 1980s and again in 2022.

“If things are flat and boring and you’re being programmed to be like your grandparents then something’s wrong," Brian told Classic Rock in a story about the early years of The Damned. "Something’s wrong if you’ve gotta spend all your life working for a fucking pittance.

"We weren’t shouting about anarchy – we just loved music and we just wanted to play. It was about expression, action y’know? The fun was a bonus. We might’ve been larking about a bit onstage, but we were still coming up with the goods.”

The statement confirming his death reads: "It is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of the true pioneers of music, guitarist, songwriter, and true gentleman, Brian James.

"Founding member of The Damned, writer of the first ever UK punk single, New Rose, Brian was the principal songwriter of the band’s debut album, Damned Damned Damned, which was released in February 1977.

"Parting ways with the Damned following the release of their second album, the Nick Mason-produced Music for Pleasure, Brian created the short-lived Tanz Der Youth, before he formed The Lords of the New Church with his friend and fellow rocker Stiv Bators.

"In a wave of excitement, headed by the twin powers of Brian James and Stiv Bators, three successful studio albums followed for The Lord of the New Church, spawning singles such as Open Your Eyes, Dance with Me, and Method to My Madness.

"Always looking for new challenges and keen to work with different musicians, over the years that followed, Brian formed The Dripping Lips and guested on different records, while creating the Brian James Gang and working on his solo albums.

"Incessantly creative and a musical tour de force, over a career which spanned more than six decades, with his music also gracing film and television soundtracks, in addition to The Damned and The Lords of the New Church, Brian worked with a plethora of punk and rock ‘n’ roll’s finest, from Iggy Pop to Wayne Kramer, Stewart Copeland to Cheetah Chrome.

"Most recently, more than four decades after the release of the epoch-making New Rose, the original members of The Damned reformed for a series of very special and emotional UK shows in 2022.

"With his wife Minna, son Charlie, and daughter-in-law Alicia by his side, Brian passed peacefully on Thursday 6th March 2025."

No cause of death has been confirmed.

Stef Lach

Stef wrote close to 5,000 stories during his time as assistant online news editor and later as online news editor between 2014-2016. An accomplished reporter and journalist, Stef has written extensively for a number of UK newspapers and also played bass with UK rock favourites Logan. His favourite bands are Pixies and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Stef left the world of rock'n'roll news behind when he moved to his beloved Canada in 2016, but he started on his next 5000 stories in 2022.