The Damned guitarist Brian James dies aged 70 as band members issue heartfelt statements to UK punk star
Brian James, founding guitarist of punk band The Damned, has died aged 70.
The musician, who wrote the first UK punk single New Rose, passed away peacefully on Thursday.
James was a key member of the original line-up that created the band’s groundbreaking 1977 debut album Damned Damned Damned, the first full-length release by a UK punk group.
A statement on James’s Facebook page confirmed: “With his wife Minna, son Charlie, and daughter-in-law Alicia by his side, Brian passed peacefully on Thursday 6th March 2025.”
Record label Easy Action said: “I can confirm that Brian passed away peacefully yesterday with his family present.”
No cause of death has been revealed.
Fellow band member, bassist Raymond “Captain Sensible” Burns, paid tribute on Instagram: “While it’s truly awful our mate has been taken I prefer to celebrate the life… and what a life Brian James had.”
“And looking back I have to say what an absolute gent Brian was… despite having to occasionally endure some pretty appalling behaviour by yours truly he never once lost it with me.”
Born in Hammersmith, London in February 1955, James was instrumental in The Damned’s early success.
The band supported the Sex Pistols on their infamous Anarchy Tour of the UK.
They later played with T Rex on Marc Bolan’s final tour before his death.
James and The Damned released their debut single New Rose five weeks before the Sex Pistols’ Anarchy in the UK.
James left The Damned after the release of their second album, Music For Pleasure, in late 1977.
He went on to form the short-lived Tanz Der Youth before establishing The Lords Of The New Church with American singer Stiv Bators and drummer Nick Turner.
With The Lords, he released songs including Open Your Eyes, Dance With Me, and Method To My Madness.
Following his time with The Lords Of The New Church, James collaborated with several notable musicians including Iggy Pop as part of his touring band.
He worked with The Dripping Lips and formed his own band, the Brian James Gang.
In 2013, he re-recorded his Damned material for a solo album titled Damned If I Do and toured with former bandmate Rat Scabies.
In 2020, James announced alongside lead singer Dave Vanian, drummer Christopher “Rat Scabies” Millar, and Burns that The Damned would reform more than four decades after the band began in 1976.
The original line-up performed together in 2022, marking a significant reunion for the pioneering punk outfit.
The band has continued to tour without James in recent years.
Captain Sensible reflected on their reunion: “When BJ, Rat, DV and myself got back together for The Damned originals shows it was magical in all sorts of ways.”
“We were all up for doing it again too… but that’ll never happen now, sadly.”
He added that the band’s Friday performance in Sao Paulo, Brazil, would be dedicated to James, “without whom The Damned would never ever have happened”.