BREAKING: The Damned founding guitarist Brian James dies aged 70

Brian James, the influential British punk rock guitarist who co-founded The Damned, passed away on March 6, 2025, at the age of 70. He died with his wife Minna, son Charlie, and daughter-in-law Alicia by his side.

A Facebook statement, announcing the death, read: “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 6 th March 2025. “

Born Brian Robertson on February 18, 1955, in Hammersmith, London, James was a pivotal figure in the emergence of punk rock in the UK. As the principal songwriter and guitarist for The Damned, he penned their debut single New Rose, recognised as the first UK punk single. The band’s debut album, Damned Damned Damned, released in February 1977, showcased James’s raw and energetic musical style.

In 2022, more than four decades after New Rose, The Damned’s original lineup reunited for a series of special UK performances. The band performed at the O2 Apollo in Manchester, UK, delivering an electrifying 21-song set featuring tracks from their first two albums.

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Source: Mirror