The crusty old farts of Howard’s History Wars would have us believe that history can be taught as a sequence of chronological dates. In 1976 Margaret Thatcher wrestled control of the British Conservative Party from the insipid leadership of Ted Heath; in less salubrious circles, The Damned released New Rose, subsequently described by Bob Geldolf as one of the seminal punk rock singles.
In 1990 Thatcher was victim of an internal party revolt and lost her iron grip on England; thousands of miles away in South Australia, Dr Sphincter, Nick the Bastard, Lovely Luscious Legs Leanne and Andrew the Annihilator hosted an irreverent community radio show on Triple M.
In 2009 Daniel Poulter headed to Los Angeles to imbibe the sights, sounds and other assorted wonders of the city of angels, where the average entertainment egotist has less grip on reality than the contemporary Maggie Thatcher.
In 2012 The Damned – minus Rat Scabies and Brian James – are still going, celebrating 35 years of razor sharp punk rock riffage with a gothic twist. Dr Sphincter has morphed into Dr El Suavo, an old school magician with a public embarrassment bypass; Daniel Poulter has returned to Australia and formed a new band, Kill City Creeps, to explore his glistening Seeds-esque garage-psych melodies.
Kill City Creeps might just be everyone’s next favourite band. Poulter has the spaghetti-leg rock star thing down to a fine art. Every song could be a classic garage track revived and resuscitated into a modern day hit track. Poulter’s three female bandmates are tight and enigmatic, and the licks just keep on coming. La La Blues tells the story of Daniel’s scrambling exit from LA; Wrong Way Street is everything a garage pop track should be. Kill City Creeps will be back.
The Damned are coming off the back of a successful 35th birthday European tour and in top form. Dave Vanian has traded the big hair and Victorian cuffs of yore for a 1920s slick-back and city suit; with his de rigueur uniform of red beret and white-rimmed sunglasses, Captain Sensible looks the same snotty punk he always was. There’s a guy on keyboards who looks like Aunty Jack, and who who’s on a quest to win the 2012 rock’n’roll liturgical dancing championship.
It’s a largely hits and punk memories set – New Rose, Neat, Neat, Neat, I Just Can’t Be Happy Today, Feel the Pain. Vanian is the suave frontman, outgrowing the theatrics of The Damned’s golden era like an old punk trading lager and crisps for shiraz and caviar. Captain Sensible is as manic as ever, writhing away with adolescent intensity.
The final run home is perfect. Dave Vanian asks if anyone remembers The Young Ones, and we’re given Video Nasty. 1970, Eloise and Smash It Up round up the evening, and we’re all grinning like Cheshire cats on ecstasy.
The night ends with minor farce, with the members of Kill City Creeps ready for a big bash sing-along. Dave Vanian signals the end of proceedings and the gig limps to an awkward conclusion. It’s a frustrating finale, but who really cares.
BY JERZY BELOWSKI
Loved: when Dave Vanian asked the crowd if anyone remembered The Young Ones.
Hated: the obligatory bell-ends in the crowd who don’t know the difference between enthusiasm and aggression.
Drank: a few beers in the park beforehand to usher in the evening.
