British band The Damned, formed in 1976 with The Clash and Sex Pistols, was considered the founder of punk music. Some, including Motörhead’s Lemmy, believed they were “the only real punk band”.
The Captain Sensible frontman spoke to Music 101 ahead of the band’s New Zealand tour next month.
“Actually I’m really going to go” – Listen to the full interview with Captain Sensible here duration14′:41″
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‘Actually I’m really going to go’ – listen to the full interview with Captain Smart here
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Captain Sensible said that his name was “rather ironic” and that he got it because of his actions in his time.
He said they “set each other on fire” with a lighter, and in one incident he lost his eyebrows in a bar.
“It’s basically punk rock, isn’t it?”
Captain Sensible said that he still feels like a “juvenile delinquent” and that mentally you’re still the age you were when you joined the group.
Although the “carcass” at the age of 69 keeps telling him to slow down.
Captain Sensible, real name Raymond Burns, said the Covid-19 pandemic has been tough, perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise to give his body a break.
“The years of quarantine were quite difficult for me, because I lived in a bubble for the last 40 years.
“I’ve been on the road and the only world I really know is to take the guitar out of the case and jump on stage, sound check, hit the bar, it’s just a nocturnal existence. You go to bed around 4 or 5 o’clock. in the morning you get up the next day and do it all over again.
“It’s just been my life, so not being able to do it was a little difficult, so I was really in a big hurry.”
Captain Sensible said that the band have played in Europe and the UK but are now touring the world.
“There is no better job in the world than standing on stage with an incredibly loud amplifier.
“Needless to say, I’m a bit deaf and I’m too vain to go for a hearing aid, so I watch people’s lips to figure out what they’re really saying.”
The Damned play next Friday 2nd June at Powerstation in Auckland and Saturday 3rd June at San Fran in Wellington.