The Damned - Announce Exclusive Instore Q and A and Signing Events
- Desh Kapur
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Damned
Announce exclusive instore Q and A and Signing Events
For new album:
“Not Like Everybody Else”
Third single "Summer In The City" out 16th January!
Album out 23rd January 2026, on earMUSIC
One-off covers shows announced in Manchester 28th January, Paris 1st, February and Cologne 3rd February 2026.
The Damned are heading out around the UK in support of their forthcoming album "Not Like Everybody Else” with a series of instore appearances and signings at UK retail in its week of release. The album is the first new recordings featuring the classic line up Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies and Paul Gray since 1982’s "Strawberries” record , performing alongside longtime keyboard player Monty Oxymoron. The album honours founder member Brian James with a selection of songs he would have been influenced by when forming the band in 1976. Appropriately the last venue on the run is Resident in Brighton, where Brian had lived and is buried.
The dates are as follows:
Friday 23rd January:
Rough Trade London East Q and A and signing hosted by Phil Alexander
7pm
Saturday 24th January:
HMV Birmingham Bullring Instore signing 12-2pm
Rough Trade Liverpool Q and A and signing hosted by Phil Alexander 7pm
Monday 26th January:
HMV Manchester instore signing 1-3pm
Thursday 29th January:
Resident Brighton Q and A and signing hosted by Pat Gilbert 6pm
The Damned announced the release of “Not Like Everybody Else”, a deeply personal and celebratory covers album – dedicated to the memory of Brian James, the band’s legendary founding guitarist, who passed away on 6th March 2025. Recorded in a blistering five days of emotion and creative fire at Revolver Studio, Los Angeles, the album finds The Damned – Dave Vanian on vocals, Captain Sensible on guitar, Rat Scabies on drums, Paul Gray on bass and joined by longtime keyboardist Monty Oxymoron – reconnecting with the raw energy that started it all. “Not Like Everybody Else” marks the first time in 40 years that Rat Scabies has returned to the studio with the band.
Kicking off with R. Dean Taylor’s “There’s A Ghost In My House” and moving through classics like Pink Floyd’s “See Emily Play” and The Animals’ “When I Was Young”, the album closes with a powerful farewell: “The Last Time” by The Rolling Stones, featuring Brian James himself, recorded at the last shows he played with The Damned, including the last performance at the O₂ Academy in Birmingham and lovingly remixed for this release.
To celebrate the album, The Damned will play one-off covers shows at Albert Hall, Manchester on 28th January 2026, Bataclan, Paris on 1st February 2026 and Essigfabrik, Cologne on 3rd February 2026 performing songs from “Not Like Everybody Else” alongside fan-favourite covers that marked their career. It will be an unforgettable night honouring Brian and the band’s shared history.
Set to coincide with The Damned’s 50th anniversary celebrations, “Not Like Everybody Else” is a heartfelt homage, and a testament to the enduring spirit of one of punk’s most pioneering bands. The band will also be performing songs from the album exclusively live on BBC Radio 6.
50 years of The Damned also means 50 years of punk, with the explosion of 1976 hitting a half century. The band jump started the revolution, releasing the first UK punk single in “New Rose” and album “Damned, Damned, Damned”. Brian James wrote that debut single and was lead songwriter on the album. He left the group after the release of their second album, “Music For Pleasure” in 1977.
The band have since earned an ever-expanding fan base fueled by legendary live shows. Their dark lyrics and David Vanian's rich baritone vocals also catapulted The Damned to the forefront of the Goth-Rock genre.
The Damned have also announced a special 50th anniversary show at OVO Arena Wembley on Saturday 11th April 2026, marking five decades since the band first exploded onto the scene as one of the founders of British punk rock. The milestone celebration will also feature special guests The Loveless featuring Marc Almond, Peter Hook And The Light and The Courettes.
THE DAMNED
Not Like Everybody Else
Album Release: 23rd January 2026
Summer In The City
Single Release: 16th January 2026
Formats:
CD Digipak
1LP Gatefold (black, 180g)
Ltd. Rainbow Sparkle 1LP
Gatefold (180g)
Tracklisting CD/LP:
Side A:
1. There’s A Ghost In My House
2. Summer In The City
3. Making Time
4. Gimme Danger
5. See Emily Play
Side B:
6. I’m Not Like Everybody Else
7. Heart Full Of Soul
8. You Must Be A Witch
9. When I Was Young
10. The Last Time