The Damned Under the Covers at Albert Hall
- Paul Dixon
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Manchester Albert Hall - 29th January 2026
WORDS STEVE GLEAVE / IMAGES PAUL DIXON
The Damned came to Manchester for a special one off show in tribute to recently departed original guitarist Brian James and to launch the newly released album Not Like Everybody Else.
For the sold out crowd at Albert Hall the new record served as a true litmus test for their nights enjoyment as ten of the 17 songs performed were from the January album release. Whether everyone in the audience were fully aware of this intent wasn’t clear and although Jon Robb, who was acting as DJ for the night, provided a fantastic setlist; the fact that he was behind the mixing desk meant that the crowd were also faced with an empty stage from the 7pm opening to when the band charged through R Dean Taylor’s There’s a Ghost in My House, over two hours later.
The delay didn’t seem to detract in any way from the rapturous applause awaiting The Damned on their entrance and the anticipation this generated. The ten tracks, in the same chronological order of the album, followed with an explanation that they had been chosen from a list provided by Brian James widow, of his favourite songs by other artists. It is an admirable eclectic mix of tracks including numbers from The Stooges, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Syd Barrett’s Pink Floyd, The Kinks and The Rolling Stones that the band, as they have done with covers in the past, completely make their own.
Brian James original band mates, drummer Rat Scabies, singer Dave Vanian and former bassist now lead guitarist Captain Sensible all seemed to be completely energised by the new songs and were fully supported in this euphoria by bassist Paul Gray and Monty Oxymoron on keyboards. Vanian’s vocals particularly on There’s a Ghost in My House were outstanding but Captain Sensible’s guitar playing especially on lost 60’s classic, The Creations Making Time, highlighted how much these new songs have opened up new pathways for The Damned and also how underrated the Captain is as a guitarist.
The audience were also treated to a further seven songs encore including two tracks from the bands first album Damned, Damned, Damned. Along with their most famous cover Eloise these two songs; 1 of the 2 and Feel the Pain resulted in some of the crowd recapturing their youth by violently cannoning into other pogo dancers. They’ll be feeling their dancing legs the following morning, though I’m sure it will be with no regrets.
As for other possible disappointments, there were isolated shouts of ‘play something we know’ and discontented murmurs of ‘when are they playing ‘New Rose’, ‘Neat, Neat, Neat’’ but the majority of the crowd seemed to leave having thoroughly enjoyed the gig and perhaps realising that they had seen something special. Hopefully not for The Last Time.
SET LIST
1. There’s a Ghost In My House
2. Summer In The City
3. Making Time
4. Gimme Danger
5. See Emily Play
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
11. I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)
12. 1 Of The 2
13. White Rabbit
14. Feel The Pain
15. Eloise
16. Disco Man
17. 1970
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