I’ll Be Damned, It’s TV Smith
What can be said about The Damned that hasn’t already been said?
Dave Vanian of the Damned - ©dickslaughter.com
They were the first UK punk band to secure a record deal.
The first to release a single. The first to record an album.
The first to appear on television. The first to play the USA.
Dave Vanian of the Damned - ©dickslaughter.com
The list of punk rock firsts goes on. And nearly 50 years later, they remain a prolific touring force, still packing out venues around the world—not bad for a gravedigger and a couple of janitors.
Sadly, a cloud hangs over this tour. A few months ago, the band lost founding member and celebrated guitarist Brian James. His death was a terrible blow to anyone who has loved and followed The Damned over the years. But with heavy hearts, the touring lineup coming to the U.S. is as close to the original as we’re going to get, and they remain every bit the powerhouse on stage.
As someone who’s seen them over 40 times, I can tell you this: The Damned never phone it in. They blow the doors off whatever venue they play and leave the audience stumbling out into the night knowing they just witnessed something rare. On May 30th, they’ll bring it all to the UC Theatre in Berkeley—a fantastic venue for a band like this—and I’ll be there to cover it for In Spite Magazine. With a mix of new material and classic tracks, there’s going to be something for everyone. Of course, we all want to hear “New Rose”—myself included—but The Damned always deliver.
A major highlight of this tour is the addition of another original punk icon: Tim “TV” Smith of The Adverts. Smith is one of punk’s most prolific and poetic voices. From the first time I heard “No Time to Be 21,” “One Chord Wonders,” and “Bored Teenagers,” his lyrics hit me hard—and still do. His voice has always said, “Wake up and look around you.”
The Adverts, formed with bassist and punk icon Gaye Advert, were part of punk’s original explosion. Often overlooked in the histories, they deserve just as much reverence as any of their more celebrated peers. Gaye Advert—before Debbie, before Siouxsie—was the original female face of punk, slinging basslines and attitude that helped define an era. The Adverts were a serious unit of four and left a lasting mark.
After The Adverts ended in 1979, Gaye sold her bass and retired. TV Smith, however, kept going, releasing the criminally underrated “Tomahawk Cruise” with his band TV Smith’s Explorers. It didn’t get the attention it deserved, and the band struggled to gain traction. Still, Smith carried on. At times broke and without a band, he hit the road solo with just a guitar and a train ticket, playing to whoever would listen.
Through it all, he never sold out, never softened, and never stopped writing. His latest album, Handwriting (2024), is as sharp as anything he’s ever done. I picked up a copy from him at the Rebellion Festival, and it’s barely left my truck’s CD player since. TV Smith is still dissecting the world with scalpel-like precision, proving he remains one of punk’s most vital voices.
The Damned will play the Punk Rock Bowling Main Stage - on Monday at 6:05 PM and TV Smith will play Sunday at Backstage Bar & Billiards
Then it’s off to Los Angeles on May 27 at The Wiltern Theatre, followed by Orange County at The Observatory—but that one’s already sold out. Get your tickets while you still can for the remaining dates!
if you’re in the Bay Area, don’t miss them at the UC Theatre on May 30th. This tour is more than a concert—it’s a living, howling piece of punk rock history. Come see it while you still can.
