Dave Vanian of The Damned. Photo by Chyrisse VNT_1273- — Dave Vanian of The Damned. Photo by Chyrisse.

By Vlad T, Rock At Night, Journalist, Detroit and Chyrisse Tabone, Photographer Rock At Night Tampa

Live Review: The Damned with The BellRays – The Majestic Theatre, Detroit – May 6, 2025

The UK’s the Damned are widely acknowledged as releasing that country’s first punk single with 1976’s supercharged anthem ‘New Rose.’ You could say the track’s impact launched a thousand ships, as numerous new bands—both then and now—were inspired by its high-paced sonics work and vocal abandon. However, to declare the outfit as only punks would be to marginalize the band’s ensuing, influential imagery and success in genres other than punk.

Tuesday night at the Majestic saw the band treat Detroit to a reminder of how varied its back catalog is, encompassing ’Rose’ as well as punk-era favorites such as ‘Neat Neat Neat’ and ‘Smash It Up,’ along with mid-80s ‘goth’ and mildly psychedelic material such as the sterling, romantic yet rocking covers of ‘Eloise’ and psychedelic chestnut ‘Alone Again Or’ from the band’s commercial peak in America.

Captain Sensible of The Damned. Photo by Chyrisse

Throughout the different eras of the band, frontman Dave Vanian has proven to be influential vocally and visually on the genres the group explored, most prominently goth rock. Judging from Tuesday’s show, his youthful baritone and physical condition, sartorial resplendence, and movement on stage suggest maybe there’s more to his famous vampiric resemblance than meets the eye. Barnabas Collins, anyone?

Having founding members guitarist Captain Sensible and drummer Rat Scabies back in the band re-energized the material from the early days back in the band, and the duo, along with longtime bassist Paul Gray and keyboardist Monty Oxymoron, vigorously exercised the evening’s ambitious set with moments of punk thrashing and psychedelic/baroque flourishes worthy of the Zombies and Stranglers.

Paul Gray of The Damned. Photo by Chyrisse.

As a reminder of the group’s relevance, the set also included a track from the recent release Darkadelic, ‘Beware of the Clown,’ that casts a warning about the sociopaths in politics on both sides of the pond, as well as an ironically timed performance of ‘Wait For the Blackout,’ an early single that first saw release in Spain (which is recovering from its own national blackout last week).

Setting the stage for the evening were the Bellrays, garage rock/soul veterans from California, highlighted by powerhouse frontwoman Lisa Kekaula and guitarist Bob Vennum. The group delivered rousing, soul-soaked rock originals like ‘Heavy Steady Go’ plus a dynamic version of ‘Ball of Confusion.’