Brian James

Best known as a member of first-wave U.K. punkers <a href="spotify:artist:6VeL8VhaMjHTPc5uovFl3h">the Damned</a>, guitarist Brian James has also been a member of <a href="spotify:artist:33EUXrFKGjpUSGacqEHhU4">Iggy Pop</a>'s solo band and the goth punk outfit <a href="spotify:artist:5JEhWD9S2znCiQRiGj2OUk">the Lords of the New Church</a>.

Born in London on February 18, 1955, James was inspired by such early proto-punk outfits as <a href="spotify:artist:4BFMTELQyWJU1SwqcXMBm3">the Stooges</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4WquJweZPIK9qcfVFhTKvf">the MC5</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:0WhGV9lzljq2QKJ8ipw6jx">the New York Dolls</a> early on, leading to his participation in local London bands (one such outfit being the London S.S., which included future <a href="spotify:artist:3RGLhK1IP9jnYFH4BRFJBS">Clash</a> guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:6QFIIkwi4R2erQsIp0TDSb">Mick Jones</a>). By 1975, James had hooked up with fellow newcomers Rat Scabies (aka Chris Miller, drums) and Captain Sensible (aka Ray Burns, bass); resulting in the trio playing alongside a host of varied frontmen, under the names of the Subterraneans and Masters of the Backside.

A year later, the trio had finally found a permanent singer in the form of Dave Vanian (aka David Letts), leading to the formation of <a href="spotify:artist:6VeL8VhaMjHTPc5uovFl3h">the Damned</a>. As part of the burgeoning U.K. punk movement (<a href="spotify:artist:1u7kkVrr14iBvrpYnZILJR">the Sex Pistols</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3RGLhK1IP9jnYFH4BRFJBS">the Clash</a>, etc.), <a href="spotify:artist:6VeL8VhaMjHTPc5uovFl3h">the Damned</a> hold the noble distinction of being the first British punk band to issue a single ("New Rose") and album (Damned Damned Damned), both in early 1977. After the release of a sophomore effort the same year, Music for Pleasure, the group would break up and reunite sporadically. Although James issued an obscure solo single, 1979's "Ain't That a Shame," (which featured <a href="spotify:artist:5NGO30tJxFlKixkPSgXcFE">Police</a> drummer <a href="spotify:artist:4XVxeuUkJRiCYJYdqRpwab">Stewart Copeland</a>), he opted not to pursue a solo recording career.

Up next for James was <a href="spotify:artist:33EUXrFKGjpUSGacqEHhU4">Iggy Pop</a>'s solo band. But, despite playing live with the <a href="spotify:artist:33EUXrFKGjpUSGacqEHhU4">Pop</a> group (which also included original <a href="spotify:artist:1u7kkVrr14iBvrpYnZILJR">Sex Pistols</a> bassist <a href="spotify:artist:6hLKAj2U3e4vfR6FUNB7Yh">Glen Matlock</a> at the time), James never appeared on any of <a href="spotify:artist:33EUXrFKGjpUSGacqEHhU4">Pop</a>'s studio recordings, just such subsequent archival live sets as 1997's Heroin Hates You and 1999's demos/concert collection Nuggets. In 1981, James was ready to put together another full-time band, teaming up with former <a href="spotify:artist:4RjtLUZNqLtMpRKIOaVokc">Dead Boys</a> frontman <a href="spotify:artist:3q963NeNihjI0vYAGLIpjI">Stiv Bators</a> and launching <a href="spotify:artist:5JEhWD9S2znCiQRiGj2OUk">the Lords of the New Church</a>. Although the group issued several recordings together (1982's Lords of the New Church, 1983's Is Nothing Sacred?, 1983's Dance With Me, and 1984's Method to Our Madness), <a href="spotify:artist:5JEhWD9S2znCiQRiGj2OUk">the Lords</a> failed to break through to the mainstream, leading to their eventual split in 1988.

James subsequently hooked up again with <a href="spotify:artist:6VeL8VhaMjHTPc5uovFl3h">the Damned</a> for a series of reunion shows in the late '80s/early '90s, before unsuccessfully attempting to launch a new group, Tanz Der Youth. In the early 21st century, James formed the star-studded Mad for the Racket, along with <a href="spotify:artist:0JGfqnC4eGPGcRh7WL3DQg">Wayne Kramer</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3KEe5d2p5jKihMMvuXVhr1">Duff McKagan</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4XVxeuUkJRiCYJYdqRpwab">Stewart Copeland</a>, and Clem Burke, resulting in the 2001 release, Racketeers. Despite only appearing on a pair of officially released <a href="spotify:artist:6VeL8VhaMjHTPc5uovFl3h">Damned</a> studio albums, a plethora of James-era <a href="spotify:artist:6VeL8VhaMjHTPc5uovFl3h">Damned</a> live and outtake collections reared its head throughout the '90s and beyond: 1990's Peel Sessions #1, 1994's Sessions of the Damned, 1999's Box Set, 1999's Eternal Damnation Live, and 2002's Live: Anthology, among others. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi