Hold onto your spiked leather jackets, kiddies, because the godfathers of British punk are officially dusting off the cobwebs, rebooting the chaos engine, and proving that age is just a number—specifically, 50, which apparently means it’s time to cover “Summer In The City” without a trace of irony. 🤘
In a move that has absolutely nothing to do with funding a lavish retirement home in the countryside (we promise), THE DAMNED have finally unleashed the lead single from their upcoming covers album, “Not Like Everybody Else”. And because nothing screams “punk rock anarchy” quite like a 1966 bubblegum pop hit, they’ve decided to reinterpret THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL‘s classic “Summer In The City”. 🏙️ Because obviously, the gritty, nihilistic fury of 1976 was just a misunderstood longing for sticky asphalt and ice cream trucks, right? The band claims this cover heightens the song’s “gritty urban edge,” which is music journalist code for “we played it fast and loud so nobody realizes we’re covering a song their grandparents slow-danced to.” It’s raw, it’s energetic, and it captures the heat of the city—mostly from the friction of old punks trying to relive their youth. 🔥
Now, let’s talk about the recording process, because apparently, THE DAMNED have discovered the concept of “speed” for the first time since 1977. 🚀 They slammed this album together in a “blistering five days of emotion and creative fire” at Revolver Studio in Los Angeles. Five days! That’s roughly the amount of time it takes Rat Scabies to untangle his drum kit from the 80s. This album marks the triumphant return of drummer Rat Scabies to the studio after a 40-year hiatus—which we can only assume involved a complex nap schedule and possibly a dispute over who gets the last biscuit. 🍪 The lineup—Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies, Paul Gray, and the delightfully named Monty Oxymoron—are reconnecting with the “raw energy that started it all.” Or, as we call it, the energy required to remember where they put their picks. 🤔
But wait, there’s a heartwarming backstory! 🥹 The album is a tribute to the band’s late guitarist Brian James, who passed away last year. It’s the first time in 40 years the band has been in the studio together, which is a touching way to say, “We only call each other when there’s a遗产 involved.” The album kicks off with R. Dean Taylor‘s “There’s A Ghost In My House”—which is also the working title for the band’s tour bus bathroom situation. 👻 They’ve also included PINK FLOYD‘s “See Emily Play” and THE ANIMALS‘ “When I Was Young.” It closes with THE ROLLING STONES‘ “The Last Time”, featuring Brian James himself, recorded at his final shows. It’s a powerful farewell, lovingly remixed so you can actually hear the bass over the sound of dentures rattling. 🎸
To celebrate this monument to “we’re still here,” THE DAMNED are doing a few one-off covers shows. 🎟️ Yes, you too can pay an extortionate amount of money to see them play other people’s songs in Manchester (Jan 28, 2026), Paris (Feb 1, 2026), and Cologne (Feb 3, 2026). It will be an “unforgettable night,” mostly because your knees will hurt from standing that long. They’ll be performing tracks from “Not Like Everybody Else” alongside fan-favorite covers. Because nothing unites a crowd like shouting along to lyrics written before the lead singer was born. 🤷♂️
Coinciding with their 50th anniversary—yes, **FIFTY** years, let that sink in while you feel your own mortality creeping in—this album is a “heartfelt homage.” 🎂 It’s also a testament to the enduring spirit of punk, which has somehow evolved from spitting on the Queen to playing acoustic sets in Albert Hall. Back in 1976, they released the first UK punk single, “New Rose”. Now, 50 years later, they’re releasing a covers album. The circle of life is complete. 🦁
And because one gig is never enough, they’re headlining a massive 50th-anniversary show at OVO Arena Wembley on April 11, 2026. 🏟️ This “milestone celebration” (read: cash grab) will feature special guests THE LOVELESS featuring Marc Almond, PETER HOOK AND THE LIGHT, and THE COURETTES. It’s going to be a night of nostalgia so thick you could cut it with a safety pin. 🤘
Here is the track listing for “Not Like Everybody Else”, or as I like to call it, “Songs Your Dad Used to Play in the Car”:
01. There’s A Ghost In My House (Probably the ghost of Brian James wondering why they’re covering R. Dean Taylor)
02. Summer In The City (Wait, didn’t I just read this?)
03. Making Time (To cash these checks)
04. Gimme Danger (Finally, something that makes sense)
05. See Emily Play (Psychedelic nonsense, classic)
06. I’m Not Like Everybody Else (The irony is delicious)
07. Heart Full Of Soul (And knees full of gravel)
08. You Must Be A Witch (To keep going this long)
09. When I Was Young (Which was a very, very long time ago)
10. The Last Time (We hope not, but the ticket prices suggest otherwise)
So, there you have it. THE DAMNED are back, they are old, they are loud, and they are covering the Lovin’ Spoonful. If that doesn’t scream “punk rock,” I don’t know what does. 🖤
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
