The Damned To Release Tribute Album Honoring …

British punk legends The Damned have revealed plans for their upcoming album Not Like Everybody Else, which serves as a tribute to their founding guitarist Brian James, who passed away in March 2025. The album, set to be released on January 23, 2026, not only serves as a farewell but also as a heartfelt homage to one of the key figures in the band’s history.

Produced in just five days at Revolver Studio in Los Angeles, Not Like Everybody Else brings back together the iconic lineup of The Damned, featuring Dave Vanian on vocals, Captain Sensible on guitar, Rat Scabies on drums, Paul Gray on bass, and long-time keyboardist Monty Oxymoron. This reunion of the original band members, with Rat Scabies rejoining his mates after 40 years, rekindled the passion and creativity that characterized the band’s early days.

Lead singer Dave Vanian shared, “This record was born from love, grief, and celebration. Brian’s energy was the catalyst that started everything for The Damned. We wanted to honor that by reconnecting with the rawness and spirit of those early days.” The album pays homage to the music that influenced both The Damned and Brian James, with a fiery start on R. Dean Taylor’s There’s A Ghost In My House, the album’s leading single.

Not Like Everybody Else also features covers of iconic songs like Pink Floyd’s See Emily Play, The Animals’ When I Was Young, and The Kinks’ I’m Not Like Everybody Else, from which the album derives its title. Concluding the record with The Last Time by The Rolling Stones, the album includes a touching appearance by Brian James from his last live performance with The Damned at Hammersmith, remixed for this release.

The release of Not Like Everybody Else coincides with The Damned’s 50th anniversary, celebrating their pivotal role in the British punk scene. Their groundbreaking debut single New Rose and the album Damned Damned Damned set the stage for their enduring influence on punk rock. To commemorate this milestone, the band will perform a special covers show at Manchester’s Albert Hall, featuring tracks from Not Like Everybody Else alongside classic covers from their impressive career.

Additionally, The Damned are scheduled to host a grand 50th anniversary concert at Wembley’s OVO Arena in April 2026, with an eclectic lineup of guests, including The Loveless (featuring Marc Almond), Peter Hook & The Light, and The Courettes. Brian James, as the band’s original guitarist and primary songwriter for hits like New Rose, is credited for shaping the early sound of British punk rock.

Reflecting on James’ impact, Captain Sensible expressed, “Brian was the spark — the chaos and the class. We all owe him everything. This record isn’t about looking back with sadness, it’s about celebrating what he gave us and how alive that music still feels.” Not Like Everybody Else stands as a testament to the legacy of The Damned and their enduring presence in the rock music scene.