The Damned Announce Huge 50th Anniversary Concert at Wembley 🎉🖤

Well mun, would you look at that—The Damned have only gone and hit the big 5-0! Half a bloody century of punk chaos, vampire vocals, Sensible nonsense, and riffs that could wake the dead. And how are they celebrating? By throwing an absolute monster gig at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on April 11, 2026. That’s right—12,500 rabid punks, goths, rockers and curious normies are about to get their heads rattled. Proper job.

From New Rose to Wembley 🌹➡️🏟️

Let’s rewind for a sec. In 1976, before most of us could spell “punk,” The Damned smashed the doors down with New Rose, the first ever UK punk single. They followed it up with Damned Damned Damned, the first UK punk album, and became the first British punks to conquer America. While their mates in The Clash and Sex Pistols were still faffing about, The Damned were already wreaking havoc.

Now fast-forward fifty years—Dave Vanian’s still a gothic crooner from hell, Captain Sensible’s still winding everyone up in his red beret, and Rat Scabies is back behind the kit after decades away. Add Paul Gray on bass and Monty Oxymoron sprinkling organ madness, and you’ve got the nastiest, classiest 50th birthday party in rock.

The Anniversary Show: What’s Occurring? 🎤🥁

Here’s the juicy stuff:

  • 📅 Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
  • 📍 Venue: OVO Arena Wembley, London (capacity 12,500—bring your pogo boots)
  • 🎶 Line-Up: Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies, Paul Gray, Monty Oxymoron
  • 🤘 Special Guests:
    • The Loveless ft. Marc Almond (expect camp, gothic, glorious drama)
    • Peter Hook & The Light (basslines for days, a Joy Division/New Order throwback you won’t forget)
    • The Courettes (garage-punk fuzz bombs straight outta Denmark)

That’s a bill tidy enough to make even Sid Vicious sober up for the night.

Why Wembley? Why Now?

Because punk doesn’t belong in a cosy pub anymore (though let’s be honest, that’s where the best chaos still happens). This is a statement: 50 years on, The Damned aren’t just survivors—they’re headliners. Wembley will be a goth carnival, a punk history lesson, and a family reunion of the strangest tribe in rock.

And let’s not forget—2025 saw us lose Brian James, the band’s original guitarist and New Rose writer. This gig will no doubt carry a bittersweet undertone as they honour his legacy. Raise your pint to him, mun. 🍻

What to Expect: Setlist Chaos 🔥

They’ve teased a “best-of” setlist, which means we’ll probably get:

  • The immortal New Rose
  • The spooky stomp of Grimly Fiendish
  • The goth grandeur of Eloise
  • A few cuts from 2023’s Darkadelic, because yes, they’ve still got it

And if we don’t get Smash It Up as the encore? I’ll be tamping.

Ticket Info: Don’t Snooze! 🎟️

  • On sale: Friday, June 27 at 10am (pre-sale June 26)
  • Grab them via AEG Presents before they vanish faster than a crate of Red Stripe at a punk afterparty.

Why You Have to Be There 🖤

This isn’t just another reunion cash-grab. It’s The Damned reminding the world:

  • They invented half of what punk became.
  • They’ve kept evolving—from punk to goth to psych to whatever the hell Darkadelic is.
  • They’re still one of the most fun, theatrical, and gloriously unhinged live acts out there.

If you’ve ever worn too much eyeliner, screamed at your mum for nicking your safety pins, or pogoed until your knees gave out—this gig is for you.

Final Thoughts 💀

So here it is, mun: April 11, 2026. Wembley. The Damned. 50 years of glorious chaos. Bring your fishnets, your Docs, and your best attempt at a sneer. This is history in the making—live, loud, and dripping in eyeliner.

See you in the pit, butt. 🤘🩸