When Rat was working at Fairfield Halls, in his pre-music days, he mentions being impressed at popular pianist Mrs Mills, having the audience in the palm of her hand. Fantastic stuff.
Great to see Rat looking and sounding well, That John Peel show December 1976, their first session....Ground Zero for me ...the world was never the same again. Thanks.
Hiya.I had the Peel session of Stiff Little Fingers doing "Suspect Device".Raw stuff on 12" vinyl.Punk just blew the norm into a different world.Motorhead became a fussion of punk and heavy rock at that time.Bands like Floyd and Genesis etc were suddenly old men wearing slippers.Punk was needed.
unexpected and great interview. met the band in the pub after a 'tube' recording back in the day - they were just a tight bunch of mates which was unexpected and excellent. they really made some great music - especially album tracks.
Good band. A bit like the stranglers, they were capable of releasing albums only a couple of years apart that sounded like totally different bands. "neat neat neat" and "curtain call" are so different but both excellent
Loved the Damned since I was a scrawny 15 year old kid and still love them to this day, just a shame the reunion tour didn't come anywhere near me or I would have gone. I'm 60 now and still playing my old damned records.
Cheers for this great interview. Saw, The Damned, back in the day. One of the best bands of the genre[s] and generation. (genre defining) They are probably the band that kick started both British Punk (I think they were the first British Punk band to release an official single?) and they are one of the bands that kicked off the Goth scene. Not too many bands can claim to have made such a mark on 2 genres of music.
Cheers Barry, Swell interview with Rat 👍 . Been a fan since Day 1... First saw the DamneD on your fantasmagoria tour here in the USA. From then on Ive been fortunate to see them over a dozen times. I know the folks in the UK must be beside themselves with their reunion. It really sucks that they won't bring that reunion to the US for us die Hard fans. I hope they release the reunion shows on DVD or vinyl even better
That was great! I happen to be reading Martin Popoff's Damned book at the moment (highly recommended)and I did a bit of touring with the band (not featuring Rat, or Captain for that matter) over the summer. I find their musical journey absorbing and always entertaining. Some eras are stronger than others but there's an embarrassment of riches in the catalog. One of my alltime fave bands. Cheers.
South London in the 80's as a musician still had its Punk, Ska. rock feel and underground thing, I had a crappy bedsit overlooking Fairfield Halls in Croydon. cool seeing bands go in......nice interview ...thanks.
I first met Rat @ The Nashville 78....adverts support didn't play...I was Introduced to Jonnie Moped... Last time I saw him was Respectable St WPB..... .always the showman Top Man, never comfortable with interviews...but quite honest
Seen and followed the damned for years memories of fantastic nights out..rat truly a brilliant drummer..but still got timing absolutely bang on...if he didn't no one cared ..cos its the damned!...met rat in Birmingham in a pub good bloke..he was playing with a band called the germans..with pete connection singing from the godfathers and kris dollimore on guitar..that was a rockin good show!..a very guitar and punk version of kraftwerks autobahn!...many damned shows beyond...great days...all albums are really good some stronger than others obviously...strawberries under valued brilliant tour that was ..scantily clad dancing nuns onstage!!...imagine that now 😳long live the damned!!..Gazzzgrimleyfiendish!!!
great interview, some great anecdotes from rat, the damned are a seriously underrated band, easily as good as the clash in my opinion, probably superior
I was well into The Damned and always turned up to the sound checks in Doncaster Sheffield Leeds and Nottingham, Rat was a real gentleman and used to come for a pint with me and Roman Jugg used to attend also, I used to bring my cannabis collection with me as Rat was also a connosoir of POT and would enjoy having a smoke of some of my more exotic samples with Roman and Rat whilst getting some guitar and organ lessons from Roman, I got the odd drum lesson from Rat also but I was just as much a bad drummer as he was a bad guitarist, nowadays I dont really like The Damned, they sound like a cabaret act when playing the old stuff and the later albums just dont connect with me, plus without Mr Scabies it is just not the same as his drumming and attitude was the more significant part of the band IMO, I bought tickets for the reunion show in Manchester but after the first couple of cancellations I got a refund as I didnt think the shows would ever materialise.
Brilliant.Thankyou.The whole point of "Punk" againt Led Zep was basically "this is boring".Rambling self indulgent non senseSame ad Floyd.Music live should be massive adrelaline released in a couple of minutes.Its a bit like having a massive bonfire that takes a couple of minutes to burn out or trying to make a much smaller bonfire last for hours.Thats the deal.
But rock shows don't all have to be the same energy and atmosphere. They should be allowed to be quiet one moment and loud the next, not constant noise, because that, in my opinion, is boring. A crowd who never stops shouting and screaming and whistling is boring. I'll take a 30 minute Led Zeppelin jam over a 2 minute punk song anyday, and this is coming from someone who loves the aggression and energy of punk - but it can't just be that and nothing else. Post-punk is where it's at.
I am quoting from Kieron Tyler's book 'Smashing it Up: A Decade of Chaos With the Damned' in which he clearly states: "the main ‘New Rose’ riff re-wrote that of the Dolls’ ‘Personality Crisis’"... And Rat was well aware of this comparison
When Rat was working at Fairfield Halls, in his pre-music days, he mentions being impressed at popular pianist Mrs Mills, having the audience in the palm of her hand. Fantastic stuff.
Great to see Rat looking and sounding well, That John Peel show December 1976, their first session....Ground Zero for me ...the world was never the same again. Thanks.
Hiya.I had the Peel session of Stiff Little Fingers doing "Suspect Device".Raw stuff on 12" vinyl.Punk just blew the norm into a different world.Motorhead became a fussion of punk and heavy rock at that time.Bands like Floyd and Genesis etc were suddenly old men wearing slippers.Punk was needed.
@@glennpowell3444 Indeed, music needs another kick up the arse.
Me too.
Rat Scabies likes Live At Pompeii?
Great chat, thanks😂
Rat really is a great drummer! Seen the Damned back in the day and on their first original line-up tour-superb!
Great review Barry, I’m a big Damned fan and a big Rat fan, I’m glad they got on so well. Lovely!
unexpected and great interview. met the band in the pub after a 'tube' recording back in the day - they were just a tight bunch of mates which was unexpected and excellent. they really made some great music - especially album tracks.
Good band. A bit like the stranglers, they were capable of releasing albums only a couple of years apart that sounded like totally different bands. "neat neat neat" and "curtain call" are so different but both excellent
Excellent interview THANKS, he's a straightforward bloke is Rat, a great player, passionate and very professional
✊😊🔥
Loved the Damned since I was a scrawny 15 year old kid and still love them to this day, just a shame the reunion tour didn't come anywhere near me or I would have gone. I'm 60 now and still playing my old damned records.
Same age as me
Cheers for this great interview. Saw, The Damned, back in the day. One of the best bands of the genre[s] and generation. (genre defining) They are probably the band that kick started both British Punk (I think they were the first British Punk band to release an official single?) and they are one of the bands that kicked off the Goth scene. Not too many bands can claim to have made such a mark on 2 genres of music.
Cheers Barry, Swell interview with Rat 👍 . Been a fan since Day 1... First saw the DamneD on your fantasmagoria tour here in the USA. From then on Ive been fortunate to see them over a dozen times. I know the folks in the UK must be beside themselves with their reunion. It really sucks that they won't bring that reunion to the US for us die Hard fans.
I hope they release the reunion shows on DVD or vinyl even better
Great interview Barry and good to see Mr. Scabies who was on fine form. Top bloke 👏
Great to see you, Raticus. Merry Xmas. Regards.
Hoss
Great call out on Family and Caravan.
Great interview - lost their way on later albums but Damned , Damned , Damned and Machine Gun Etiquette remain fabulous reflections of that period
That was great! I happen to be reading Martin Popoff's Damned book at the moment (highly recommended)and I did a bit of touring with the band (not featuring Rat, or Captain for that matter) over the summer. I find their musical journey absorbing and always entertaining. Some eras are stronger than others but there's an embarrassment of riches in the catalog. One of my alltime fave bands. Cheers.
Good ole Rat what an inspiration 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
thanks for all your interviews - they are all enlightening..enjoyed this one v much..keep on keeping on.
South London in the 80's as a musician still had its Punk, Ska. rock feel and underground thing, I had a crappy bedsit overlooking Fairfield Halls in Croydon. cool seeing bands go in......nice interview ...thanks.
I first met Rat @ The Nashville 78....adverts support didn't play...I was Introduced to Jonnie Moped...
Last time I saw him was Respectable St WPB..... .always the showman
Top Man, never comfortable with interviews...but quite honest
Japan supported the dammed many years ago iam a big fan of both bands both extremely versatile musically back then
Really enjoyed that, what an interesting interview. Phantasmagoria is one of my favourite records!
Glad you enjoyed it!
What a top bloke, saw them at Leeds Poly back in the day, how time flies!
Thanks to the way Rat Scabies play drums, Brian James at last found the right groove to his song New Rose
Baz. Another fantastic Interview. Wow
Excellent interview. How about doing an album ranking of The Damned?
Great interview
Seen and followed the damned for years memories of fantastic nights out..rat truly a brilliant drummer..but still got timing absolutely bang on...if he didn't no one cared ..cos its the damned!...met rat in Birmingham in a pub good bloke..he was playing with a band called the germans..with pete connection singing from the godfathers and kris dollimore on guitar..that was a rockin good show!..a very guitar and punk version of kraftwerks autobahn!...many damned shows beyond...great days...all albums are really good some stronger than others obviously...strawberries under valued brilliant tour that was ..scantily clad dancing nuns onstage!!...imagine that now 😳long live the damned!!..Gazzzgrimleyfiendish!!!
Saw them a few weeks back. Excellent
I never thought of the Pink Floyd as prog either, also initially Punk was very eclectic until all the rules started.
Missed opportunity to ask Rat about jamming with Jimmy Page in the early 80s after Led Zep split up and Page was looking to form a new band.
great interview, some great anecdotes from rat, the damned are a seriously underrated band, easily as good as the clash in my opinion, probably superior
@ 7:03 Vindication for Green Day fans from none other than OP (Original Punk) Rat Scabies!
Top Chaps. Both of you 😊
scabies is a great guy and a shit hot drummer...
I was well into The Damned and always turned up to the sound checks in Doncaster Sheffield Leeds and Nottingham, Rat was a real gentleman and used to come for a pint with me and Roman Jugg used to attend also, I used to bring my cannabis collection with me as Rat was also a connosoir of POT and would enjoy having a smoke of some of my more exotic samples with Roman and Rat whilst getting some guitar and organ lessons from Roman, I got the odd drum lesson from Rat also but I was just as much a bad drummer as he was a bad guitarist, nowadays I dont really like The Damned, they sound like a cabaret act when playing the old stuff and the later albums just dont connect with me, plus without Mr Scabies it is just not the same as his drumming and attitude was the more significant part of the band IMO, I bought tickets for the reunion show in Manchester but after the first couple of cancellations I got a refund as I didnt think the shows would ever materialise.
Brilliant.Thankyou.The whole point of "Punk" againt Led Zep was basically "this is boring".Rambling self indulgent non senseSame ad Floyd.Music live should be massive adrelaline released in a couple of minutes.Its a bit like having a massive bonfire that takes a couple of minutes to burn out or trying to make a much smaller bonfire last for hours.Thats the deal.
But rock shows don't all have to be the same energy and atmosphere. They should be allowed to be quiet one moment and loud the next, not constant noise, because that, in my opinion, is boring. A crowd who never stops shouting and screaming and whistling is boring. I'll take a 30 minute Led Zeppelin jam over a 2 minute punk song anyday, and this is coming from someone who loves the aggression and energy of punk - but it can't just be that and nothing else. Post-punk is where it's at.
But the playing was shambolic and maybe that's the point
It was Jet Boy that New Rose supposedly sounded like not Personality Crisis. Interviewer seems a bit clueless.
I am quoting from Kieron Tyler's book 'Smashing it Up: A Decade of Chaos With the Damned' in which he clearly states: "the main ‘New Rose’ riff re-wrote that of the Dolls’ ‘Personality Crisis’"... And Rat was well aware of this comparison
Pete coyne!
And look how much mark perry did 🤕
There is a light at the end of the tunnel......
That was a good book about the Damned from Carol Clerk. Full of great pictures.
great choice
Great interview.