RELEASED THIS WEEK: The Damned - Not Like Everybody Else

The Damned were one of the first UK punk bands to release a single, a full length album and tour the US. Being named as one of the bands that pioneered the popularity of punk-rock in the late 70s, alongside ‘The Clash’ and ‘Sex Pistols,’ The Damned are hyperaware of their role in music history and still to this day love to explore and delve into their own influence. Their new album ‘Not Like Everybody Else’ is a cover album that tributes the artists that had an influence on them. 

The interest behind this album, beside it being the first recorded music with re-established original drummer Rat Scabies since 1995, is their return to the concept of covering music and adding ‘their own sound.’ Their first single, “New Rose'’’s B-Side had a fast paced punk cover of The Beatles - Help. It was a statement on how they chose to expand music - and the tones and beats of the new, punk genre - whilst tributing the songs that came before. It pays testament to the idea that no music can have a unique origin, music today wouldn’t be how it is without punk music, punk music wouldn’t be how it is without The Damned and The Damned wouldn’t be who they are without the music previous. It’s a bouncing effect of art to art. 

The interesting thing about The Damned, however, is that their own sound expanded throughout their years, with an up and down history of high turnovers of bandmates due to fall outs, logistics and even a 2 year break, we’re witnessing the first time since the 80s that all founding members of The Damned are playing at once, except for the unfortunately late guitarist, Brian James. The band have stated that they are “Celebrating the Damned’s 50th anniversary - and commemorating the 2025 death of founding guitarist Brian James” with the album Not Like Everybody Else. Let’s go through their track list and see what they’re celebrating and how it sounds with their own twist. It might be fun to see how they define their sound after, throughout the years, dipping into different genres and exploring what they’re capable of. For instance, the band are known as both Punk-rock with their first album ‘Damned Damned Damned’ yet their song ‘Eloise’ is famous as one that helped shape Goth-rock. They have also incorporated elements of theatrical, psychedelic and garage rock.     

Track 1

Covering: R. Dean Taylor - There’s A Ghost In My House

There’s A ghost in my house came out in 1967 and was unfortunately not an immediate hit. However, it became popularised and got re-released in 1974 when it became a popular dance song in Northern soul clubs. A Northern soul club was an underground movement dedicated to 60’s dance music. 

Their version:

The Damned released their cover of There’s a Ghost In My House in October 2025 before making it the opening track of the new album. While the original used the interesting minor guitar riff, it still had an upbeat 60’s motown vibe. The Damned bring up the BPM with Rat Scabies strong drum skills. They don’t choose to change the integrity of the song or make it heavier than it has to be other than the extra guitar solo with a stronger distortion than was likely available when the original was made. 

Track 2 

Covering: Summer in the City - The Lovin’ Spoonful

Released in 1966, Summer in the City was The Lovin’ Spoonful’s fifth single to chart and first and only song to make it to number one. It had a slight rock edge compared to their other lighter sounds - which may be the reason it resonated so strongly with The Damned. Its lyrics also deviate from the average summer song - lamenting the heat and daytime noise instead of praising it. 

Their version:

The opening notes of the original bounce with hints of gothic (remember: Gothic music had not been technically created yet. In this sense I’m referring to soundtracks of gothic films and the techniques and concepts that were later associated with the gothic movement. Likely because 1966 was such a big year for Gothic Horror Films.) with the haunting minor tones before flowing into a summery and catchy major melody. The Damned really lean into this by making that opening guitar extra distorted and changing the backing keys of the verses slightly (I think) to sound minor. 

Track 3 

Covering: Making Time - The Creation

Also released in 1966, Making time was The Creation’s debut single. It's a working class song that details the experience of working in a clock factory and listening to their favourite songs on the radio. It’s notable for playing an electric guitar with a violin bow. 

Their version:

The Damned’s cover of Making Time really adds something extra to the original song with the heavier and more distorted guitars that fit the song, in my opinion, better than the original. That’s not to take away from the genius of the original, it’s just to say that its great to hear music get expanded in this way. The one thing I’ll note is that they didn’t keep the electric guitar played with a violin bow - which gave the song its unique sound. Though the guitar solo in the cover is great, that’s my one gripe with this version. 

Track 4 

Covering: Gimme Danger - Iggy and the Stooges

The Stooges were a big part of to proto-punk movement - the 60’s rock edged music that preceded 70’s Punk (of course, only given this name retrospectively.) Known for it’s chaotic and high energy sounds. Gimme Danger was released on their third studio album, Raw Power in 1973. The song also became the title of the 2016 Jim Jarmusch documentary about The Stooges. 

Their version:

The Stooges have been cited as a major influence for The Damned so you can clearly sense how much they wanted to do it justice. My Favourite part about their cover is the way they managed to do the instrumental and intense ad-libs at the end of the song justice whilst adding their own twist. 

Track 5

Covering: See Emily Play - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd’s psychedelic iconography is widely known as one of the most defining bands in music history. See Emily Play was one of their first non-album singles, released in 1967, which later appeared on their debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. It was written by the elusive Syd Barrett, who founded the band with only a 3 year stint as frontman. He left the band in 1968 due to mental illness and has since, apart from an attempt at a solo career, remained completely private until his passing in 2006. It’s interesting that The Damned have picked a song that was made by the original band members, perhaps seeing reflections of their own story.

Their version:

The Damned’s version of See Emily Play is the first song on the cover album that sounds like a completely different song. The interesting thing is that it feels like they’ve tried to make it sound like later Pink Floyd songs that came out around the same time as The Damned were playing, once they’d found their sound. The Damned version is also notably happier than the original? I know, right? I like it, though.

Track 6 

Covering: I’m Not Like Everybody Else - The Kinks

Another 1966 release, I’m Not Like Everybody Else was the B-side to the Kink’s famous hit “Sunny Afternoon.” It’s non-conformist attitudes fit with the punk ethos. Despite being a b-side, it soon became a favourite and was regularly played at live performances due to people resonating with the frustration in the lyrics.  

Their version:

The title track of the album is clearly the song that resonated with The Damned the most with their anti-conformist lyrics, which is what the punk movement was all about. Their version is the one song on this album that feels like The Damned wants to stand on its own, as opposed to being a cover. Their signature low bass and the strength behind the vocals shares that the band are certainly not like everybody else.

Track 7 

Covering: Heart Full Of Soul - The Yardbirds

Heart Full of Soul was known for being one of the earliest records that used a fuzz-tone to distort the guitar so that it mimicked a sitar - creating a new genre “Raga rock.” The use of the fuzz box eventually, in the 70’s, led to the creation of many milestones in rock and metal. So, it’s a no-brainer that The Damned would choose this as a song to cover. 

Their version:

With such a distinct sounding guitar riff, I wanted to know how The Damned would navigate it. They’ve given it more reverb and distortion, also making it sound echoier. Captain Sensible’s melancholy vocals also fit the vibe of the song - almost makes it sound like the soundtrack of a western cowboy movie.

Track 8 

Covering: You Must Be A Witch - The Lollipop Shoppe 

The name ‘The Lollipop Shoppe’ brings to mind ideas of the mainstream bubblegum pop of the 60’s but are instead a mixture of pschedelia and garage rock. Originally named The Weeds, The lollipop shop released two singles and an album in the sixties. The group broke up in 1969 before returning in 1971 as ‘The Weeds.’ Though none of their singles made the charts, they toured with famous artists such as  Janis Joplin and The Door’s. You Must Be a Witch is still known amongst smaller fanbases for paving the way for punk. One youtube comment posted 8 years ago by @zopf-fr, before The Damned even knew they’d cover this song says “Paved the way for punk. Just listen to this and the Damned 76.”

Their version:

I completely understand why The Damned have chosen to cover this song. It’s probably the least popular on the list but sounds the most like something they would make. I love the staccato of the verses and the growth of the pre-chorus. You can genuinely hear how much the band enjoyed covering this song. They’ve changed the pace of the pre-chorus to be faster. Both are good in their own way, The Damned version kind of gets you more hyped so I can imagine this is going to be great live (if they perform it.)

Track 9 

Covering: When I Was Young - Eric Burdon & The Animals

When I Was Young, released in 1978, has 3 sections which ebb and flow with the story of the song. The band were formed in Newcastle upon Tyne and have a plethora of major hits including their version of traditional american folk song “The House Of The Rising Sun” The mid-to-late 60’s brought around a personnel change for the band which came with a complete sound change. When I Was Young is one of the first of these new sound, psychedelic records. 

Their version: 

A bit like in “Heart Full of Soul” I was interested to see what The Damned do with the distinct riff used in When I Was Young and how it would sound when the song slows and picks up, sometimes sounding like completely different songs. They’ve darkened the bass at the undercurrent and added keys to the main riff and taken out the guitar string bending. 

Track 10

Covering: The Last Time - Rolling Stones

Taking the album full circle, The Damned chose the song The Last Time, which solidifies the concept of the origin and influences of music. The Last Time chorus was inspired by The Staples singers “This May Be The Last Time” which is also a cover of a song that can be traced back to the gospel song recorded by Reverend J.M Gates in 1926, "You May Be Alive, You May Be Dead, Christmas Day." In 2003, Keith Richards, Co-writer of The Last time, alongside Mick Jagger, said: "'The Last Time' ... was basically re-adapting a traditional gospel song that had been sung by the Staple Singers, but luckily the song itself goes back into the mists of time." It’s clear that this was intentional due to the nature of the cover album and the curated tracklist of influential songs and artists. 

Their version:

The Damned add a silly, tongue in cheek spoken ad-lib at the beginning of this song. “Is this the last time?” one band member questions. “I hope.” This could be a reference to the last time recording the song in the studio, the last time the band record music or the last time the band fall out and get back together. 

Conclusion

The band use the music and technology that made them famous and use it to tribute the influences that came before. Their fantastic musicianship creates a new sound with epic guitar solos, Captain Sensibles dark and theatrical vocals and the re-established Rat Scabies chaotic drumming. The late guitarist Brian James is gracefully commemorated in the songs that they make and the love and care that they put into them. 

The Damned were simply a group of working class lads from the UK who loved music and turned it into something special - being one of the major groups to grow the punk revolution. They are currently touring the UK - they will be in Manchester on the 28th of January and I will be begging and screaming for a photo pass. 

You can get tour tickets here

You can buy the album here

As I always say, buy a physical copy if you can and have a great time listening.