Brian James | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) James performing in 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Brian Robertson |
| Born | (1955-02-18)18 February 1955 Hammersmith, London, England |
| Died | 6 March 2025(2025-03-06) (aged 70) |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1974–2025[1] |
| Labels |
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| Formerly of |
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Brian James (bornBrian Robertson, 18 February 1955 – 6 March 2025) was an Englishpunk rockguitarist, who was a founding member ofthe Damned as well as ofthe Lords of the New Church.[2]
James was born inHammersmith,London on 18 February 1955.[3][4] He began his musical career in 1973 by forminggarage rock outfit Bastard, which James eventually decamped to Belgium to get gigs as there were few bookings in the UK on account of the band’s name[5]. James went on to play inproto-punk groupLondon SS, alongsideMick Jones, later ofThe Clash. James then co-foundedThe Damned, writing almost all the material on their first two albums (Damned Damned Damned andMusic for Pleasure) before leaving at the end of 1977.[6]
In the following years James formed the short-lived Tanz Der Youth together with Andy Colqhoun on bass,Alan Powell (ex-Hawkwind, ex-Chicken Shack) on drums, andTony Moore (previously ofIron Maiden) on keyboards. They toured withBlack Sabbath on theNever Say Die! Tour and released the single "I'm Sorry, I'm Sorry" / "Delay" in 1978.[7][8] James then played inIggy Pop's solo touring band (1979) and recorded his first two solo singles, "Ain't That a Shame" (1979) and "Why? Why? Why?" (1982), both withStewart Copeland on drums. He also guested onproto punk forerunnersThe Saints' 1982 album,Out in the Jungle.[9]
He would later co-found and play inThe Lords of the New Church withStiv Bators. The band recorded three studio albums and one EP, along with several live albums, from 1982 until their break-up in 1989.[10]
In June 1988, James reunited with The Damned for two shows at The London Town and Country Club UK (now renamedO2 Forum Kentish Town).[11]
Over a decade after his first solo single, he used the time without a band to record his eponymous solo debut album for the New Rose label in 1990. It featured long-time collaboratorsMalcolm Mortimore on drums and Alan Lee Shaw on bass.[12]
From 1992 to 1996, James then played guitar with the Brussels-based band the Dripping Lips. In 1992 he was invited by Scottish vocalist Robbie Kelman to co-write the soundtrack for the filmAbracadabra, directed by Harry Cleven. The subsequent soundtrack album, produced by Kelman, was released in Benelux by EMI/INDISC. The band was composed by Robbie Kelman on vocals, James on guitar, Alan Lee Shaw on bass and Paul Zahl (ex-Flamin' Groovies) on drums. Kelman brought in his friend and record producerJimmy Miller to helm their second album,Ready to Crack. Shaw had moved on to play guitar inThe Damned, and Nico Mansy replaced him on bass.[13]
In 2001, James recorded the albumMad for the Racket withMC5'sWayne Kramer (guitar),Duff McKagan (bass),Stewart Copeland andClem Burke (drums) as Racketeers.[14] Following that, James, together with Dave Tregunna, reformed The Lords of the New Church in 2002–2003 with vocalist Adam Becvare. The lineup recorded the ten-song unreleased CDHang On and toured Europe in spring of that year.[15]
When this incarnation of the Lords was over and done, Brian formed another solo outfit:The Brian James Gang. With Brian James on vocals and guitar, the remaining rhythm section of Dave Tregunna (bass) and Steve Murray (drums), the band was completed by Austen Gayton as additional guitarist. Within a year they released the SingleNew Rose 2006 and a self-titled full-length album.[16]
In 2012, he released a solo acoustic albumChateau Brian with former Lords of the New Church touring keyboard player Mark Taylor.[17] In 2013, he revisited the material he played in his Damned years, both live by performing throughout the UK with Damned bandmateRat Scabies and by re-recording nine Damned songs for his third solo album,Damned If I Do.[18] In 2015 he released a new studio album,The Guitar That Dripped Blood, which features guest appearances fromCheetah Chrome and Adam Becvare.[19]
In October 2022, James reunited with Scabies, Sensible and Vanian for five Damned shows in the UK.[20]
James died on 6 March 2025, at the age of 70.[21]
