Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
The legendary The Damned recently announced the release of “Not Like Everybody Else”, a deeply personal and celebratory cover album dedicated to the memory of Brian James, the band’s founding guitarist, who passed away on March 6th, 2025. A new extract featuring the cover of “See Emily Play” is now available:
Recorded in five days of emotion and creative fire at Revolver Studio in Los Angeles, the album sees The Damned, Dave Vanian on vocals, Captain Sensible on guitar, Rat Scabies on drums, Paul Gray on bass and joined by long-time keyboardist Monty Oxymoron, reconnect with the raw energy that started it all. “Not Like Everybody Else” marks the first time in 40 years that Rat Scabies has returned to the studio with the band.
With tracks such as R. Dean Taylor‘s ‘There’s A Ghost In My House‘, Pink Floyd‘s ‘See Emily Play‘ and The Animals‘ ‘When I Was Young‘, and the closing track ‘The Last Time‘ by The Rolling Stones, featuring Brian James himself, taken from his last live performance with The Damned at Hammersmith and lovingly remixed for this release.
“Not Like Everybody Else” will be released on January 23rd, 2026 on earMUSIC and is available at this link and in the following formats:
CD Digipak
1LP Gatefold (black, 180g)
Ltd. Rainbow Sparkle 1LP Gatefold (180g)
Tracklist:
1. There’s A Ghost In My House
2. Summer In The City
3. Making Time
4. Gimme Danger
5. See Emily Play
6. I’m Not Like Everybody Else
7. Heart Full Of Soul
8. You Must Be A Witch
9. When I Was Young
10. The Last Time
To celebrate the album, The Damned will play one-off covers show at Albert Hall, Manchester on 28th January 2026 performing songs from “Not Like Everybody Else” alongside fan-favourite covers that have marked their career. It will be an unforgettable night honouring Brian James and the band’s shared history.
Fans who order the album through the Official Album Store starting October 29th will receive early access to release show tickets. In addition, three exclusive 7” vinyl singles featuring previously unreleased B-sides will be available for pre-sale in the store.
Set to coincide with The Damned’s 50th anniversary celebrations, “Not Like Everybody Else” is a heartfelt homage, and a testament to the enduring spirit of one of punk’s most pioneering bands.
50 years of The Damned also means 50 years of punk, with the explosion of 1976 hitting a half century. The band jump started the revolution, releasing the first UK punk single in “New Rose” and album “Damned, Damned, Damned”. Brian James wrote that debut single and was lead songwriter on the album. He left the group after the release of their second album, “Music For Pleasure” in 1977.
The band earned an ever-expanding fan base fueled by legendary live shows, while their dark lyrics and Dave Vanian’s rich baritone vocals catapulted them to the forefront of the Goth-Rock genre.
The Damned have announced a special 50th anniversary show at OVO Arena Wembley on Saturday 11th April 2026, marking five decades since the band first exploded onto the scene as one of the founders of British punk rock. The milestone celebration will also feature special guests The Loveless featuring Marc Almond, Peter Hook And The Light and The Courettes.
