THE DAMNED Announces Return Of Drummer RAT SCABIES, December 2024 U.K. Tour

THE DAMNED have announce a huge 12-date U.K. tour for December 2024, bringing their 1980s lineup back together with the return of Rat Scabies.

David Vanian, Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies and Paul Gray will play shows across the U.K. next year, the first time this lineup has played together in 35 years, since 1989. The band will open in Newcastle and finish up at London's Roundhouse, a significant venue in their long-standing career. Tickets go on general sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 24. AEG presale is available on Thursday, November 23.

This tour welcomes Scabies back to the stage, who has rejoined the band for tours, festivals and more in 2024. One of the original founding members, THE DAMNED drummer Scabies puts it simply: "Be careful what you wish for."

Revisiting the music from THE DAMNED's 1980s lineup, audiences can expect songs from "Machine Gun Etiquette", "The Black Album" and "Strawberries", as well as THE DAMNED fan-favorite tracks like "Neat Neat Neat", "New Rose" and more.

47 years after releasing their groundbreaking debut, "Damned Damned Damned", THE DAMNED released their twelfth studio album "Darkadelic" earlier this year, reaching the Top 10 in the U.K. albums chart.

THE DAMNED 2024 tour dates:

Dec. 04 - Newcastle - NX
Dec. 05 - Glasgow - Barrowlands
Dec. 06 - Manchester - Academy
Dec. 08 - Leeds - O2 Academy
Dec. 09 - Nottingham - Rock City
Dec. 10 - Wolverhampton - Civic at The Halls
Dec. 12 - Bristol - Beacon
Dec. 13 - Southampton - O2 Guildhall
Dec. 14 - Eastbourne - Winter Garden
Dec. 16 - Cambridge - Corn Exchange
Dec. 18 - London - Roundhouse

The greatest surviving British punk band, THE DAMNED formed in 1976, releasing the first-ever U.K. punk single "New Rose" over 45 years ago. Considered one of the greatest songs from this period, "New Rose" brought focus on the burgeoning punk scene before any other group.

THE DAMNED have an illustrious and extensive history, beginning in 1976 with "New Rose" and with the release of their debut album "Damned Damned Damned" the following year. Produced by Nick Lowe (Elvis Costello, Graham Parker),it was the first full-length album released by a British punk band and included their now most-streamed song "Neat Neat Neat".

After dropping "New Rose" and its B-side, a sped-up cover of THE BEATLES' "Help", THE DAMNED were asked by THE SEX PISTOLS to be an opening act for the famous and ill-fated "Anarchy Tour Of The UK" in 1976. Alongside THE CLASH and JOHNNY THUNDERS & THE HEARTBREAKERS too, the band hit the road, but most of the dates were canceled by organizers or local authorities, making it one of the most infamous tours in rock 'n' roll history.

Shortly after releasing their debut record in February 1977, THE DAMNED went on to support T.REX on what would be their final tour before Marc Bolan's tragic passing later that year. Bolan was famously a big fan of THE DAMNED and invited them on tour himself.

Soon after the T.REX shows, THE DAMNED became the first U.K. punk band to tour the United States and play the renowned venue CBGB. Their spectacular performance at CBGB fully inaugurated the punk scene in America, sparking a revolution for many who attended that memorable first show Stateside.

THE DAMNED's original 1976 lineup played its first show together in more than 30 years in October 2022 in London, England. Joining Scabies for the 21-song set were Vanian, Sensible (on bass) and Brian James (on guitar).

The English rockers first announced their reunion tour in 2020, with dates slated for the following year. However, the shows were later postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and moved to late 2022.

THE DAMNED 2024 are:

Dave Vanian - Vocals
Captain Sensible - Guitar
Rat Scabies - Drums
Paul Gray - Bass
Monty Oxymoron - Keyboards