Highly influential Punk and post-Punk guitarist Brian James, who co-founded The Damned and Lords of the New Church and many others has died. He was 70 years old. He died peacefully on Thursday, March 6, with his wife Minna, son Charlie and daughter-in-law Alicia by his side. In addition to being the author of the first-ever U.K. punk single “New Rose”, Brian was the main author of “Damned Dmned Damned”, which was released in February 1977. After the second Damned album. Brian created the short-lived Tanz Der Youth, before forming The Lords Of The New Church with his friend and fellow rocker Stiv Bators. Working in bands and producing albums over six decades, he left a mark on punk songwriting that would be emulated and followed forever. RIP. 

GOODBYE TO A PIONEER & A TRUE GENTLEMAN

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of the true pioneers of music, guitarist,

songwriter, and true gentleman, Brian James.

Founding member of The Damned, writer of the first ever UK punk single, New Rose, Brian was the

principal songwriter of the band’s debut album, Damned Damned Damned, which was released in

February 1977. Parting ways with the Damned following the release of their second album, the Nick

Mason-produced Music for Pleasure, Brian created the short-lived Tanz Der Youth, before he formed

The Lords of the New Church with his friend and fellow rocker Stiv Bators.

In a wave of excitement, headed by the twin powers of Brian James and Stiv Bators, three successful

studio albums followed for The Lord of the New Church, spawning singles such as Open Your Eyes,

Dance with Me, and Method to My Madness. Always looking for new challenges and keen to work

with different musicians, over the years that followed, Brian formed The Dripping Lips and guested

on different records, while creating the Brian James Gang and working on his solo albums.

Incessantly creative and a musical tour de force, over a career which spanned more than six

decades, with his music also gracing film and television soundtracks, in addition to The Damned and

The Lords of the New Church, Brian worked with a plethora of punk and rock ‘n’ roll’s finest, from

Iggy Pop to Wayne Kramer, Stewart Copeland to Cheetah Chrome. Most recently, more than four

decades after the release of the epoch-making New Rose, the original members of The Damned

reformed for a series of very special and emotional UK shows in 2022.

With his wife Minna, son Charlie, and daughter-in-law Alicia by his side, Brian passed peacefully on

Thursday 6 th March 2025.