Goth rockers The Damned bring stellar show to Wolverhampton - review with pictures
All credit to the management of KK’s Steelmill for bringing top live bands back into Wolverhampton, a town that has so missed a sizeable and suitable live venue since the demise of the Civic.
This venue rocks and after a brief pause from The Wildhearts on Tuesday, it’s punk royalty The Damned on Thursday.
It’s been 40 years since The Damned released the first single New Rose, and the self-styled 'greatest surviving British punk band' is about to release their most comprehensive collection of songs in a new greatest hits collection.
Those 40 years of performing have honed a super tight sound. The gothic Dave Vanian can sing, Captain Sensible impresses on bass guitar, accompanied by Monty Oxymoron on Keyboards, Pinch on drums and fabulous Paul Gray on bass guitar.
The set kicked off with hit track Beauty of the Beast, followed by the likes of Love Song, and Smash it Up parts 1 and 2 performed in a very different style to the original.
So close to Halloween, a macabre version of Eloise and a stellar rendition of New Rose stood out during the fabulous show.
The night ended on Jet Boy Jet Girl, and the fans - many happy on their own type of 'jet fuel' - flew home happy.
KKs is a sizeable venue with a superb stage and lighting rig. This sold out show hopefully signals more bands from around the country adding Wolverhampton to their gig circuit.
The Damned themselves are off to a sell out gig at the London Palladium on Monday.
Review and pictures by Dave Cox.
