THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

273-The Damned-New Rose.

1976-It failed to chart on it’s initial release, but did make Number 81 when re-issued in 1986.

Best Bit-At 0.19. This song is generally accepted as the very first British Punk Rock single.

The Damned were formed in London, England, in 1976 by Dave Vanian. (born David Lett) (lead vocals) Brian James, (1955-2025) (born Brian Robertson) (bass guitar) Captain Sensible, (born Raymond Ian Burns) (guitar) (see also best songs 833) and Rat Scabies (born Christopher John Millar) (drums.) Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, and Rat Scabies had all previously been members of ‘Masters of the Backside’ who were an early Punk Rock Band managed by Malcolm McLaren, (1946-2010) (see also best songs 751-576-92 and 27) another member of that group was Chrissie Hynde, who would later go on to be the lead singer of The Pretenders. Prior to joining The Damned, Brian James had been a member of the Pub Rock outfit ‘London SS,’ whose other members included Mick Jones, who went on to form The Clash, and Big Audio Dynamite, (see also best songs 867-638 and 294) and Tony James who would join the Punk band ‘Chelsea,’ before finding further success with Generation X, and Sigue Sigue Sputnik (see also best songs 163.) In total there have been 21 official members of The Damned come and go, and at the time of writing they remain active, with David Vanian being the bands one constant. The Damned started out life as a leading light in the fledgling Punk Rock scene, but over the course of time they also became recognised as one of the first ‘Gothic’ Rock bands, with lead singer Dave Vanian’s baritone singing, dark lyrics, and vampire-themed costume, being a major influence on the Goth subculture.

The discography of The Damned includes 12 studio Albums released between 1977-2023, and 48 singles released between 1976-2023, there are also five extended plays, (EP’s) four box sets, 28 official compilation Albums, and 22 live Albums available. In the UK, nine of their singles have reached the top 40, with their 1986 cover version of ‘Eloise’ (see also best songs 515) peaking the highest at Number 3. ‘New Rose’ failed to chart in the UK when first released in 1976, and was later re-issued as the follow up single to ‘Eloise’ in 1986, and this time it peaked at Number 81. The only one of their releases to chart in America on Billboard is their 1987 single ‘Alone Again Or,’ which reached Number 50 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

‘New Rose’ was the first of two singles released from ‘Damned Damned Damned,’ which was the debut studio Album released by The Damned from February 1977, the song was written by Brian James, with the production being by Nick Lowe. ‘New Rose’ is considered to be the first British ‘Punk Rock’ single, from the first full length Album released by a British Punk group. The majority of the Album, and ‘New Rose’ was written by Brian James who would also write the bands second Album ‘Music for Pleasure,’ before leaving the band at the end of 1977. Brian James was born Brian Robertson on February 18th, 1955, in Hammersmith, London, England, he died on March 6th, 2025, at the age of 70, the cause of death has not been shared. After leaving The Damned in 1977, he would go on to release five solo Albums, six solo singles, and one extended play (EP) between 1990-2017, he also released music as a member of ‘Tanz Der Youth,’ ‘Lords of the New Church,’ ‘Dripping Lips,’ and the ‘Racketeers.’

‘New Rose’ was produced by Nick Lowe, who was born Nicholas Drain Lowe on March 24th, 1949, in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, he is a singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. As a music producer Nick Lowe earned himself the nickname ‘Basher,’ which was inspired by his supposed instructions to bands to ‘bash it out, we’ll tart it up later.’ In 1976 he became an in house music producer at ‘Stiff Records,’ which was where he teamed up with The Damned.’ He also produced the first five studio Albums by Elvis Costello between 1977-1981, including the single ‘Oliver’s Army’ (see also best songs 836.) Nick Lowe has released 14 solo studio Albums between 1978-2024, and 23 singles between 1976-2011. In the UK he has had three top 40 solo hit singles, with ‘I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass’ peaking the highest at Number 7 in 1978. He has written songs that have been hits for others, including (‘What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding,’ for Elvis Costello, ‘I Knew the Bride (When She Used to Rock ’n’ Roll’) for Dave Edmunds, (1977-UK Number 26) and ‘Milk and Alcohol’ for Dr Feelgood (1979-UK Number 9.)

At the very start of ‘New Rose’ David Vanian says ‘Is she really going out with him,’ this is a tribute to the ‘Shrangri-Las’ 1964 classic ‘Leader of the Pack’ (see also best songs 833.) ‘New Rose’ is about the emergence of a new scene, a new fashion, a new culture, and of course a new genre of music that was happening in 1976, which was to be coined ‘Punk Rock,’ a term previously used by American Rock critics in the early 1970’s to describe the mid-1960’s ‘Garage’ bands. Brian James has explained the songs meaning, ‘Everyone thinks New Rose is about a girl or a new relationship, but it’s not. It was about this emerging scene, this lovely buzz that you’d never dreamed could possibly happen. It was like, I’d got my own Swinging 60’s, that sorta vibe.’

‘I got a feeling inside of me, it’s kind of strange like a stormy sea. I don’t know why, I don’t know why, I guess these things have got to be.’