What Happened to Brian James? The Damned Guitarist & Founder Passes Away

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On March 6, 2025, Brian James, the original guitarist for the iconic UK punk-rock group the Damned, passed away. The news of his demise was shared in a heartfelt message posted on social media platforms.

Brian James passes away at 70

British punk rock trailblazer, Brian James, who was widely recognized for his significant contributions to the UK’s punk scene, passed away at the age of 70. In a heartfelt post on Facebook, it was announced that “we mourn the loss of one of music’s genuine pioneers, guitarist and songwriter, Brian James. As a founding member of The Damned, he penned the first-ever UK punk single, New Rose, and was primarily responsible for the band’s groundbreaking debut album, ‘Damned Damned Damned,’ which dropped in February 1977.

When he passed away, his immediate family – his wife Minna, son Charlie, and daughter-in-law Alicia – were all present with him.

In his twenties, James began mastering the guitar. It was primarily through his role as the primary lyricist for The Damned that he gained significant acclaim. However, before forming this band, he had been part of the early punk ensemble known as London SS.

Reflecting on my early days as a gamer in the music scene, I reminisced about my journey that led me to The London SS in an interview with Peek-A-Boo magazine in 2019. As a guitarist, I recounted, “Before joining The London SS, my band was known as Bastard. We faced numerous challenges traveling across England to secure gigs because of our band name and the type of punk music we played. No promoters were keen on booking us for regular shows due to our moniker and the fact that we weren’t peddling prog-rock or glam music, which was all the rage. We had no fixed abode.

Creating a fresh musical genre and securing its enduring impact proved challenging for James. As he looked back on his journey, he exclaimed enthusiastically, “My band – Bastard – performed in Brussels. We stayed there for about a year and a half. Upon returning to England, I saw an ad in Melody Maker. This ad was placed by two individuals. That marked the start of the London SS movement. It was rewarding to be able to play music and connect with others in London. Lastly, they shared my passion for the same kind of music!

In the early stages of my journey, I stumbled upon what truly ignited my passion – The Damned. Beyond my band endeavors, I’ve also unveiled five solo albums and countless singles to the world.

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2025-03-07 12:45