Fangbase - Reviews

Academy, Manchester

Wednesday 14th May 2003

Captain Sensible at the Manchester Academy. Dave Vanian in background

Well can this band get any better? The venue was packed probably due to an improving public profile and definatly down to the hard work the band have put in over the last 18 months. Well met loads of fellow Message Boarders they know who they are and they are all top people the friendliest bunch of people you could wish to meet.

Missed the support bands but I am told they were very good. I managed a good position centre front although by the end of the night after being crushed up against the crash barrier I wonder whether it was a wise position to take - well yes it was an excellent place the pain is worth it!

Coolly the Damned walked on Dave said hello, Captain greeted us in the usual manner and we all sang Monty Is A Moron! DISCO MAN was first up followed by JUST CAN'T BE HAPPY TODAY with Monty showing why he is the best keyboard player the Damned have ever had. SEE HER TONIGHT was next its good to hear some of DDD because it sounds as fresh now as it did all those years ago. The rest of the set was (I think) AMEN, 13TH FLOOR, BORN TO KILL, PLAN 9, IGNITE, SONG.COM, STREET OF DREAMS, WOULD YOU BE SO HOT, NEAT NEAT NEAT, BREAK ON THROUGH, NNN (REPRISE) the encore started without Pinch on drums the drummer from the support band fulfilling a life long dream and playing with the DAMNED. Captain greeted him with "who the fuck is that?" The guest drummer played DEMOCRACY with Pinch taking photos and very well he did too. Next up HISTORY OF THE WORLD and it was awesome, I couldn't believe that the band were being nearly drowned out by the crowd singing and again Monty excelled. SHE followed and then ELOISE, I know many disagree with me but I still think this song has taken on a whole new life with this line up and Captain plays a blinder. Finally the inevitable SMASH IT UP and they were gone.

I don't know how they do it but they are still getting better lets hope a decent record company sits up and takes notice because what the world needs now is a new Damned album.

Kevin Ruscoe
Thanks to Kevin Ruscoe for these photos! Thanks also to Steve Final for the headline photo!