THE DAMNED have announced a 40th anniversary performance, via punknews.org. The show will take place at The Royal Albert Hall on May 20, 2016.

Vocalist Dave Vanian stated “Expect the unexpected” for the show. Guitarist/bassist Captain Sensible stated “Anyone informing the snotty bunch of oiks that we were back in ’76 that the band may be playing the Albert Hall 40 years later would’ve undoubtedly been greeted with a prize selection of four letter expletives. The Damned had an surly edge back then… not exactly the urbane gents about town you find us today. How we managed to come through four decades of chaos and destruction is a miracle…. even scattering a few decent records in our wake as we went. Our 40th anniversary show will be a celebration not just of a band but a special time in British music history… the dawn of punk, when seemingly anything was possible if you could strum a couple of chords on a guitar. And if the Albert Hall is good enough for messers Clapton and Wakeman then it’s good enough for us. On the night a fun and varied setlist will shine a light around the darkest corners of the jolly old discography…. can’t wait!”

THE DAMNED are an English gothic punk band formed in London in 1976. They were the first punk rock band from the United Kingdom to release a single (“New Rose”), an album (Damned Damned Damned), to have a record on the UK music charts, and to tour the United States. The Damned later evolved into one of the forerunners of the gothic genre.

They have incorporated numerous styles into their music and image, including: garage rock, psychedelic rock, cabaret, and the theatrical rock of Screaaming Lord Sutch and Alex Harvey. Lead singer Dave Vanian‘s vocal style has been described as similar to a crooner.[4] The Damned have dissolved and reformed many times, with Vanian as the sole constant member. However, the lineups have always included either guitarist Captain Sensible and/or drummer Rat Scabies, who are both founding members. The current line–up includes Vanian, Captain Sensible, Monty Oxy Moron, Pinch and Stu West.