The Damned Turn Back the Clock at Bearded Theory 2026

After nearly getting the chance to play Bearded Theory in 2020 before the pandemic brought everything to a halt, and then finding themselves absent from the post-COVID line-up, punk legends The Damned finally made their long-awaited debut at Bearded Theory Festival. Taking to the main stage, they delivered a set packed with classic songs, chaotic energy and everything that has made them one of Britain’s most influential punk bands for nearly five decades.

The Damned have now been around for almost 50 years. Formed in 1976, they made UK punk history by releasing the first UK punk single by a British punk band, “New Rose”, in October of that year. The current line-up consists of original members Dave Vanian (vocals), Captain Sensible (guitar) and Rat Scabies (drums), alongside Paul Gray (bass, since 1980) and Monty Oxymoron (keyboards, since 1996). Their music and imagery blend classic punk, post-punk and gothic influences, creating a style that remains instantly recognisable to this day.

Starting strongly with “Love Song” from their 1979 album Machine Gun Etiquette, Paul Gray’s dirty Rickenbacker bass tone immediately set the tone for the mayhem about to unfold. The crowd barely had time to catch its breath before Captain Sensible shouted the classic punk countdown, “1, 2, 3, 4!”, launching straight into the album’s title track. From that point onwards, it was classic song after classic song.

The Damned went on to perform three covers during the middle of their set: “Gimme Danger” by Iggy and The Stooges, their iconic version of “Eloise” by Barry Ryan, and “Happy Talk” by Richard Rodgers. Each one had the crowd singing every word back at the band, creating one of those festival moments where the connection between audience and performers becomes impossible to ignore.

The band then returned to their own material, including one of their biggest songs, “Neat Neat Neat”. The front of the crowd immediately erupted, with punks old and new pogoing together as the pit burst into life. It was a reminder of just how timeless these songs remain.

After “Neat Neat Neat”, The Damned followed up with “1 of the 2” from their 1980 album The Black Album. Earlier in the set they had already performed fan favourite “Wait for the Blackout”, but the atmosphere reached another level when Dave Vanian delivered the famous introduction: “…is she really going out with him?”

As Rat Scabies began hammering the drums, the crowd instantly recognised what was coming next. Their debut single, “New Rose”.

The mosh pit exploded. Fans sang every lyric, every word and every syllable back to the stage. Nearly 50 years after its release, “New Rose” still carries the same intensity and urgency that helped define British punk rock. It remains not only one of punk’s most important songs, but one of the most influential tracks in British music history.

How do you follow that? With their legendary cover of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit”.

Transforming a psychedelic 1960s rock anthem into a gothic punk classic should not work nearly as well as it does, yet The Damned have made the song entirely their own. Decades after first recording it, their version remains just as powerful and captivating.

Then came the finale.

The band closed with another iconic single, “Smash It Up”, sending the entire arena into celebration. Beginning with its familiar clean intro, the song slowly built anticipation, even as the pit continued moving. Then Rat Scabies cracked his snare drum and everything exploded into life. The stage, the crowd and the atmosphere all surged together as the song launched into the fast-paced punk attack that has made it a fan favourite for generations.

It was the perfect ending to a fantastic performance. Nearly 50 years after they first emerged from the UK punk scene, The Damned proved they have lost none of the energy, attitude or stage presence that made them legends in the first place. For those gathered at Bearded Theory, it was a chance to witness one of punk’s most important bands doing what they have always done best: smashing it up.

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