Live Performances Index
2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990
1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980
1979 1978 1977 1976
Naz Nomad & The Nightmares The Phantom Chords Captain Sensible
Selected Miscellany Unresolved issues Site updates
The Damned: Live Performances - 1979
The list of shows for 1979 is believed to include all shows with the exception of the June / July US dates which are still unclear (lists for some years are very much 'work in progress').
Saturday 29 December - Colston Hall, Bristol
Set: Love Song, Second Time Around, I Just Can't Be Happy Today, Plan 9 Channel 7, Noise Noise Noise, Looking At You, Melody Lee, Smash It Up, Help, Stab Your Back, So Messed Up, Neat Neat Neat, New Rose, Problem Child, Feel The Pain, I Feel Alright, Liar, Summer Nights, Ballroom Blitz, Love Song, Pretty Vacant.
Saturday 22 December - Electric Ballroom, London
Set: Love Song, Second Time Around, I Just Can't Be Happy Today, Plan 9 Channel 7, Noise Noise Noise, Melody Lee, Looking At You, Born To Kill, Liar, Smash It Up, Help, Stab Your Back, So Messed Up, Neat Neat Neat, New Rose.
Comments: Support from Security Risk and The Satellites... Splodgenessabounds may also have appeared but do not feature on advertising for the show. More than one attempt at 'Liar' and a short piece of 'Public Image' played following 'So Messed Up'.
Monday 17 December - Eric's, Liverpool
Set: unknown.
Support from Victim.
Saturday 15 December - City Hall, Hull
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from Victim and The Odds. A contributor to this site wrote 'The Damned came on played about 4 songs then there was a bit of a riot, fire extinguishers were set off and the stage was so wet the band couldn't play anymore. The Captain wanted to carry on but wasn't allowed, so Scabies smashed up his drums for us and handed some of it out into the crowd, my mate got a cymbal and stand. He was wankered he'd been wandering around before hand drinking spirits. A good night more memorable than if it had gone to plan.'
Friday 14 December - Porterhouse, Retford
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from Victim
Tuesday 11 December - Colston Hall, Bristol
Set: unknown.
Monday 10 December - The Apollo, Manchester
Set: unknown.
Comment: Support from Victim.
Sunday 9 December - Civil Hall, Wolverhampton
Set: unknown.
Comments: A contributor to this site stated 'The tickets for the gig also stated that Slaughter and the Dogs were on the bill, but they didn't play. The tickets actually had a pencil line crossing out Slaughter's name!'
Friday 7 December - New Theatre, Coventry
Setlist: Love Song, Second Time Around, I Just Can't Be Happy Today, Melody Lee, Plan 9 Channel 7, Noise Noise Noise, Looking At You, Liar, Smash It Up, Help, Stab Your Back, So Messed Up, Neat Neat Neat, New Rose.
Comment: Support from Victim.
Thursday 6 December - King's Hall, Derby
Comments: This show looks erroneous as it did not appear on later tour advertising - possible one of the originally announced gigs that were cancelled because of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' re-mixing commitments.
Wednesday 5 December - St. George's Hall, Bradford
Set: unknown.
Comment: Support from Victim.
Tuesday 4 December - Apollo Centre, Glasgow
Set: unknown.
Comment: Support from Victim.
Saturday 1 December - Friar's, Aylesbury
Set: unknown.
Comments: Gig known to have taken place.
Friday 30 November - The Rainbow, London
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from Victim. Gig ended with some 'exposure' by Captain & Rat, a few seats ripped and thrown by the audience, CS throwing equipment back at the audience.
Wednesday 28 November - Top Rank, Brighton
Set: unknown.
Comment: Support from Victim.
Monday 26 November - Top Rank, Sheffield
Set: unknown.
Monday 26 November - Fiesta, Plymouth
Comments: CANCELLED - Sheffield announced for that date instead.
Sunday 25 November - Top Rank, Cardiff
Set: unknown.
Comment: Support from Victim.
Saturday 24 November - Wirrana Stadium, Peterborough
Set: possibly included: Love Song, Melody Lee, Plan 9 Channel 7, Noise Noise Noise, Stab Your Back, So Messed Up, Summer Nights, Turkey Song.
Friday 23 November - Corn Exchange, Cambridge
Set: possibly included: Love Song, I Just Can't Be Happy Today, Help, Teenage Dream, Ballroom Blitz, Mew Rose, Neat Neat Neat, Pretty Vacant.
Comment: The Misfits sound checked but did not play... leaving the tour.
Friday 23 November - Mayflower, Manchester
Comment: CANCELLED (said to be because of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' re-mixing commitments).
Thursday 22 November - De Montfort Hall, Leicester
Set: unknown.
Comment: Support from The Misfits and Victim. Gig known to have taken place. Demos tape stolen from this venue.
Wednesday 21 November - Tiffany's, Great Yarmouth
Comment: CANCELLED (said to be because of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' re-mixing commitments).
Tuesday 20 November - Unity Hall, Wakefield
Comment: CANCELLED (said to be because of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' re-mixing commitments).
Sunday 18 November - Top Rank, Sheffield
Comment: CANCELLED (said to be because of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' re-mixing commitments).
Saturday 17 November - Essex University, Colchester
Comment: CANCELLED (said to be because of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' re-mixing commitments).
Friday 16 November - Wirrina Stadium, Peterborough
Comment: CANCELLED (said to be because of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' re-mixing commitments).
Tuesday 13 November - Locarno, Portsmouth
Comment: CANCELLED (said to be because of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' re-mixing commitments).
Sunday 11 November - Locarno, Bristol
Comment: CANCELLED (said to be because of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' re-mixing commitments).
Saturday 10 November - University, Nottingham
Comment: CANCELLED (said to be because of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' re-mixing commitments).
Friday 9 November - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
Comment: CANCELLED (said to be because of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' re-mixing commitments).
Thursday 8 November - Tiffany's, Coventry
Comment: CANCELLED (said to be because of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' re-mixing commitments).
Wednesday 7 November - Civic Hall, Digbeth, Birmingham
Comment: CANCELLED (said to be because of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' re-mixing commitments).
Tuesday 6 November - Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes
Comment: CANCELLED (said to be because of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' re-mixing commitments).
Sunday 4 November - Locarno, Bristol
Comment: Rearranged for Sunday 11 November.
Saturday 3 November - Eric's, Liverpool
Comment: CANCELLED (said to be because of 'Machine Gun Etiquette' re-mixing commitments).
Saturday 27 October - The Nashville Pub, London
Set: unknown.
Comments: Pursey's Package (acts produced by Jimmy Pursey) were due to appear but The Damned were announced as replacements - playing as The School Bullies.
Friday 26 October - The Nashville Pub, London
Set: unknown.
Comments: Pursey's Package (acts produced by Jimmy Pursey) were due to appear but The Damned were announced as replacements - playing as The School Bullies.
Sunday 21 October - The Nashville Pub, London
Set: unknown.
Thursday 4 October - xx, England
Set: unknown.
Comments: Although there is info for this gig, it seems highly suspicious. Bad Brains were to tour with The Damned but were not allowed into the UK due to improper paperwork.
Wednesday 3 October - xx, England
Set: unknown.
Comments: Although there is info for this gig, it seems highly suspicious. Bad Brains were to tour with The Damned but were not allowed into the UK due to improper paperwork.
Friday 7 September - Bridge House, London
Set: Love Song, Teenage Dream, Stretcher Case, Ballroom Blitz, Machine Gun Etiquette, Born To Kill, Looking At You, New Rose, Noise Noise Noise, Problem Child, Neat Neat Neat-Summer Nights medley, Jet Boy Jet Girl, Pretty Vacant.
Comments: Appeared as The School Bullies. Supported by the Cockney Rejects and (probably) The 4-Skins.
Tuesday 28 August - The Factory, The Russell Club, Manchester
Set: unknown.
Comments: Intended support was Nightmares in Wax.
Saturday 25 August - Temple More Sports Complex, Derry
Comments: CANCELLED gig that was to have seen The Damned on the same bill as The Clash and The Undertones (amongst others).
Sunday 8 July - Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles, California
Set: Jet Boy Jet Girl, Teenage Dream, Stretcher Case, Great Big Tits, Rich Kids, Born to Kill, Looking At You, New Rose, Suicide, Noise Noise Noise, drum solo (Led Zeppelin), Do You Think I'm Sexy improvisation, Problem Child, Help, Stab Your Back, So Messed Up.
Comments: The Fuck Off And Die show. Support from The Flyboys.
Saturday 7 July - The Cuckoo's Nest, Costa Mesa, California
Set: unknown.
Friday 6 July - Old Waldorf, San Francisco, California (2 Sets?)
Set: Jet Boy Jet Girl, Teenage Dream, Stretcher Case, Ballroom Blitz, Born To Kill, Looking At You, New Rose, Noise Noise Noise, Problem Child, Love Song, Neat Neat Neat, Pretty Vacant, I Feel Alright, No Fun.
Comments: Advertised support - Tuxedo Moon.
Wednesday 4 July - Bookies Club 870, Detroit, Michigan
Set: unknown.
Comments: The Sillies in support.
Tuesday 3 July - El Mocambo Club, Toronto, Canada
Set: unknown.
Tuesday 26 June - Hurrah, New York
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from The Misfits. There were possibly 2 nights at this venue.
xx June - The Bayou, Washington DC
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from Bad Brains - Bassist Daryl was thrown out by the bouncers and the band banned.
xx June - The Showplace(?), Dover, New Jersey
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from The Mad.
Sunday 17 June - Locarno, Bristol
Set included: Jet Boy Jet Girl, Teenage Dream, Stretcher Case, Ballroom Blitz, Second Time Around, Burglar, Born To Kill, Looking At You, Melody Lee, New Rose, Suicide, Noise Noise Noise.
Comments: A contributor to this site says "The set definitely also included 'Problem Child', a cover of Deep Purple's 'Black Night', as well as a cover of 'Pretty Vacant'. The band invited a member of the audience on stage to play drums. Although the crowd was very rowdy, regular disappearances from the stage were not due to audience behaviour. At one point, Captain Sensible just walked off for some time, as he needed to have a shit (so he claimed), and just left everyone in the lurch. At another point, whilst a dry-ice machine billowed out of control, Dave Vanian crawled through a hole under the drum riser, and simply disappeared for some minutes until finally re-appearing from backstage. The whole night was quite chaotic and there was general baiting from The Ruts throughout the Damned's set (although they had done the same to The Ruts). However, both bands came on stage at the end together to perform In A Rut (I think). Auntie Pus also compered and played one or two solo songs between bands. There was another support band as well, the then barely heard of, even in Bristol, 'Vice Squad'. Flyers for the gig stated The Damned, The Ruts, plus 'Local Heroes', so presumably throughout the tour various local band supported. Sensible gave a few of his trademark rants, no doubt including one against Joe Strummer [further comment - a reference to Captain Sensible singing 'I Hate The Clash' at one point during the set]. It goes without saying that Sensible was totally naked for part of the set (many comments were made about his lack of endowment!)".
Saturday 16 June - University, Leicester
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from The Ruts.
Friday 15 June - Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from The Ruts and Discharge.
Thursday 14 June - King George's Hall, Blackburn
Set included: Love Song, Neat Neat Neat, New Rose, Suicide, Noise Noise Noise, Burglar.
Comments: Support from The Ruts, IQ Zero and Auntie-Pus. 'Pretty Vacant' may also have been played with the Captain on drums. A contributor to the site stated 'Captain Sensible did the encore completely nude, as I believe he did on every gig of this tour. Unfortunately, in my humble opinion, even this couldn't save them from being completely outclassed by The Ruts on this occasion'.
Wednesday 13 June - Civic Hall, Digbeth, Birmingham
Set: probably included: Second Time Around, Looking At You, Burglar, Suicide, Love Song, Neat Neat Neat, New Rose.
Comments: Gig known to have taken place. Support from The Ruts. A contributor to this site stated 'As well as the Ruts, Auntie Pus played a few songs and the Dung Beetles also played'.
Tuesday 12 June - Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from The Ruts and Activan.
Tuesday 12 June - Tiffany's, Edinburgh
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from The Ruts.
Monday 11 June - Sheffield, Top Rank
Set: Jet Boy Jet Girl, Teenage Dream, Stretcher Case, Ballroom Blitz, Machine Gun Etiquette, Burglar, Born to Kill, Looking At You, Melody Lee, New Rose, Help, Noise Noise Noise, So Messed Up, Love Song, Neat Neat Neat, Pretty Vacant, I Feel Alright, Overkill, All The Young Dudes, I'm So Bored, I Feel Alright.
Sunday 10 June - Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from The Ruts.
Friday 8 June - Pavilion, West Runton, Cromer
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from The Ruts. Apparently Paul Fox of the Ruts played bass on 'Love Song' after Algy Ward stormed off.
Wednesday 6 June - The Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from The Ruts.
Monday 4 June - Routes, Exeter
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from The Ruts - Malcolm Owen split his head open on a crash cymbal.
Sunday 3 June - Guildhall, Portsmouth
Comments: CANCELLED.
Friday 1 June - Village, Newport (Shropshire)
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from The Ruts.
Thursday 31 May - Winter Gardens, Malvern
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from The Ruts.
Monday 30 April - Moonlight Club, London
Set included: Jet Boy Jet Girl, Ballroom Blitz, Stab Your Back, Noise Noise Noise.
Comments: The band played as The School Bullies. Support from Lightning Raiders.
Sunday 29 April - The Greyhound, Croydon
Comments: Rearranged gig originally intended for 1 April - then rearranged again for 22 April!
Saturday 28 April - Puck Pool Leisure Centre, Ryde, Isle of Wight
Set included: Summer Nights.
Comments: Support from Thin Red Line.
Thursday 26 April - The Sandpiper, Nottingham
Set: unknown.
Comments: Probably supported by The Ruts. Evidence that the gig took place supported by photographs taken at the time. The gig is believed to be the same date as a Nottingham radio broadcast.
Sunday 22 April - The Greyhound, Croydon
Set probably: Jet Boy Jet Girl, Teenage Dream, Stretcher Case, Ballroom Blitz, Problem Child, Burglar, Looking At You, Noise Noise Noise, Love Song, Second Time Around, Born To Kill, Help, Stab Your Back, So Messed Up, New Rose, I Feel Alright, Black Night, Pretty Vacant, Shakin' All Over, New Rose.
Comments: Intended support from The Ruts (The Ruts were also advertised for support to Adam & the Ants at The Lyceum, so it is unclear what is correct). This show had been rearranged twice - originally intended for 1 April and later 29 April.
Saturday 21 April - Witcombe Lodge, Gloucester
Set: unknown.
Thursday 19 April - Troubadour, Port Talbot
Set: unknown.
Wednesday 18 April - Town Hall, High Wycombe
Set: Jet Boy Jet Girl, Teenage Dream, Stretcher Case, Ballroom Blitz, Born to Kill, Burglar, Melody Lee, Problem Child, Looking At You, Love Song, So Messed Up, New Rose, Neat Neat Neat.
Comments: Supported by The Ruts.
Tuesday 17 April - Market Hall, Carlisle
Comments: Intended date that was called off following a local council decision.
Saturday 14 April - Eric's, Liverpool
Sets: unknown.
Comments: Supported by Toyah.
Thursday 12 April - Talk of The Town, Ilfracombe
Set: unknown.
Thursday 12 April - Granny's, Cardiff
Comments: Gig rearranged for 3 April.
Wednesday 11 April - 400 Club, Torquay
Set: unknown.
Tuesday 10 April - Barbarella's, Birmingham
Set included: Jet Boy Jet Girl, Pretty Vacant.
Comments: A contributor to the site wrote 'The night started with Captain Sensible singing Jet Boy Jet Girl (wearing yellow fierman's trousers and a union jack as I recall)' and another 'The place was heaving as it was advertised as the Damned (rather than previous 'Doomed' shows) and the Peel session had been aired for a second time and 'Love Song' was about to be issued.
Wednesday 9 April - Smartyz, Chester
Set: unknown.
Comments: Intended support from Amsterdam.
Sunday 8 April - Lyceum, London
Set: Jet Boy Jet Girl, Teenage Dream, Stretcher Case, Ballroom Blitz, Melody Lee, Suicide, New Rose, Looking At You, Problem Child, Love Song, Born To Kill, Help, Stab Your Back, So Messed Up, New Rose, Neat Neat Neat, I Feel Alright.
Comments: Also on the bill - The UK Subs & The Specials.
Saturday 7 April - The Factory, The Russell Club, Manchester
Sets: unknown.
Comments: Two performances - 'Kids Show 5.30-7.00', 'Big Kids 8.30-1.00'. Intended support from The Ruts.
Friday 6 April - Porterhouse, Retford
Set: unknown.
Comments: Intended support was The Void.
Thursday 5 April - Star & Garter, Yarmouth
Set: unknown.
Comments: The similarity between named venues for this Yarmouth gig suggests that the gig was not rearranged but, instead, corrected.
Thursday 5 April - Stars & Stripes, Yarmouth
Comments: Later announced for the Star & Garter.
Wednesday 4 April - Crocs, Raleigh
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from The Vicars. Likely that this Crocs gig was the one where they opened with a cover of Lulu's 'Shout', then Captain's amp blew up.
Tuesday 3 April - Granny's, Cardiff
Set included: Melody Lee, Summer Nights, Pretty Vacant.
Comments: Show originally intended for 12 April but rearranged. Gig stopped temporarily by the police as the noise was disturbing the customers in the porn cinema downstairs.
Sunday 1 April - Greyhound, Croydon
Comments: CANCELLED - rearranged for 29 April.
Friday 30 March - College of Education, Hull
Set: unknown.
Thursday 29 March - Northbreck Castle, Blackpool
Comments: CANCELLED.
Monday 12 March - The Bridge House, Canning Town, London
Set: unknown.
Comments: Appeared as The School Bullies. Support from The Tickets.
Saturday 10 March - Railway Hotel, West Hampstead, London
Set: unknown.
Comments: Appeared as The School Bullies.
Friday 23 February - Edgehill College, Ormskirk
Set: unknown.
Monday 19 February - Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes
Set: unknown.
Comments: 1) Basczax in support. Apparently, the blue fluffy jumper worn by Captain Sensible on the 'Love Song' single sleeve and numerous TV appearances, was stolen from the Basczax dressing room. 2) Exit (later became The What) supporting.
Saturday 3 February - The Factory, Russell Club, Manchester
Set: unknown.
Friday 2 February - Polytechnic, Wolverhampton
Set: unknown.
Comments: Support from Radio Stars. Apparently the set opened with 'pretty Vacant' as a tribute to Sid Vicious who had been found dead earlier that day.
Friday 2 February - Rollerdrome, Wolverhampton
Comments: Although the gig was originally intended for the Rollerdrome, it was switched to the Polytechnic.
Saturday 27 January - Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow
Set: unknown.
Friday 26 January - Sandpiper, Nottingham
Set: unknown.
Tuesday 23 January - Electric Ballroom, London
Set: unknown.
Saturday 20 January - Erics, Liverpool (2 performances)
Set: Jet Boy Jet Girl, Teenage Dream, Stretcher Case, Ballroom Blitz, Problem Child, Love Song, Looking At You, Born To Kill, Melody Lee, Help, Stab Your Back, So Messed Up, Neat Neat Neat, New Rose, I Feel Alright, Black Night.
Comments: Two shows were played... a matinee being included for teenagers. Although the set above is known to have been played, it is unclear whether this is the afternoon or the evening set or whether the set was identical for both performances.
Sunday 14 January - The Greyhound, Croydon
Set: Jet Boy Jet Girl, Teenage Dream, Stretcher Case, Ballroom Blitz, Problem Child, Love Song, Looking At You, Born To Kill, Second Time Around, Melody Lee, Help, Stab Your Back, So Messed Up, Neat Neat Neat, New Rose, Pretty Vacant, Burglar, Black Night, I Feel Alright.
Comments: Gig originally intended to be 24 December 1978 but rearranged 1st to 7 January 1979 and finally the 14th. Free copies of the single Love Song / Burglar given away at this gig and the last 'Doomed' gig (23 December 1978).
Friday 12 January - Porterhouse, Retford
Set: unknown.
Thursday 11 January - Hope & Anchor, London
Set: unknown.
Wednesday 10 January - Hope & Anchor, London
Set probably included: Jet Boy Jet Girl, Stretcher Case, Problem Child, Fan Club, Help, Black Night, Pretty Vacant, Public Image, Stab Your Back, New Rose.
Comments: Support from The Nipple Erectors.
Sunday 7 January - The Greyhound, Croydon
Comments: Rearranged gig from 24 December that was also subsequently cancelled (due to venue redecorations) and then rearranged for 14 January.
Saturday 6 January - The Venue, London (Speedball Benefit)
Set included: Jet Boy Jet Girl (opener), Teenage Dream, Born To Kill, New Rose, Pretty Vacant, I Feel Alright and Summer Nights (ended the set).
Comments: Benefit show for French promoter Marc Zermati - the man behind the Mont De Marsan gigs. Venue originally intended to be The Electric Ballroom. Gig advertised as The Damned, Dave Edmunds' Rockpile, Tyla Gang and Dr Feelgood members, amongst others. On the night, Ducks Deluxe opened but even with the additional hour that was available due to the change of venue, the Tyla Gang and Dr Feelgood did not play due to time limitations.
Saturday 6 January - Electric Ballroom, Camden, London (Speedball Benefit)
Comments: Location changed 'at the last minute' to The Venue.
Live Performances Index
2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990
1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980
1979 1978 1977 1976
Naz Nomad & The Nightmares The Phantom Chords Captain Sensible
Selected Miscellany Unresolved issues Site updates
Page content last reviewed/updated on: 1 June 2008.
whiterabbitskgs@tiscali.co.uk