The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead

Dir: Wes Orshoski

2015

***

Wes Orshoski’s 2011 expose on Motorhead front man Lemmy was a fantastic documentary that pleased hardened fans and made new ones (my wife became obsessed). He was certainly the best man for the job when it came for doing the same for infamous British punk ground The Damned but I’m not sure the hardcore would agree. There has always been a big question hovering over The Damned since they formed, actually there are several, but the biggest is why are they still so overlooked? They formed before The Sex Pistols, they were the first British punk band to release a single (New Rose); the first British punk band to tour America (and play the infamous CBGBs); the first British punk band to release an album (the amazing Damned, Damned, Damned); and are arguably the originators of the goth movement (although that may be the problem, you’d have to ask the original punks). You could argue that they sold out way before all the other punk bands but then you could also call them pioneers, they never really stuck with punk, their style went all over the place. They went from two chord speed punk (Neat, Neat, Neat) to seventeen minute prog-rock epics (Curtain Call), then to sixties psychedelia (Naz Nomad and the Nightmares/White Rabbit), to goth rock (Phantasmagoria), before going full pop (Grimly Fiendish), synth rock (History of the World Part 1), experimenting in apocalyptic ballad covers (Eloise), and enjoying a couple of solo projects along the way. The title of the film ‘Don’t you wish that we were dead’ was taken from their milestone rock opus ‘Machine Gun etiquette’, an album celebrated by a huge cross-section of music fans. There is no real answer as to why they never made it as a household name but then, they’re still playing and they’re remembered by all the right people. The infighting between band members is legendary, Orshoski gets a lot from the past and present members but you will never ever get to the crux of the problem, it’s long, complicated and you probably have to have been there to understand it anyway – indeed, those that were there still aren’t sure themselves. Orshoski could have made a more comprehensive documentary, the one that every fan would want of their favourite band but it would always have limited appeal and this film isn’t really about that, it covers most of it, all the important bits, while showing the audience who the band are today. The fact is, I don’t think you’d ever get the truth from the band members anyway, I think the film comes close but these are delicate people and it’s a delicate subject. Captain Sensible shouted all the way through the film’s premier, I’m shocked that Orshoski got as much out of him and Rat Scabies as he did. The rivalry between Sensible and Scabies is actually covered rather well, with both parties putting across valid reasons as to why they’re unhappy with each other. Sensible is accused of selling out but he’s still in the band and selling out gigs, Scabies is clearly a purist when it comes to music but he pays to only a handful of people at his gigs along with fellow original member Brian James. Fans and celebrity peers pay tribute to the band through talking head interviews, each suggesting their favourite version of the band and love of their eccentricities. Filmed over three years, it’s a great insight into a band who couldn’t stage a scene if they tried – this is clearly them as they are, and quite unapologetically so. You have to wonder whether it is the love/hate relationship they had with each other that kept the band alive. Among the bands more prominent members and beneath the infamous royalties debate we also see past members that haven’t been so lucky but to hear stuff about the band from the mouths of Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies and Brian James was a treat. Everything you need to know about band politics is played out in the history of The Damned and everything you need to know about punk is laid out bare. Punks got old and sold out, The Damned remain punk as only punks can while also surviving. Most music history fans will know what I mean by that but if you think real punk music is all about green mohicans and spitting then I’m afraid you’re ill-informed and probably won’t like the film but you should watch it more than most. However, before anyone agrees with me, you should know that I actually like Captain Sensible’s cover of Happy Talk.