The Damned have announced a return to Australia and New Zealand as part of their 50th anniversary farewell celebrations, marking five decades since their formation in London in 1976. The tour centres on a catalogue that has moved across punk, gothic rock and broader alternative territory without settling into a single definition.
From the outset, the band set a pace that others followed. Their debut single New Rose and the album Damned Damned Damned established an early framework for UK punk, arriving with a directness that cut through the prevailing scene at the time. That initial phase has remained a reference point, but it doesn’t account for the full scope of their output. Over time, the band expanded into darker and more layered material, with Dave Vanian’s baritone and the band’s shifting arrangements pushing their sound beyond its original constraints.
The 50th anniversary shows are structured around that breadth. Early performances in London have drawn on a wide span of releases, with extended setlists built to reflect different phases of the band’s history. Tracks such as Neat Neat Neat, Love Song, Smash It Up and Eloise remain central, not as isolated highlights but as part of a continuous catalogue.
Drummer Rat Scabies has framed the anniversary in practical terms, noting the band’s longevity as something neither they nor their audience expected. Guitarist Captain Sensible has pointed to the setlists as a way of narrowing that history into a single performance, selecting material that reflects the range of their work rather than focusing on one period.
The Australian leg includes a headline show at Sydney Opera House, positioning the tour within a broader international run. It marks another stage in a career that has moved through multiple line-ups and stylistic shifts while maintaining a consistent identity.
THE DAMNED AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND SEPTEMBER 2026 TOUR DATES
Tuesday 8th September AUCKLAND, Powerstation
Thursday 10th September SYDNEY, The Opera House
Friday 11th September BRISBANE, The Tivoli
Sunday 13th September MELBOURNE, The Forum
Tickets:
Pre-sale: Wednesday April 22nd at 9:00am Local
General Public on Sale: Friday April 24th at 9:00am Local
From: https://thephoenix.au/the-damned-2026/
