Brian James, The Damned guitarist, dies at 70

Brian James, the founding guitarist of the British punk band The Damned, died on March 6, 2025, at the age of 70. He passed away peacefully with family members by his side. James was a key figure in the UK punk rock scene, known for writing the first UK punk single, "New Rose." He was the principal songwriter for The Damned's debut album, "Damned Damned Damned," released in 1977. After leaving The Damned, James formed several bands, including The Lords of the New Church. He continued to create music throughout his six-decade career, collaborating with various artists and contributing to film and television soundtracks.