The Damned Mark 50 Years with New Album and Concerts, a Year Ahead of Punk's Golden Jubilee

British punk band The Damned are celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2026 with a new record and a series of concerts, according to an interview published by elDiario.es. Frontman Dave Vanian, known for his ruffled shirts, and guitarist Captain Sensible, recognizable by his beret and striped T-shirt, say they still enjoy performing as they did in 1976. The band, described as for many the best British punk group, are marking half a century in music a year before the wider punk 50th-anniversary celebrations planned for 2027 — a sign, the article argues, that they were ahead of their time from the start. The Damned refused to be pigeonholed, shifting restlessly between styles and never making two identical albums; soon they were no longer merely the best punk band but the best gothic, new wave or psychedelic group. In the interview, the band states that live music must contain danger and uncertainty, both for the band and for the audience. The piece also notes that Live Nation has put tickets on sale for Boy George in Tel Aviv, with the stated aim of opening doors to international tours.