"It's 25 years since 'Machine Gun Etiquette' was issued," says a euphoric Captain Sensible just prior to lighting matches under the arse of a still-incendiary "Anti-Pope."
"Anyway, we're sellin' the CDs up at the back...we need the cash, you bastards! Hey, tell it like it is baby!"
Dear old Cap'n. Where we would be without you, eh? Yeah, yeah, of course THE DAMNED were always in it for the money and have had more re-unions than most of us have had dodgy chicken vindaloos after yet another night out on the piss, but let's just leave aside the fact they were always the jokers in Punk's pack for a second and concentrate on what is actually a pretty damn impressive back catalogue. I mean, three of the first four Damned albums (the mental speedfreak punk of the Brian James-written, Nick Lowe-produced "Damned Damned Damned", the magnificent psych-punk of "Machine Gun Etiquette" and the ambitious "Black Album") were classics and even the lesser-fancied items like the under-rated "Strawberries" and the proto-Goth of the "Phantasmagoria" period had their moments. And together they amount to a seriously impressive legacy.
OK, I grant you this reviewer has been dismissive of a number of the band's recent line-ups who've obviously been put together just to ensure everyone's bank balance swells once again in the name of anarchy, chaos and destruction, but the 2004 Damned line-up featuring Dave Vanian and a returning Captain Sensible is surely a cut above as the excellent "Machine Gun Etiquette 25 - live from Manchester Academy" DVD makes clear during a lengthy, 20-track trawl through the band's venerable history.
Yes, on paper you may rightly have reservations. For starters, while Cap and Dave are there, there ain't no Rat Scabies, never mind either of the band's two pivotal bassists Algy Ward or Paul Gray (are either/ both still alive?), but their replacements Pinch (drums), bassist Stu West and court jester keyboard player Monty Oxymoron are all competent musicians and with Pinch's controlled, Moon-esque explosions surely enough to satisfy even the most hardened Rat-ophile, this Damned sound like the proverbial powerhouse even if they are only doing it to top up their retirement funds.
Apparently, the idea to celebrate the 25th anniversary of "Machine Gun Etiquette" came after The Damned played some festivals with Arthur Lee's reconstituted Love, who were playing the classic ''Forever Changes" in its' entirety. To be fair, the set list here deviates from a simple run through of all 'MGE' (though we do get about three-quarters of it), but as they dispatch box-fesh versions of "Love Song", "Machine Gun Etiquette" and an apocalyptic "I Just Can't Be Happy Today", you begin to realise that continuing to ignore this much-maligned band's back catalogue was rather foolish after all.
This impression is confirmed as they race through the likes of "I Fall", the epic burlesque of "History Of The World (pt.1)" - fittingly dedicated to George Bush - and you discover that "New Rose" still kicks like a mule after a crate of red bull.
The band themselves are still a typically motley bunch of contradictory figures and styles (wasn't that what punk was supposed to be about with hindsight?). The Captain, naturally, instigates a singalong of "Sensible's a wanker!", Monty gives Bez a run for his money with his ridiculous flashing maraccas, Stu West gives it some Blofeld with his Nehru suit and waistcoat and Vanian himself is something of a revelation: slim of figure, bequiffed and in fine vocal nick, with his dark croon coming into its' own on songs like the chilly noir of "Absinthe" and "I Just Can't Be Happy Today."
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The middle-section of the set predictably sags a tad, though it's soon rescued by a great rendition of the under-rated and inflammatory "Ignite" and the dramatic sweep of a surprisingly magical "Eloise." They're on track again with a frenetic "Melody Lee" but temporarily blow it with a bloated rendition of "Neat Neat Neat" that vamps on seemingly forever and finally segues into The Doors' "Break On Through." Mmm. They then continue to mislay the plot with the peurile first encore of "Jey Boy Jet Girl."
But then in the past it's often when they've been written off that The Damned have pulled something out of the hat, and when they return again for the epic grandeur of "The Black Album"s 'lost' classic "Curtain Call" and a truly rampant "Noise Noise Noise" you realise we still need them in our world. Just to seal the deal we also get the inevitable "Smash It Up" (parts 1 and 2, no less) which is still as good a way to be ejected out into the night after two hours of sonic mayhem as you'll hear/ be subjected to anywhere.
There's also a pretty generous second disc of extras, though as you might expect this is something of a mixed bag. There's a cool second concert (from Japan's Summer Sonic Festival) where Sensible sports his fetching Fred Flintstone leopardskin loincloth and Vanian appears to have mutated into Simon Templar with his dinner suit, cravat and discreet moustache. The set is similar to the Manchester show, though there's also an exhilarating "Disco Man" and an unexpected "Street Of Dreams".
The remainder is more for hardcore fans only. The on tour antics are of the 'you had to be there' variety, though Sensible's typically irreverent travelogue of Berlin (where he goes to re-record a version of "Wot!") is entertaining and there's also some vintage footage of the original Brian James-led Damned Mk.1 playing first album highlight "Fan Club" at some London shoebox. The dubbing's hopeless, but hey, this is history, right?
But for all the pantomime aspect that's maybe held The Damned back from big league contention over the years, "Machine Gun Etiquette 25" is bloody great stuff. The sound and filming are top notch (though anyone who has a problem with strobe lighting ought to be careful) and the band play with a youthful vigour that's enough to have most of us old timers feeling seriously enviable. Happy 25th Captain. It's a pleasure to blow out the candles with you old son.
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