David Vanian
| Dave Vanian | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | David Lett |
| Born | 12 October 1956 |
| Origin | Hemel Hempstead, England |
| Genres | Punk rock, gothic rock |
| Occupations | Gravedigger, Singer-songwriter, Musician |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels | Nitro Records |
| Associated acts | The Damned David Vanian & the Phantom Chords |
| Website | officialdamned.com |
Dave Vanian (born David Lett, 12 October 1956, Hemel Hempstead, England) is a rock musician, famous for being the lead singer of the punk rock band The Damned. The band formed in 1976 in London and Vanian is the only ever-present member of the group. They were the first of the British punk bands to release a single, an album, have a record hit the UK charts, and tour the United States.
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[edit] Career
Lett changed his name to Dave Vanian (pronounced as in "Transylvanian") when he became a musician, having previously worked as a gravedigger.[1]
He was one of the early influencers of gothic fashion by wearing dark and otherworldly clothing both on-stage and off. In November 1976, the British music magazine, NME, commented that Vanian "resembles a runaway from The Addams Family".[1]
He has kept his personal life out of the limelight, even opting out of any input towards The Damned biography The Light At The End Of The Tunnel by Carol Clerk, he also leads the rockabilly band David Vanian & the Phantom Chords. He is known to be interested in renaissance art, film noir and horror movies.[citation needed]
Vanian hosted Dave Vanian's Dark Screen on the UK-based television channel Rockworld TV, to which viewers sent their self-made horror films in the hope of winning prizes.
In 2004, he and Captain Sensible turned on the Christmas lights in Cambridge, causing some controversy.[2]
In 2009, he composed the soundtrack for the film, The Perfect Sleep.[3]
[edit] Personal life
He married Laurie Vanian in 1977, the year after he joined The Damned, but they separated in the mid 1990s. Not long after their split, he married former Sisters of Mercy bassist Patricia Morrison and lives in north-west London. In 2004 Morrison gave birth to Emily Vanian.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 294. CN 5585.
- ^ BBC News Online - Church fury at Damned's switch-on
- ^ The Perfect Sleep Official Movie Website
[edit] External links
- The Damned (official site): Dave Vanian section
- Interview (while touring with the Phantom Chords), November 1993 (QuickTime Video)
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