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David Vanian

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Dave Vanian
David Vanian of the Damned after the band's concert at the Fillmore in San Francisco, March 1986
David Vanian of the Damned after the band's concert at the Fillmore in San Francisco, March 1986
Background information
Birth nameDavid Lett
Born (1956-10-12) 12 October 1956 (age 68)
OriginHemel Hempstead, England, UK
GenresPunk rock, gothic rock, rockabilly
Occupation(s)Gravedigger, singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboards
Years active1976–present
LabelsNitro Records
Big Beat Records
Websiteofficialdamned.com

Dave Vanian (born David Lett, 12 October 1956) is a rock musician and lead singer of the punk rock band The Damned. Formed in 1976 in London, The Damned were the first British punk band to release a single, an album, have a record hit the UK charts, and tour the United States. With a fluid line-up since their founding, Vanian has been the only ever-present member.

Career

Born in Hemel Hempstead, Vanian changed his name from Lett to Vanian in early life after a previous stint as a gravedigger – Vanian being a play on "Transylvanian". He remains one of the early influencers of gothic fashion, wearing dark and otherworldly clothing both on stage and off. He is known to be a fan of renaissance art, film noir and horror movies, all of which manifest in his stage appearance.[citation needed] In November 1976, the British music magazine NME stated that Vanian "resembles a runaway from the Addams Family".[1]

In 1978, he was guest in the song "Don't Panic England", from the band Doctors of Madness. In 2004, he and Captain Sensible turned on the Christmas lights in Cambridge, causing some controversy.[2]

Vanian sang with the MC5 for their 40th anniversary singing "Looking at You", which was released as part of Revolution: A Celebration of the MC5. In 2008, with the band the Throb, played "Let's Get Lost (Sailor Jerry's Story)" to the compilation The Original Sailor Jerry Rum – Music To ........... To. Outside of the Damned he has led the rockabilly band David Vanian & the Phantom Chords, hosted Dave Vanian's Dark Screen on the UK-based television channel Rockworld TV and composed the soundtrack for the 2009 film, The Perfect Sleep.[3]

Personal life

Vanian in 2006

Vanian 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 married his first wife Laurie in 1977, the year after he joined The Damned, but they separated in the mid-1990s.

He married Patricia Morrison in Las Vegas in 1996, after The Damned had performed an Australian tour. The couple have one child.[4]

Discography

References

  1. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London, UK: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 294. CN 5585.
  2. ^ Church fury at Damned's switch-on, bbc.co.uk; accessed 12 September 2015.
  3. ^ Profile, theperfectsleep.com; accessed 12 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Official Damned.com". OfficialDamned.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2003. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
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