‘Curtain Call’: The Damned song inspired by classical music
The adrenaline-fuelled, buzzsaw guitars of the punk revolution are about as far away from high-class classical music as you can get. Nevertheless, the sounds of classical music were apparently influential on one of the UK punk scene’s earliest success stories. The Damned were early more theatrical than their contemporaries, embracing influences of horror films and gothic literature alongside the unexpected influence of classical music.
The Damned were a fairly contentious act within London’s early punk scene. Whereas the wider movement was characterised by staunch political activism, cultural revolution and pioneering music, The Damned were much more conformist in their sound.
Although their track ‘New Rose’ is often listed as the UK’s first punk rock release, Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock made the valid point, “Pistols first single was ‘Anarchy’ and The Damned’s was about a bird.” Purporting a view of The Damned as something of a novelty act.
As their career progressed, The Damned did little to move away from this perception. Further enmeshing themselves within the theatrical nature of horror punk and goth rock, bassist and guitarist Captain Sensible even enjoyed an extracurricular career as a singer of novelty songs. In 1980, the group released their fourth studio album, The Black Album, which was perhaps their most theatrical release to date.
With horror-inspired tracks like ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ and ‘Twisted Nerve’, the album’s stand-out track, is the 17-minute epic, ‘Curtain Call’. The song’s inspiration came not from the world of horror but from the intellectualism of classical music, according to lead singer Dave Vanian. Speaking to Mojo, Vanian revealed, “I was more into classical music and film soundtracks, where the music moves and is about emotions. ‘Curtain Call’ took ages.”
Sharing the process behind the track, the vampiric frontman said, “I had bought a harmonium for £49 when I lived in a basement flat in Islington. It used to creak and groan, and I’d put a microphone in the back of it and tape it. That became the first part, then Captain [Sensible] added his guitar lines.” Adding, “Every time we did any demos, we’d write another bit. I saw it unfolding like a movie. Before we knew it, it was 18 minutes long.”
‘Curtain Call’ is a controversial track, either being hailed as punk rock’s greatest product or The Damned’s final flirt with the genre which birthed them. Either way, the 17-minute epic is certainly something to behold. Although the influence of classical composers like Beethoven or Mozart is not all that obvious upon the first few listens, the lineage is certainly present.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Punk Newsletter
All the latest Punk content from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.