The Damned announce huge 50th anniversary show at Wembley Arena
The Damned have announced a huge show at Wembley Arena next year to celebrate the band’s half-century together.
The punk pioneers will be headlining the London venue on April 11th, 2026, in recognition of the fact that it has been 50 years since they first formed in the city in 1976, going on to spearhead the genre by being the inaugural band to release both a punk single and album.
In a statement announcing the show, they said: “Half a century on and who’d have thought The Damned would still be upright and breathing? We have shared some tragic losses along the way, but like a finely tuned engine, The Damned still has the power and finesse to excite, entertain and accelerate into our 50th year.”
The group continued: “We haven’t made up the set list as yet but with 50 years of catalogue to choose from, only the best songs from our chequered history will be performed – and with the passion and commitment all good music lovers deserve. You know we won’t disappoint… We never thought we’d make it this far and neither did you.”
The Damned’s current line-up consists of original members David Vanian, Captain Sensible, and Rat Scabies, as well as Paul Gray and Monty Oxymoron, who joined the band in 1980 and 1996, respectively.
However, it comes mere months after the punk rockers lost one of their founding members Brian James, who sadly died back in March.
For their show at Wembley, The Damned will be joined by three support acts in the form of The Loveless featuring Marc Almond, Peter Hook and The Light and The Courettes.
Tickets for The Damned’s 50th anniversary show at Wembley Arena go on sale from June 27th at 10am, with presale beginning on June 26th.
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