The Damned are set to mark their 50th anniversary with a monumental live show at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on April 11, 2026. As one of the earliest and most enduring punk bands to emerge from the UK, this milestone gig celebrates five decades of chaotic brilliance, innovation, and subcultural influence. The event will feature a stacked bill of support acts including The Loveless featuring Marc Almond, Peter Hook and The Light, and The Courettes—offering a night that bridges punk’s past, present, and future.
From their 1976 debut with “New Rose”—widely regarded as the first-ever British punk single—The Damned have shaped a sound that refuses to stagnate. They’ve dipped into gothic rock, psychedelia, and proto-metal across their discography without losing the energy and theatrical bite that defined their earliest records. Led by the charismatic and often vampiric presence of frontman Dave Vanian, the band’s live reputation remains formidable, as evidenced by their recent performances at major festivals and tightly packed club shows.
Booking the OVO Arena Wembley signals more than just longevity—it’s a statement. It’s the same stage that has hosted global icons, and now The Damned step up to claim their place in that canon. What makes this event especially significant is the hand-picked support: Peter Hook, co-founder of Joy Division and New Order, brings post-punk gravitas; The Loveless, a gothic supergroup of sorts led by Marc Almond, taps into the theatrical; and The Courettes represent a younger generation with their fuzzed-out garage rock ferocity. Each act adds texture to the night, building a sonic narrative around The Damned’s legacy.
This won’t be just a run-through of hits like “Neat Neat Neat” or “Smash It Up.” It’s a curated retrospective with the band’s full creative arc on display—from the punk anarchy of their early years to the moody experimentation of albums like Phantasmagoria and Grave Disorder. The show is expected to feature classic line-up reunions, deep cuts, and likely some surprise guests, in what will be one of the most anticipated punk-related events of the decade.
The Damned didn’t just survive—they thrived, adapted, and outlasted many of their peers. Fifty years on, they’re not a nostalgia act. They’re still writing, recording, and performing with a commitment that feels as vital as ever. Their Wembley show will not just be a celebration of the past, but a defiant, loud affirmation of relevance in the now. For fans of punk, post-punk, and all the twisted branches those genres have grown, this is more than a concert—it’s history in motion.
🎵 New Rose 🎶
