Machine Gun Etiquette

Description

The Damned’sclassic third albumMachine Gun Etiquettewas issued by a differentDamnedto that which made 1977’sDamned Damned DamnedandMusic For Pleasure. They split in early 1978 and guitarist/main songwriter Brian James set off to pastures new. On reforming, bassist Captain Sensible switched to guitar, his main instrument. Rat Scabies and Dave Vanian were back too. Bassist Algy Ward was new, had recently left the Saints and was from Croydon like Captain. The new Damned swiftly picked up momentum, first as Les Punks with stop-gap bassist Lemmy, then the Doomed and finally under their old name. Chiswick Records saw what a live draw they were and picked them up, initially with a one-off deal for the “Love Song” single. It charted. The album followed. It charted too.

Issued in November 1979,Machine Gun Etiquettewas more than a valediction. A thrilling, wild ride, it took in hyper-speed, guitar-driven pop, psychedelic pop and surreal pop songs drawing from the girl’s comic Bunty and Vanian’s fascination with Hollywood and horror. Pop, though, was what the album was about. Tunes. Whether with the hard-edged anthem “Noise, Noise, Noise” (featuring members of theClashon vocals; they were recordingLondon Callingat the same studio booked by theDamned), the kinetic “Liar” or the astonishing, atmospheric “Plan 9 Channel 7,” this newDamnedprioritized melody.

There is no filler here: even the cover of the MC5’s “Looking At You” slotted in without breaking the flow.Machine Gun Etiquettehit shops within weeks ofLondon Callingand Public Image Limited’sMetal Box, both benchmark albums showing how far their creators had moved beyond what had been defined as punk. The same applied to theDamned, who likewise recognized no musical barriers and did what they wanted: the true defining characteristic of punk. They didn’t care about definitions anyway. Which is why this classic, essential album sounds as fresh now as it did in 1979.

1. Love Song
2. Machine Gun Etiquette
3. I Just Can’t Be Happy Today
4. Melody Lee
5. Anti-Pope
6. These Hands
7. Plan 9 Channel 7
8. Noise Noise Noise
9. Looking at You
10. Liar
11. Smash It Up (Part 1)
12. Smash It Up (Part 2)