Captain Sensible
| Captain Sensible | |
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Captain Sensible, performing live with The Damned in 2006
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Raymond Burns |
| Also known as | Captain Sensible |
| Born | 24 April 1954 |
| Origin | Balham, London |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, bass, organ, vocals |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels | None |
| Associated acts |
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Raymond Ian Burns (born 24 April 1954), known by the stage name Captain Sensible, is a singer, songwriter and guitarist.
Sensible co-founded the punk rock band The Damned, originally playing bass before switching to guitar. He embarked on a solo career during the 1980s, following a UK number one hit with his cover of "Happy Talk".
Sensible's signature headwear is a red beret.
Sensible was born in Balham, London, in 1954. He went to Stanley Technical School for Boys in South Norwood. The first musical instrument he played was a Bontempi organ.
Originally a member of the Johnny Moped band, Sensible joined The Damned in 1976 on the suggestion of his work colleague Rat Scabies, the band's drummer, filling a number of positions during his tenure (including bassist, lead guitarist and keyboardist), and eventually becoming the band's main songwriter following the departure of Brian James. He left in the 1980s to concentrate on solo projects, but rejoined in 1996 after Scabies left, and co-wrote Grave Disorder, the band's first new studio album for 8 years, in 2001. He continues to tour with the band and they released their latest album So, Who's Paranoid? on 17 November 2008.
Sensible's first solo release came in 1978 with the single "Jet Boy, Jet Girl", recorded while The Damned were on hiatus. He followed this in 1981 with an EP on Crass Records. He signed to A&M Records and had a UK number one hit in 1982 with a cover of "Happy Talk", the Rodgers and Hammerstein song from South Pacific, featuring backing by Dolly Mixture and a band including Robyn Hitchcock on guitar. This was later sampled for rap artist Dizzee Rascal's 2004 song "Dream". Other songs which became hits in the UK and various European countries were "Wot", "One Christmas Catalogue" and anti-Falklands War "Glad It's All Over", which was co-written and produced by Tony Mansfield. After quitting A&M Records he continued recording for various independent labels, including Deltic Records and Humbug Records. He has also toured with his solo band Punk Floyd.
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