Dave Vanian
| Dave Vanian | |
|---|---|
David Vanian of the Damned after the band's concert at the Fillmore in San Francisco, March 1986
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | David Lett |
| Born | 12 October 1956 |
| Origin | Hemel Hempstead, England, UK |
| Genres | Punk rock, gothic rock, rockabilly |
| Occupation(s) | Gravedigger, singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, keyboards |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels |
Nitro Records Big Beat Records |
| Associated acts |
The Damned |
| Website | officialdamned.com |
The Damned
David Vanian & the Phantom Chords
Naz Nomad and the Nightmares
Dave Vanian (born David Lett, 12 October 1956) is a rock musician and lead singer of the punk rock band The Damned. Formed in 1976 in London, The Damned were the first British punk band to release a single, an album, have a record hit the UK charts, and tour the United States. With a fluid line-up since their founding, Vanian has been the only ever-present member.
Born in Hemel Hempstead, Vanian changed his name from Lett to Vanian in early life after a previous stint as a gravedigger – Vanian being a play on "Transylvanian". He remains one of the early influencers of gothic fashion, wearing dark and otherworldly clothing both on stage and off. He is known to be a fan of renaissance art, film noir and horror movies, all of which manifest in his stage appearance. In November 1976, the British music magazine NME stated that Vanian "resembles a runaway from the Addams Family".
In 1978, he was guest in the song "Don't Panic England", from the band Doctors of Madness. In 2004, he and Captain Sensible turned on the Christmas lights in Cambridge, causing some controversy.
Vanian sang with the MC5 for their 40th anniversary singing "Looking at You", which was released as part of Revolution: A Celebration of the MC5. In 2008, with the band the Throb, played "Let's Get Lost (Sailor Jerry's Story)" to the compilation The Original Sailor Jerry Rum – Music To ........... To. Outside of the Damned he has led the rockabilly band David Vanian & the Phantom Chords, hosted Dave Vanian's Dark Screen on the UK-based television channel Rockworld TV and composed the soundtrack for the 2009 film, The Perfect Sleep.
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