The Damned have unveiled ‘See Emily Play’ as the second single from their forthcoming covers album Not Like Everybody Else!
The Pink Floyd classic gets a proper reworking here, with Captain Sensible taking lead vocals and injecting that unmistakable Damned energy into Syd Barrett’s psychedelic gem.
The album itself carries serious emotional weight. Dedicated to founding guitarist Brian James, who passed away on 6th March 2025, every track was personally selected by the band as a tribute to his musical influences. They recorded the whole thing in just five days at Revolver Studio in Los Angeles.
What makes this release genuinely significant is the reunion it represents. Rat Scabies is back behind the kit in the studio with The Damned for the first time in four decades. Alongside Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Paul Gray and keyboardist Monty Oxymoron, the lineup reconnects with the explosive chemistry that defined their early years.
The album opens with R. Dean Taylor‘s ‘There’s A Ghost In My House’ and works through cuts from The Stooges, The Yardbirds and The Animals before closing with ‘The Last Time’ by The Rolling Stones, featuring Brian James himself from his final performances with the band.
To mark the release, The Damned will play special covers shows at Albert Hall, Manchester (28th January), Bataclan, Paris (1st February) and Essigfabrik, Cologne (3rd February), performing the album alongside fan favourites from across their career.
The band have also confirmed a massive 50th anniversary show at OVO Arena Wembley on 11th April 2026, with support from The Loveless featuring Marc Almond, Peter Hook And The Light and The Courettes.
Not Like Everybody Else arrives 23rd January 2026 via earMUSIC.
