Day After Day #173: Neat Neat Neat

Day After Day is an ambitious attempt to write about a song every day in 2024 (starting on Jan. 4).

Neat Neat Neat (1977)

Early punk rock was all about the idea that anyone can do it, but man, the Damned could really play. The band formed in London in 1976, with lead singer Dave Vanian, guitarist Brian James, bassist Captain Sensible and drummer Rat Scabies. The Damned were punk pioneers, becoming the first U.K. punk act to release a single ("New Rose"), an album (1977's Damned Damned Damned) and tour the U.S. 

"Neat Neat Neat" was the band's second single, released in February 1977, as was their debut album. It was produced by Nick Lowe, who was the in-house producer for Stiff Records at the time. The band opened for the Sex Pistols in the U.K. along with the Clash and Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, but only seven of the 20 dates actually took place because of cancellations by organizers or local authorities. The Damned ended up getting kicked off the tour by Malcolm McLaren,

"Neat Neat Neat" was a blistering anthem, kicked off by a killer Capt. Sensible bass line and then Vanian's urgent vocals.

"Be a man, can a mystery man/Be a doll, be a baby doll/It can't be fun, not anyway/It can't be found no way at all/A distant man can't sympathize/He can't uphold his distant laws/Due to form on that today/I got a feeling then I hear that call/I said/Neat neat neat/She can't afford no cannon/Neat neat neat/She can't afford no gun at all/Neat neat neat/She can't afford no cannon/Neat neat neat/She ain't got no name to call/Neat neat neat."

In direct response to the bloated prog and hard rock acts filling arenas at the time, the Damned just blast their way through the song with speed and piss and vinegar.

"No crime if there ain't no law/No cops left to mess you around/No more dreams of mystery chords/No more sight to bring you down/I got a crazy, got a thought in my mind/My mind's on when she falls asleep/Feelin' time in her restless time/Then these words up on me creep/I said/Neat neat neat."

The band whips through the song in a compact 2:40. The cover to the single features the band with bags over their heads, while the album cover shows them after getting pelted with cream pies.

"Neat Neat Neat" didn't chart but it was very influential; the album hit #34 on the U.K. albums chart. The Damned went on to open for T. Rex in March 1977, and later that spring they went on their first U.S. tour; the speed at which they played helped inspire the West Coast hardcore scene. The song was also covered by Elvis Costello and the Attractions, who reworked it in an interesting way (see below).

The band worked with Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason on their second album Music for Pleasure, but the album was slagged off by critics and didn't chart. Drummer Rat Scabies left the band after recording was completed; he was replaced by future Culture Club drummer Jon Moss until the band split up in February 1978. Vanian, Sensible, Scabies and Lemmy of Motorhead teamed up in late 1978 for a one-off gig going by the name Les Punks; they then reformed the Damned with Lemmy but called it the Doomed to avoid trademark issues. Lemmy eventually left to focus on Motorhead and the band settled on Algy Ward of the Saints to play bass after Sensible switched to guitar. 

The Damned's sound was changing, moving towards goth rock as the '80s progressed. Sensible left in 1984 to pursue a solo career. The band released four albums in the '80s with a revolving cast of characters. They played a few shows in 1988 and 1989 with James and Sensible and then went on hiatus until 1993, when Vanian and Scabies reformed the group with three new members. The Damned had a little buzz at that time when Guns N' Roses covered "New Rose" and the Offspring covered "Smash It Up." They toured for a few years and released a new album in 1995, but by the time it came out, the band had split up once again.

Of course, they reformed again the following year and have continued to play in various formations since. This year, the '80s Damned lineup of Vanian, Sensible, Scabies and Paul Gray played a 10-date tour of North America and have announced a U.K. tour for later in the year. You can't keep a good Damned down.