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Outloud – Is She Really Going Out With Him?

By Dan Berkman November 21, 2008 Post a comment | Email the author

“A deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic angst”—Music critic Ned Raggert on “New Rose”

Howdy friends! Welcome to another edition of Outloud. Over the last two months or so we have been taking a fun look back at some of punk rock’s greatest singles. On this journey we have visited garages in California, the seedy New York underbelly and the industrial sprawl of Manchester to name but a few. Although this has been a lot of fun, and hopefully interesting, it has kind of pigeon-held me in what I can talk about with you. So I have decided to end this series and expand my horizons. Instead of simply fading away I am going to close things off with a bang. This week we are going to be talking about “New Rose” by The Damned, which earns the distinction of being arguably the first punk single. Beating the likes of The Buzzcocks Spiral Scratch, The Clash’s first single “White Riot”, and The Sex Pistols debut single “Anarchy in the UK” by several months. Also, it retains the honor of being the first independently released punk single as well.

In punk rock’s heyday some bands were bigger and had more to “say”, but when it came down to sheer power, fun, excitement and effortless cool there was no one better then The Damned/ The group evolved out of several legendary proto-punk groups including Masters of the Backslide (although several argue the band never had a name) and The London S.S.. Despite both bands frequent practice schedules, appeaarances in underground zines, and frequent posturing neither played that many gigs.

Finding frustration these groups splintered. Brian James of London S.S. broke away from Mick Jones and Tony James to form a new band with a young drummer named Chris Millar, who had just recently auditioned for the group and was not hired much to James’ dismay. Masters of the Backslide had split up due to pressure from their manager Malcolm McLauren. Through Millar (who has taken to the nickname Rat Scabies) Brian James met a part time hospital worker and full time rock and roller Ray Burns who called himself “Captain Sensible”. The pair played in Masters of the Backslide together but as previously mentioned the band was going nowhere.

The band got together and starting rehearsing. Since neither James or Sensible wanted to sing lead vocals they decided to hire a singer. The band invited down gravedigger and sometime vocalist for Masters of the Backside (although reports varied if he actually sang with them at all) Dave Vanian and ex- Flowers of Romance vocalist and Siouxsie and The Banshees drummer Sid Vicious to try out. Only Vanian showed up and as such was offered the job. Well, that and his awesome voice. I doubt that anyone who has heard any of Sid’s rather horrible solo material would have done the band much good anyways.

With Vanian in the fold, Brian James finally had a voice for the songs he had been writing. The first of these was the previously mentioned “New Rose”. The track grabs the listener from the first second. Vanian delivers the opening line “Is she really going out with him?”, a reference to the Shangri-Las “Leader of the Pack”, with such effortless cool and wit that it easily could have been uttered by James Dean. The phrase has gone on to become entirely theirs. To any earnest punk rock fan that hears the line utter simply has to echo Scabies amazing thundering drums that follow. Brian James then inserts himself and delivers the opening three chords, which although not as highly praised by some, are as memorable and powerful as anything written by The Ramones. Top that off with Vanian’s effortless cool and excitement, it simply creates an atmosphere where it is impossible not to sing along, bang on the table or bust out the good old air guitar.

I know this is editorializing, which to be honest is why I am here, but “New Rose” is may favorite song of the original punk era. Nothing in my opinion was louder, more fun and provides such a visceral reaction in all that hear it than this single. Enough talk it is time to rock. Here is the promo video that was created for the single at the time of its release.

New Rose
(Brian James)

I gotta feeling inside of me
It’s kinda strange like a stormy sea
I don’t know why, I don’t know why
I guess these things have gotta be

I’ve got a new rose, I’ve got her good
guess I knew that I always would
I can’t stop to mess around
I got a brand new rose in town

see the sun, see the sun it shines
don’t get to close or it’ll burn your eyes
don’t you run away that way
you can come back another day

I’ve got a new rose, I’ve got her good
guess I knew that I always would
I can’t stop to mess around
I got a brand new rose in town

I never thought this could happen to me
I feel so strange, oh why should it be?
I don’t deserve somebody this great
I better go or it’ll be too late

AOH

I gotta feeling inside of me
It’s kinda strange like a stormy sea
I dont know why, I don’t know why
I guess these things have gotta be

I’ve got a new rose, I’ve got her good
guess I knew that I always would
I can’t stop to mess around
I got a brand new rose in town
—————–

The band recorded many fine songs like “Neat, Neat, Neat”, “Smash It Up” (which was later covered by The Offspring to much success.), “Plan 9, Channel 7″, “Machine Gun Etiquette”, “Fan Club” and several other classics but “New Rose” is their masterpiece. If you are new to the band this slngle and their debut Damned, Damned, Damned is they place to start.

Extra Credit

For those ardent Damned fans who have already seen the promo video and heard “New Rose” hundreds if not thousands of times I have a rarity just for you. Here are the boys playing one of our favorite tunes in 1979. The pace is a little quicker and the guitar line a little more ragged but for me that only adds to the fun.