Masters of the Backside

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Masters of the Backside was an early British punk rock group whose members included Chrissie Hynde, who would later front The Pretenders, and Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, and Rat Scabies, who would all become founding members of The Damned. Dave Zero was the only other member.

The band was managed by future Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, who wanted to create a band with the musical sound of The Ramones and the style of former Television member Richard Hell, both of whom he had seen perform at CBGB's.

They broke up before ever playing live or recording any material after the members became tired of McLaren's need to control their activity. McLaren had more success with his second band, the Sex Pistols, and Hynde eventually joined the Pretenders while Vanian, Sensible, and Scabies teamed up with former London SS member Brian James to form The Damned.

Masters of the Backside has since gone on to attain semi-legendary status among the punk community along side bands like the London SS, The Flowers of Romance, and The Subterraneans.

It should be noted that it is unclear when the band began using the actual name "Masters Of The Backside" as The Damned acknowledge many of their members first performed together in a group with Hynde but they refer to the project as being unnamed.

The Damned

Dave Vanian | Captain Sensible | Patricia Morrison | Monty Oxy Moron | Pinch