Captain Sensible

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Captain Sensible, performing live with The Damned in 2006.

Captain Sensible (born Raymond Burns, April 24, 1954 in Balham, London, England) is a singer and guitarist (and sometimes bassist) who founded the punk rock band The Damned in 1976. After leaving the band, he reinvented himself as an (alternative) pop singer with a rebellious, self-conscious image. His solo hits included "Wot?", "Happy Talk" (a UK number one hit featuring backing group Dolly Mixture), "One Christmas Catalogue" and "Glad It's All Over". He has toured with his solo band Punk Floyd. His signature headwear is a red beret.

He later rejoined The Damned in 1996 after drummer Rat Scabies left, and co-wrote Grave Disorder, the band's first new studio album for 12 years, in 2001. He continues to tour with the band today, and one of his trademark moves on stage is playing guitar with an empty beer can.

Captain Sensible is also a member of Dead Men Walking, a 'super-group' featuring Mike Peters (The Alarm), Kirk Brandon (Spear of Destiny) and Slim Jim (Stray Cats).

In a TV interview he mentioned that he got his ideas for songs by recording the music from advertisements, playing it backwards, then learning those reversed themes.

His recording of "The Snooker Song" from Mike Batt's musical The Hunting Of The Snark was used as the theme music for the BBC gameshow Big Break.

He supports both Crystal Palace F.C. and St Mirren F.C.. His version of Happy Talk, minus his lyrics, was used as the backing track for a 2004 rap by Dizzee Rascal.

He wrote and performed a song called "Brain's Theme" for the movie Skinned Deep in 2004.

Sensible is also the leader of the Blah! Party, the fastest growing protest party that aims "to give all politicians a kick up the jacksie" and which has recently entered into a sponsorship deal with Seabrook Crisps [1].

A Cotswold Rail Class 47 diesel locomotive (number 47810) was named 'Captain Sensible' at Hove during a railtour to Brighton on February 10th 2007.

The Damned

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