David Vanian

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dave Vanian performing live with The Damned in 2006

David Vanian (born David Letts, 12 October 1956, in Hemel Hempstead, England) is a punk rock musician famous for being the lead singer of the rock band, The Damned. The band formed in 1976 in London. They are notable for being the first of the British punk bands to release a single; put out an album; and tour the United States.

Letts changed his name to Dave Vanian when he became a musician, having previously worked as a gravedigger. It is rumoured that when Captain Sensible asked whether Vanian could sing, Vanian responded "yes" but had never sung a note in his life.

He is famous for bringing the gothic image to pop culture world, due to his wearing its apparel both onstage and off; although he does not personally make note of this. Notorious also for keeping his personal life out of the limelight, even opting out of any input towards The Damned bio-book The Light At The End Of The Tunnel by Carol Clerk, he also leads the rockabilly band David Vanian & the Phantom Chords. He is known to be interested in renaissance art, film noir and horror movies, which he speaks of as well as sings.

He married Patricia Morrison in 1996, the same year she joined The Damned, and lives on the English coast. On February 9, 2004 Patricia gave birth to Emily Vanian at 8:20 p.m. weighing 8 pounds 4 ounces. Currently, Vanian hosts Dave Vanian's Dark Screen on the UK-based goth television channel Rockworld TV, where viewers get to send in their own self-made horror films in the hope of winning prizes.