Captain Sensible
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| Captain Sensible | |
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 Captain Sensible, performing live with The Damned in 2006
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Raymond Burns |
| Also known as | Captain Sensible |
| Born | 24 April 1954 |
| Genre(s) | Punk, pop |
| Instrument(s) | Bass guitar, electric guitar |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Label(s) | None |
| Associated acts | Dead Men Walking, Dr. Spacetoad, Punk Floyd |
Captain Sensible (born Raymond Burns, 24 April 1954) is a singer and guitarist (and sometimes bassist) who grew up in Croydon, England, and 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 signature headwear is a red beret.
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[edit] Early life
He was born Raymond Burns in London borough of Balham.
[edit] The Damned
Originally a member of the Johnny Moped band, Sensible joined The Damned in 1976 on the suggestion of his work colleague Rat Scabies, the band's drummer, filling a number of positions during his tenure (including bassist, lead guitarist and keyboardist), and eventually becoming the band's main songwriter following the departure of Brian James. He left in the 1980s to concentrate on solo projects, but rejoined in 1996 after 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.
[edit] Solo career
Sensible had a UK number one hit in 1982 with a cover of "Happy Talk", the Rodgers and Hammerstein song from South Pacific, featuring backing by Dolly Mixture; this was later sampled for rap artist Dizzee Rascal's 2004 version of the same song. Other hits include "Wot?", "One Christmas Catalogue" and "Glad It's All Over". He has also toured with his solo band Punk Floyd.
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, and he also wrote and performed a song called "Brain's Theme" for the movie Skinned Deep in 2004.
Captain Sensible is also a member of Dead Men Walking, a supergroup featuring Mike Peters (The Alarm), Kirk Brandon (Spear of Destiny) and Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats).[1]
[edit] Studio albums
- Women and Captain First (1982)
- The Power of Love (1984)
- Revolution Now (1989)
- The Universe of Geoffrey Brown (1993)
- Live at the Milky Way (1994)
- Meathead (1995)
- Mad Cows and Englishmen (1997)
[edit] Politics
Previously a member of the Green Party, in 2006 Sensible formed the Blah! Party, for which he continues to serve as leader. An avowed "protest party" aiming to "give all politicians a kick up the jacksie", it entered into a sponsorship deal with Seabrook Crisps in September 2006.[2]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Captain Sensible at MySpace
- Captain Sensible discography
- Extended discography
- The Blah! Party - Captain Sensible is the Blah! Party's leader
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