New Rose

"New Rose" was the first single by British punk rock group The Damned, released on 22 October 1976. It was the first single by a British punk group,^[1] and was released in the Netherlands, Germany, and France in 1977.

Written by guitarist Brian James, "New Rose" was issued on the Stiff Records label. The B-side was a cover of The Beatles' hit "Help!", performed about twice as fast as The Beatles's original version. Both songs have since become staples of The Damned's live shows, and appear on various compilations, and "New Rose" was included on the group's full-length debut Damned Damned Damned. The deadpan intro by Vanian of "Is she really going out with him?" on "New Rose" pays homage to the 1964 Shangri-Las song "Leader of the Pack".

The single was reissued in Stiff's mail order Damned 4 Pack mail-order set. Original copies have a pressout centre, while re-issues have a solid centre. Copies from the fourpack have matrix details: "Bilbo tape" handwritten and "AY 50332" printed. A CD version was issued in the Stiff Singles 1976-1977 boxed set by Castle Music in 2003. "Help!" also appears on Hits Greatest Stiffs.

Cover versions

Rachel Sweet covered the song for her 1980 album Protect the Innocent.

Guns N' Roses covered the track on their 1993 covers album "The Spaghetti Incident?".

New Wave band Blondie covered "New Rose" and often play it live.

The Dum Fux, Corey Taylor's cover band, often performs this song live.

Seminal Portland punk icons Poison Idea covered the track on their 1992 covers album Pajama Party.

The Eagles of Death Metal covered this song at a concert in Dublin on 29 August 2007.

It has been frequently covered by Orange Goblin in concert.

Virgina Oi! band Common Sense covered this song a total of 3 times at concerts between 2006 and 2008.

Japanese singer/guitarist Hide covered the song in his solo tour, Hide Your Psychommunity Tour 1994, which was released on his live DVD Alive! and his live album Hide Our Psychommunity.

Other Japanese artists such as Kuroyume and J from Luna Sea have covered this song at concerts.

Gumball covered the song on their 1992 EP Wisconsin Hayride.

Dave Gahan covered this song on the MusiCares live concert on 6 May 2011.

Southbound Saints covered the song on their 2012 EP From the Clutches of Grace.

Track listing

1. "New Rose" (James) - 2:46
2. "Help!" (Lennon, McCartney) - 1:43

Production credits

• Producer: Nick Lowe

• Musicians:
  • Dave Vanian — singer
  • Brian James — guitar
  • Captain Sensible — bass guitar
  • Rat Scabies — drums

References

External links

• Full lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics