The Damned have covered Pink Floyd‘s classic song ‘See Emily Play’. Listen below.
The punk icons’ take on the legendary band’s 1967 single serves as the second preview of their new covers album, ‘Not Like Everybody Else’, out January 23 via earMUSIC. Pre-order/pre-save here.
Guitarist Captain Sensible provides lead vocals on The Damned’s vibrant reimagining of Syd Barrett and co’s psychedelic ’60s tune.
The musician acknowledged that the cover was “a bit of a weird choice”, given “punk was seen as a reaction against the mega stadium rock acts of the mid ’70s”.
“But whatever Pink Floyd eventually morphed into by then, there’s no denying that the early Syd Barrett years were wildly innovative, helping splash psychedelia across a music scene that was, until then, full of drippy love songs,” he continued.
The guitarist said The Damned had ultimately landed on Pink Floyd’s second single partly because it was one of late founding guitarist Brian James‘ “early faves”. Captain Sensible also told fans that ‘See Emily Play’ “was the song that blew my mind (man!), so much that I went from merely appreciating music to becoming completely obsessed by it”.
The Damned’s new cover combines “the band’s signature punk energy with the whimsical, kaleidoscopic spirit of the original”. Read more in the post below.
Each track on ‘Not Like Everybody Else’ has been carefully curated by the group, and is a personal and celebratory tribute to Brian James and his influences. The musician died in March this year.
‘See Emily Play’ follows on from The Damned’s rendition of R. Dean Taylor’s ‘There’s A Ghost In My House’.
Next spring, the band are set to play a special 50th anniversary show at the OVO Arena Wembley in London. Support will come from The Loveless featuring Marc Almond, as well as Peter Hook & The Light and The Courettes. Find any remaining tickets here.
