The Damned announce 50th anniversary show at London’s Wembley Arena

The Damned have announced a special 50th anniversary show taking place in London. Find ticket details and more information below.

• READ MORE: Does Rock ‘N’ Roll Kill Braincells?! – The Damned’s Captain Sensible

The punk pioneers will be taking to the stage at the OVO Arena Wembley on Friday April 11 next year, and the gig marks half a century since they emerged as one of the founders of British punk rock.

Songs performed will include all their biggest hits, including the breakthrough single ‘New Rose’ and classics ‘Neat Neat Neat’, ‘Love Song’, and ‘Grimly Fiendish’.

Joining them as special guests for the one-off London show will be The Loveless featuring Marc Almond, Peter Hook And The Light and The Courettes.

“Half a century on and who’d of thought the Damned would still be upright and breathing?” the band said in a new statement. “We have shared some tragic losses along the way, but like a finely tuned engine, The Damned still has the power and finesse to excite, entertain and accelerate into our 50th year.”

“To mark this milestone event, we’ve booked OVO Arena Wembley for the 11th of April 2026 and after a lot of careful deliberation have put a bill together for a night for you to remember and will be joined by The Courettes, Peter Hook and Mark Almond,” they added.

“We haven’t made up the set list as yet but with 50 years of catalogue to choose from, only the best songs from our chequered history will be performed – and with the passion and commitment all good music lovers deserve. You know we won’t disappoint… We never thought we’d make it this far and neither did you…”

This tour welcomes founding member and drummer Rat Scabies back to the stage, and announcing his return, he simply said: “Be careful what you wish for.’’

Visit here to buy tickets to the 50th anniversary show at Wembley.

The show comes as, last year, David Vanian, Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies and Paul Gray hit the road together for a series of UK shows – marking their first together with this line-up since 1989.

It also arrives on the heels of the band playing the Forever Now festival at Milton Keynes Bowl last night (June 22). They joined the stacked line-up for the 2025 edition which included Kraftwerk, Johnny Marr, The The, Death Cult and more.

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