LEGENDARY punk rock guitarist Brian James who founded The Damned has sadly died aged 70.
The iconic musician, who played with icons including Iggy Pop and Black Sabbath during his stellar career, passed away today.
Brian, who was remembered as a "pioneer and true gentleman", was globally recognised for his role in the band The Damned.
He was hailed as the writer of the first ever UK punk single New Rose.
A statement on Facebook posted to his account read: "It is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of the true pioneers of music, guitarist, songwriter, and true gentleman, Brian James."
After helping to form the Damned, Brian left to found Tanz Der Youth, before he formed The Lords of the New Church with Stiv Bators.
The pair went onto produce three successful studio albums and hit singles such as Open Your Eyes, Dance with Me, and Method to My Madness.
But Brian didn't stop there.
He went on to The Dripping Lips and the Brian James Gang which created more solo albums.
The tribute continued: "Incessantly creative and a musical tour de force, over a career which spanned more than six decades, with his music also gracing film and television soundtracks, in addition to The Damned and The Lords of the New Church, Brian worked with a plethora of punk and rock 'n' roll's finest, from Iggy Pop to Wayne Kramer, Stewart Copeland to Cheetah Chrome.
"Most recently, more than four decades after the release of the epoch-making New Rose, the original members of The Damned reformed for a series of very special and emotional UK shows in 2022."
Brian was born in Hammersmith, London, on February 18, 1955.
He leaves behind his wife Minna, son Charlie, and daughter-in-law Alicia.
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