The Damned made history with the release of New Rose in October 1976, the first single by a British punk band. Four months later came Damned Damned Damned, the first British punk album. Originally released by Stiff Records in February 1977, its breakneck half-hour of snarling riffs, hooks and irrepressible energy still sounds as thrilling today. While many of their peers leaned into politics, The Damned simply wanted to play fast, loud rock & roll—and in doing so created one of the essential records of the punk era.