Captain Sensible
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Captain Sensible (born Raymond Burns, 24 April, 1954) is a singer and guitarist (and sometimes bassist) who grew up in Croydon, England, and founded the punk rock band The Damned in 1976. After leaving the band, he reinvented himself as an alternative pop singer with a rebellious, self-conscious image. His signature headwear is a red beret.
Early life
He was born Raymond Burns on April 24th, 1954 in Balham, London, England. Currently living in Hassocks, West Sussex.
The Damned
Sensible joined The Damned in 1976 on the suggestion of his work colleague Rat Scabies, the band's drummer, filling a number of positions during his tenure (including bassist, lead guitarist and keyboardist), and eventually becoming the band's main songwriter following the departure of Brian James. He left in the 1980s to concentrate on solo projects, but rejoined in 1996 after Scabies left, and co-wrote Grave Disorder, the band's first new studio album for 12 years, in 2001. He continues to tour with the band today, and one of his trademark moves on stage is playing guitar with an empty beer can.
Solo career
Sensible had a UK number one hit in 1982 with a cover of "Happy Talk", the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein song from South Pacific, featuring backing by Dolly Mixture; this was later sampled for rap artist Dizzee Rascal's 2004 version of the same song. Other hits include "Wot?", "One Christmas Catalogue" and "Glad It's All Over". He has also toured with his solo band Punk Floyd.
His recording of "The Snooker Song" from Mike Batt's musical The Hunting Of The Snark was used as the theme music for the BBC gameshow Big Break, and he also wrote and performed a song called "Brain's Theme" for the movie Skinned Deep in 2004.
Captain Sensible is also a member of Dead Men Walking, a supergroup featuring Mike Peters (The Alarm), Kirk Brandon (Spear of Destiny) and Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats).[1]
Studio albums
- Women and Captains First (1982)
- The Power of Love (1984)
- Revolution Now (1989)
- The Universe of Geoffrey Brown (1993)
- Live at the Milkyway (1994)
- Meathead (1995)
- Mad Cows and Englishmen (1997)
Politics
Previously a member of the Green Party, in 2006 Sensible formed the Blah! Party, for which he continues to serve as leader. An avowed "protest party" aiming to "give all politicians a kick up the jacksie", it entered into a sponsorship deal with Seabrook Crisps in September of that year.[2]
References
- ^ "Dead Men Walking". Entertainment. BBC Cumbria. 2006-10-05. Retrieved 2007-10-07.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Loweth, Jenny (2006-09-27). "Crisp firm backs the new force in politics!". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
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