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Rat Scabies | |
|---|---|
 Rat Scabies, late 1970s/early 1980s | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Christopher Millar |
| Also known as | Rat Scabies |
| Born | 30 July 1955 |
| Origin | Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, producer |
| Instrument(s) | Drums |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels | None |
Christopher John Millar (born 30 July 1955), known by his stage name Rat Scabies, is a musician best known as the drummer for English punk rock band the Damned. [1]
Millar was born in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. He played drums with Tor and London SS before founding the Damned with Brian James, Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible in 1976. In his audition for London SS, he obtained the nickname Rat Scabies after he was suffering from scabies when a rat ran across the basement floor. [2]
The Damned played their first gig supporting the Sex Pistols, and later released the first punk single in the UK, "New Rose". Scabies played with the Damned with some interruptions and alongside various personnel changes until a dispute over the release of the album Not of This Earth led to his departure in 1995.
His solo work outside the Damned includes a cover version of Bob Dylan's "This Wheel's on Fire", credited to "Rat & The Whale". [3] In 2003 Millar formed a short-lived outfit called the Germans with Peter Coyne and Kris Dollimore, originally from the Godfathers. In recent times, he has played with Donovan, Nosferatu, ska artist Neville Staple (formerly of the Specials) and his band, Dave Catching (Eagles of Death Metal), Chris Goss, the Members, the Mutants, the Spammed, Urban Voodoo Machine and Jane Horrocks. He has also worked as a producer, including with Flipron and Ebony Bones. [4] In May 2018 he released his solo album P.H.D. (Prison, Hospital, Debt).
On 17 November 2023, the Damned announced that Scabies had returned as a permanent member. [5] [6] In February 2024 The Damned announced that for the first time in 35 years they would be doing a ten date North American tour featuring their 1980's lineup of Scabies, Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible and Paul Gray. [7]
Millar lives with his wife Viv and their three children in Brentford, and is the central character of the book Rat Scabies and The Holy Grail , written by former music journalist Christopher Dawes. The book was published in May 2005 and is billed as "A road trip, a rich historical yarn, and testimony to the odd nature of a great many friendships". [8]
Scabies uses vintage Leedy & George Hayman drum kits. Over the years he has played various brands, starting with a John Grey 'Autocrat' kit in turquoise sparkle finish, before playing a black Pearl Maxwin kit (early 1970s to 1976), a white Pearl kit (late 1976–1981), a white Premier 'Resonator' kit (1982–1983), a Premier 'Black Shadow' kit (1984–1985), then a Premier 'Resonator' in piano black finish (1985–1996).
The Damned are an English punk rock band formed in London in 1976 by lead vocalist Dave Vanian, guitarist Brian James, bassist Captain Sensible and drummer Rat Scabies. They were the first punk band from the United Kingdom to release a single, "New Rose" (1976), release a studio album, Damned Damned Damned (1977) and tour the United States. Nine of the band's singles charted on the UK Singles Chart Top 40.
Strawberries is the fifth studio album by English punk rock band the Damned. It was released in October 1982 by record label Bronze.
Machine Gun Etiquette is the third studio album by English punk rock band the Damned, released on 2 November 1979 by Chiswick Records.
Not of This Earth is the eighth studio album by The Damned. It is often called I'm Alright Jack & The Beanstalk.
"New Rose" by The Damned was the first single by a British punk rock group, released on 22 October 1976 on Stiff Records, and in 1977 in the Netherlands, Germany and France.
The Black Album is the fourth studio album by English punk rock band the Damned, and the first to feature Paul Gray on bass guitar. It was released on 3 November 1980 by Chiswick as a double album, with "Curtain Call" filling the whole of side 3, and a selection of live tracks recorded at Shepperton Studios at a special concert for Damned fan club members on side 4. The song "13th Floor Vendetta" paid tribute to the film The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), opening with the lyrics "...the organ plays to midnight on Maldine Square tonight".
Masters of the Backside was an early British punk rock group. They never released a recording or performed beyond practice sessions, but the group's members went on to greater success: Chrissie Hynde later fronted The Pretenders, and Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible and Rat Scabies were subsequently founding members of The Damned.
Not The Captain's Birthday Party? is an album released in July 1986 by The Damned. The album is based on a live performance recorded by Engineer Tony Taverner, using La Maison Rouge mobile, on 27 November 1977 at the Roundhouse.
Friday 13th EP is a four-track EP by English rock band the Damned, issued as the result of a one-off deal with the NEMS Records label. It was released on 13 November 1981, which fell on a Friday.
"I Just Can't Be Happy Today" is a song by English punk rock band the Damned from their 1979 album, Machine Gun Etiquette. Released as a single in November on Chiswick Records, it peaked at No. 46 in the UK Singles Chart.
"There Ain't No Sanity Clause" is a single by English rock band the Damned, released on 24 November 1980.
"Dozen Girls" is a single by English punk rock band the Damned, released on 17 September 1982 by Bronze Records.
"Generals" is a single by English punk rock band the Damned, released in November 1982.
"Is It a Dream?" is a single by English rock band the Damned, released in September 1985 by MCA Records.
"Anything" is a single by English rock band the Damned, released on 6 November 1986 by MCA Records.
"Lively Arts" is a single released by English rock band The Damned.
The Light at the End of the Tunnel is a double compilation album by the Damned, released by MCA in 1987 as a retrospective collection. The same name was also given to a concurrently released video cassette and an approved band biography by Carol Clerk.
Live Shepperton 1980 is a 1982 album by The Damned, their first live album.
The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead is a 2015 American documentary film about the British rock band The Damned. It was directed by Wes Orshoski and premiered at the SXSW Film Festival.
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