The Damned Things
American rock supergroup blending heavy riffs with hook-laden choruses.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The Damned Things was an American rock supergroup formed in 2008, drawing members from Fall Out Boy, Anthrax, Every Time I Die, and Alkaline Trio. The band's name was inspired by lyrics in Ram Jam's 1977 version of 'Black Betty'. They released two studio albums, Ironiclast (2010) and High Crimes (2019), and were known for a blues- and riff-oriented heavy/classic rock sound blending elements of their members' primary bands.
- formed
- 2008
- origin
- United States
- genre
- Heavy rock, classic rock
- years_active
- 2008–2012, 2016–2019
- labels
- Island Records, Nuclear Blast
- final_lineup
- Keith Buckley, Joe Trohman, Scott Ian, Andy Hurley, Dan Andriano
Lore & Background
The Damned Things began when Joe Trohman and Scott Ian met in 2008 and started writing music while Ian was on break from Anthrax. They invited Keith Buckley, Rob Caggiano, and Andy Hurley the following year. The band played its first show at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on June 1, 2010, and later performed at Download Festival and Copenhell in June 2010. Their debut single 'We've Got a Situation Here' was released on iTunes on October 25, 2010, and the album Ironiclast followed on December 14, 2010, via Island Records. Trohman described the album's sound as blues- and riff-oriented heavy/classic rock, influenced by Thin Lizzy and Led Zeppelin.
After a hiatus, the band reconvened in 2016 and announced new music in 2018. In February 2019, they revealed a new lineup featuring Dan Andriano on bass, replacing Rob Caggiano and Josh Newton. The second album High Crimes was released on April 26, 2019, through Nuclear Blast and was named one of the 50 best rock albums of 2019 by Loudwire. The band played their final show to date on December 13, 2019, at Every Time I Die's annual mini-festival 'Tid The Season.
Reader's Guide
The Damned Things represent a notable intersection of punk, metal, and hard rock, bringing together musicians from highly successful bands in different genres. Their debut album Ironiclast showcased a deliberate fusion of Anthrax's heaviness, Every Time I Die's intensity, and Fall Out Boy's melodic hooks, creating a sound that appealed to fans across multiple scenes. The band's second album High Crimes, released after a long hiatus and a lineup change, was critically recognized and demonstrated their continued relevance. Though their active period was relatively brief, the supergroup's collaborative approach and the members' individual reputations ensured their place in the early 2010s rock landscape. Their legacy includes a small but dedicated discography and a series of festival appearances that highlighted their live energy.
Did You Know?
- The band's name was inspired by lyrics in Ram Jam's 1977 version of 'Black Betty'.
- Their first show was at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, New York, on June 1, 2010.
- The song 'Trophy Widow' was released on the soundtrack of the video game Batman: Arkham City in October 2011.
- Loudwire named High Crimes one of the 50 best rock albums of 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is The Damned Things?
The Damned Things are an American rock supergroup that came together in 2008, pulling together musicians from Fall Out Boy, Anthrax, Every Time I Die, and Alkaline Trio. The band's name was lifted from a lyric in Ram Jam's 1977 cover of 'Black Betty.'
Which bands do The Damned Things members come from?
The final lineup includes Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley from Fall Out Boy, Scott Ian from Anthrax, Keith Buckley from Every Time I Die, and Dan Andriano from Alkaline Trio. This cross-pollination of punk, metal, and pop-punk backgrounds gave the group a wide sonic palette to draw from.
What albums did The Damned Things release?
The band shipped two studio records: Ironiclast in 2010 through Island Records and High Crimes in 2019 through Nuclear Blast. Both lean into a bluesy, riff-driven classic rock sound while still carrying the melodic hooks their members are known for in their primary bands.
Why did The Damned Things break up?
The group went quiet after 2012, most likely because each member's obligations to their main bands made sustained touring and writing impractical. They reunited in 2016 to record a second album but wrapped up their run in 2019, marking the end of the project.
What genre is The Damned Things?
They're typically tagged as heavy rock or classic rock, built around thick blues-influenced riffs and straightforward, hook-forward song structures. The sound sits somewhere between the aggressive energy of Every Time I Die and the melodic sensibility of Fall Out Boy, filtered through a more traditional rock lens.
More in American heavy metal supergroups 1-24
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