Damned Autumnwatch
Post categories: Autumnwatch
|11:38 UK time, Thursday, 3 November 2011
The Damned were one of the first punk bands I saw live back in 1977. It was an extraordinary gig with Captain Sensible, Dave Vanian, Brian James and Rat Scabies living up to their imaginative names with a loud rollercoaster of songs and theatrical antics. Whilst Vanian has remained true to his 'Elvis Vampire' stage persona the Captain has entertained me over the years clad in a tutu, pink fur and nothing at all.
Every Damned show I've ever seen (and there have been many) has been hugely enjoyable, often a cabaret of lunacy set to one of the most exciting set of songs ever played. I've been lucky enough to meet the band several times over the years and jolly nice blokes they are too, not something that be said of all my punk rock idols!
Me in 1983, in my post-punk days.
So when people started asking which song titles I might try to weave into this year's shows I thought... The Damned!
I got off to an early start by welcoming Micheala as a 'New Rose', unfairly but predictably described the lesser horseshoe bats as 'Grimly Fiendish', described the modelling clay facsimile of their noses as 'Neat, Neat, Neat' and pertinently saw wild boar 'Smash it Up'.
In programme two I said Spurn Point was home to one the best birds in 'The History of the World', the Atlantic salmon allowed a very easy 'Fish' and, of course, I've always been a member of the sparrowhawk 'Fan Club'.
In week three I wondered whether we'd 'See Her Tonight' (a badger that is), foraging is never 'Hit or Miss' a late suckling red deer calf was a 'Problem Child' and rutting fallow deer were in a state of 'Psychomania'. Pretty fair given their passionate energies at this time.
In our fourth show I asked Martin if he was more of a 'Disco Man' than a fan of 5th Dimension and requested that people should not employ 'Machine Gun Etiquette' when going out to observe deer.
Thirteen so far, more to come...
Update 25 November
Programme five had barnacle geese who made 'Noise, Noise, Noise'. We had to 'Creep' up on them. Then sparrowhawks were 'Born to Kill', our clever cameramen pulled some magic out of the hat that wasn't a 'White Rabbit', Martin was 'So Messed Up' over his opinion of waterfowl, we were waiting for a predators 'Shadow to Fall' and, most dubiously, Bewick's swans were not in 'Wait for the Blackout' but a whiteout during the weather forecast analysis.
My best link in programme six was not only tenuous but a 'Stretcher Case'. 'Baby' swans followed to complete the title and confuse Michaela. We could all genuinely 'Feel the Pain' of the gannet ensnared in fishing net and 'Don't Cry Wolf' and 'Twisted Nerve' flowed into the fox aggression chat. 'I Just Can't Be Happy Today' described my dismay at the weather, a waxwing was the object of 'My Desire' and turnstones were a bit of a 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' bird .
'1 of the 2' kicked off in seven and 'Don't Trouble Trouble' and 'Tightrope Walk' again slipped in nicely whist discussing the fox fight. 'Melody Lee' was sadly only a fictitious Twitter name for a question for Roy Dennis and once again the uninspiring weather in terms of migration was there to 'Torture Me'.
Thirty two titles in seven, so one more to go with some really tricky titles to weave in... 'Anti Pope', 'Plan Nine', 'Channel Seven' and 'Jet Boy, Jet Girl'. Oooh, there's a challenge!
These legends are now on a 35th Anniversary tour with Stuart West, Monty Oxymoron and Pinch with UK dates between the 9th and 20th of November. I wouldn't miss it if I were you!
Editor's note: See how skilfully Chris wove Manic Street Preacher song titles into this year's Springwatch. So well, in fact, that it was picked up by the NME, the Mail and the Telegraph among others.
Comment number 1.
At 12:39 3rd Nov 2011, EmmaSioux wrote:i always enjoy spring/autumn watch and love chris and his song name checks makes an enjoyable show even more enjoyable .... great taste in music xxx
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Comment number 2.
At 13:13 3rd Nov 2011, KatyNewt wrote:I wondered if we were heading for another Tom Jones medly when someone said "It's not unusual " in the first show. I was thinking that Florence and the Machines' Shake it Out or Coldplays' Paradise would be lovely songs to do an autumn medly to but getting "It's hard to dance with a devil on your back" or "every tear a waterfall" in might be a bit tricky. Maybe there's a challenge there for you Chris! Now hearing one of those tomorrow would make my year!
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Comment number 3.
At 14:02 3rd Nov 2011, James McLaren - BBC wrote:And this is how I remember Chris Packham: a crazy-haired melange of Billy Idol and Robert 'Cure' Smith by the side of Terry Nutkins. Great memories.
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Comment number 4.
At 15:04 3rd Nov 2011, James McLaren - BBC wrote:PS any chance of Killing Joke?
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Comment number 5.
At 16:11 3rd Nov 2011, Tineke1963 wrote:Like your style Chris!!
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Comment number 6.
At 18:11 3rd Nov 2011, moggieboy wrote:Here's his Cure masterpiece from 2010:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnNlamILQcA
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Comment number 7.
At 19:41 3rd Nov 2011, specialencounterno2 wrote:Well-done Mr Packham.
I hope we see you at the Damned 35th anniversary tour, we are visiting the Bristol gig, Wicked.
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Comment number 8.
At 22:50 3rd Nov 2011, Wildlife Filmer Adam wrote:GENIUS! :-D
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Comment number 9.
At 23:48 3rd Nov 2011, LordTwiddler wrote:Good work Chris. I imagine Dave Vanian is a fellow bat lover. Splendid.
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Comment number 10.
At 16:29 4th Nov 2011, davmcn wrote:But the big question is, does Chwis ever listen to anything worth listening to?
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Comment number 11.
At 21:01 4th Nov 2011, MarkyRocknroll wrote:Ah ha! So are you going for a record tonight Chris?? (4th Nov). So far we've had five titles in 30 mins.. four of those in the first 10!!
Neat Neat Neat, Creep, White Rabbit, Born To Kill, So Messed Up
Keeping my ears peeled for more!!
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Comment number 12.
At 21:37 4th Nov 2011, MarkyRocknroll wrote:Ok, total geek.. I counted seven songs!!
Neat Neat Neat, Creep, White Rabbit, Born To Kill, So Messed Up, Shadow To Fall, Wait For The Blackout.
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Comment number 13.
At 21:59 4th Nov 2011, InsaneSociety wrote:A question for you regarding my favourite bird, the Whimbrel. I often see groups of a dozen or so flying downstream on the Shannon at Lanesborough at dusk. Sometimes, they are just over my head. In the morming, they always fly upstream but usually in much larger groups. As they are migrants, should they do the same during the Autumn, but in the reverse manner.
Keep up the Damned titles, should be easy to use "noise, noise, noise" but dont know about "Jet boy, Jet girl" ????
All the best, - Wag
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Comment number 14.
At 06:50 5th Nov 2011, CDale09 wrote:Autumnwatch + The Damned = Bliss! Last night I counted mentions of Noise Noise Noise, White Rabbit, Born To Kill, Shadow To Fall and Wait For The Blackout, and I missed a chunk of the show. Well done Chris, you know your onions. Can't wait to see how you work in a reference to Plan 9, Channel 7!
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Comment number 15.
At 21:14 8th Nov 2011, malcolm croll wrote:looking at the photo of chris packham ,my he looks like JOHNNY ROTTEN [ 2 ]
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Comment number 16.
At 17:51 11th Nov 2011, CDale09 wrote:Anyone got any predictions for tonight? How about a wind-blown warbler being a "Stranger On The Town"?!
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Comment number 17.
At 17:28 25th Nov 2011, Cowchy wrote:ooo bit of a looker u were i bet ..
cant beat the style of the sex pistols \m/
gota love the punks!!
i know im only 22 and i wasnt born around that time but o well punks never dead!!!
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Comment number 18.
At 03:02 27th Nov 2011, pipistrellebatfastard wrote:lol the Johnny Rotten comparison. I was thinking more of Spandau Ballet/Depeche Mode style, very New Romantic. Strike a pose and accept many thanks for, along with the whole team, managing to stir a middle aged, p-head transport enthusiast into appreciating the wonderful natural treasures Britain has
to offer. Sadly I wasn't clued up on the Damned and never picked up on the title links.Look forward to the Fall links lol, should you ever consider them. Plenty to choose from with album No. 29 out now.
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Comment number 19.
At 17:02 27th Nov 2011, Spadge wrote:Very crafty to use a viewer's online posting as a way of working in Eloise. ;-)
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Comment number 20.
At 18:03 18th Dec 2011, AlaineNiLaoi wrote:Chris you broke my heart when you said Guns n Roses songs went on so long you got bored. Imagine Autumnwatch and Guns n Roses titles it would be paradise city
P.S you look like a rocket queen in that picture I'd bet you had a real appitite for distruction!!! ;-)
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Comment number 21.
At 08:58 19th Dec 2011, davmcn wrote:I don't listen to any of that rubbish. Grow up!
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