Posted on 11/19/2004 8:25:15 AM PST by dukeman
A decision to invite punk rockers The Damned to switch on Cambridge city's Christmas lights has sparked controversy among church leaders.
Captain Sensible and David Vanian will replace the usual choice of Christopher Biggins for the switch-on at the Guildhall on Sunday.
The Reverend at St Martin's Church said the seventies band was not appropriate.
But guitarist Captain Sensible said: "They could have booked Cliff Richard. How boring would that have been?"
Captain Sensible is due to join Father Christmas and city mayor Roger Dryden for the festive switch-on.
But the decision has led to fury among church leaders.
"It is not appropriate for Christmas," said Reverend Stephen Leeke, of St Martin's Church in Cambridge.
Annette Joyce, Cambridge city centre manager "They are a punk rock band with very doubtful lyrics."
He added that the council had not given much thought to the decision to invite the band - whose songs include Anti Pope.
"They should admit they made a mistake," he said.
Reverend Dr Peter Graves, of Wesley Methodist Church in Cambridge, said: "We should not give a major function over to a group that goes out of its way to deny what Christmas is about. "
He added the decision should have been handled more sensitively.
The council said the idea arose because the event coincided with The Damned's Cambridge tour date.
The band is set to play its 22nd tour date at Cambridge's The Junction after the switch-on.
'Criticism laughable'
City centre manager Annette Joyce said: "I did not anticipate it being a controversial switch-on. I can imagine that being the case if it was 20 years ago.
"It is actually a mixed cultural event that promotes what's happening in Cambridge. Some think it's blasphemous, others think don't be ridiculous."
Previous years have seen Christopher Biggins, Big Brother's PJ and Spencer and the annual pantomime cast flick the switch.
This year brass and jazz bands, Cambridge's Collegium Choir and the cast of Cinderella on Ice will also be participating in the day's events.
A spokeswoman for The Damned said the group found it laughable that the church has decided to criticise them for something as trivial as turning on Christmas lights.
The group’s lead singer, Captain Sensible, thinks his band is a good choice, and said that The Damned represents the true spirit of Christmas: “It’s a time to behave disgracefully and slob out in front of the TV. The Damned are particularly good at that sort of thing and the church stuff just gets in the way.”
Punk Rockers ... they were big in the 70's, weren't they? I can dimly remember them.
"Captain Sensible and David Vanian will replace the usual choice of Christopher Biggins..."
Oh well, that's an improvement at least.
Yeah, they're still around. My youngest son (23) is one. He and most of his punk friends (from many parts of the country) are hard working and pretty conservative, quite a few are religious in their beliefs. Back in 2000 he with his natural red hair spiked mohawk and his brother took part in one of the protests at Gores VP mansion yelling for him to get out of Cheney's house. The name of the bands usually have little to do with their beliefs and politics and some of the groups music is pretty good, even to an old conservative fart like me.
Hmmmm. Not exactly Bing Crosby, are they? Actually, I'm sure they're eating up the news coverage. No one's probably paid attention to them in years.
Wait a minute...
The Damned are still together? I thought Captain Sensible died in a car crash a few years ago...
Today's starting out good!
Mid level punk band at best. I saw them once back in their heyday. It's a shock to hear of them 25 years from that time.
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