Captain Sensible

Infobox musical artist
Name = Captain Sensible


Img_capt = Captain Sensible, performing live with The Damned in 2006
Img_size = 250
Landscape = Yes
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Raymond Burns
Alias = Captain Sensible
Born = birth date and age|1954|4|24|df=yes
Died =
Instrument = Guitar, bass, vocals
Voice_type =
Occupation = Musician, Songwriter
Years_active = 1976–present
Label = None
Associated_acts = Dead Men Walking, Dr. Spacetoad, Punk Floyd
URL =
Notable_instruments =

Captain Sensible (born Raymond Burns, 24 April, 1954) is a singer, songwriter, guitarist (and sometimes bassist) who grew up in Croydon, England, and co-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 Ian Burns in Balham, London.Before joining The Damned he was in a covers band called Oasis.

The Damned

Originally a member of the Johnny Moped band, 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.

olo career

Sensible had a UK number one hit in 1982 with a cover of "Happy Talk", the 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 songs which became hits in the UK and various European countries were Rap parody "Wot?", the anti-Christmas "One Christmas Catalogue" and anti-Falklands War "Glad It's All Over". After quitting A&M Records he continued recording for various independent labels, including Deltic Records and Humbug Records. 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). [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Dead Men Walking
work = Entertainment
publisher = BBC Cumbria
date = 2006-10-05
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/articles/2006/10/05/louder_deadmenwalking_feature.shtml
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-10-07]

tudio albums

*"Women and Captain First" (1982)
*"The Power of Love" (1984)
*"Revolution Now" (1989)
*"The Universe of Geoffrey Brown" (1993)
*"Live at the Milky Way" (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 2006. [cite news
last = Loweth
first = Jenny
coauthors =
title = Crisp firm backs the new force in politics!
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = Bradford Telegraph and Argus
date = 2006-09-27
url =http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/newsindex/display.var.941438.0.crisp_firm_backs_the_new_force_in_politics.php
accessdate = 2007-10-02]

References

External links

*myspace|thecaptainsensible|Captain Sensible
* [http://idiot-dog.com/music/captain.sensible/ Captain Sensible discography]
* [http://www.idiotbox.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ Extended discography]
* [http://www.blahparty.org The Blah! Party] - Captain Sensible is the Blah! Party's leader