A spokesperson for his record label confirms that Brian James has passed away "peacefully with his family present."
Brian James is known for writing the first British punk single "New Rose" and The Damned are often referred to as Britain's first punk band. The Damned toured with, among others, Sex Pistols.
Brian James left The Damned in 1977 and later founded the band The Lords of the New Church together with American punk rocker Stiv Bators.
In 2022, the original members of The Damned reunited for a tour in the UK.
Brian James was 70 years old.
