Captain Sensible
Punk Band from United Kingdom
Raymond Ian Burns (born 23 April 1954), known by the stage name Captain Sensible, is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist. He co-founded the punk rock band the Damned in 1976, originally playing bass before switching to guitar. He is known for his distinctive appearance including a red beret and sunglasses, typically with white frames. Sensible embarked on a solo career during the 1980s, achieving a UK number one hit with his version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Happy Talk" (1982) and further hits with "Wot" (1982) and "Glad It's All Over" (1984). In 2006, Sensible founded the Blah! Party. He continues to perform in the Damned.
Early life
Captain Sensible was born in Balham, London, on 24 April 1954. He went to Stanley Technical School for Boys in South Norwood, Croydon. The first musical instrument he played was a Bontempi organ. Growing up, he listened to Brian Auger, Syd Barrett, Small Faces, Egg, Stray, Soft Machine and the Groundhogs.
The Damned
Originally a member of the Johnny Moped band, Captain Sensible joined the Damned in 1976 on the suggestion of his 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.
Captain Sensible left in the 1980s to concentrate on solo projects,and studied in West Sussex but rejoined in 1996 after Scabies left, and co-wrote Grave Disorder, the band's first new studio album for 8 years, in 2001. He continues to tour and record with the band.
Solo career
Captain Sensible's first solo release came in 1978 with the single "Jet Boy, Jet Girl", an Elton Motello cover recorded while the Damned were on hiatus. He followed this in 1981 with the This Is Your Captain Speaking EP on Crass Records. He signed to A&M Records and 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 and a band including Robyn Hitchcock on guitar. This was later sampled for British hip hop artist Dizzee Rascal's 2004 song "Dream".Other Captain Sensible songs that became hits in the UK and Europe were "Wot", "One Christmas Catalogue" and anti-Falklands War "Glad It's All Over", which was co-written and produced by Tony Mansfield. 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.
Captain Sensible's 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, Kirk Brandon (Spear of Destiny) and Slim Jim Phantom, and the Sensible Gray Cells with current Damned mate Paul Gray.
Politics
In September 2006, Captain Sensible formed a new British political party known as the Blah! Party, saying, "We believe that voting is an important part of the democratic process, and we want the Blah! Party to be the party of protest, a channel through which the people of the U.K. can vent their dissatisfaction at nonsensical everyday things, and protest against the government and the current crop of political parties."The Blah! Party was largely modelled on the principle of direct democracy, with suggestions being made by anyone on the party website. These suggestions would then be voted on by the membership, resulting in a "rolling manifesto." The party was launched on 24 September 2006 at a conference in Manchester. Initial policies included stopping "chav culture and the idolisation of airhead celebrities like the Beckhams, Paris Hilton and Jade Goody", alongside more serious policies of opposing the Iraq War and ID cards, instead spending money on public transport, hospitals and renewable energy.The Blah! Party entered into a sponsorship deal with Seabrook Crisps in September 2006, with the party logo and details on joining for free printed on their packets. The party also received non-financial support from PR company Propaganda. The party received £168,309 in the last quarter of 2006. The party was debt-free in 2008, with a membership of 8,544, up from 5,000 in 2007.The first Blah! Party candidate was Carl Finlan, who stood in the 2007 local elections in Thornton and Allerton ward, Bradford. He gained 69 votes (1.6%). Deputy leader Melodie Staniforth stood in the Holme Valley North ward of Kirklees as 'Boney Maroney' in 2008. She gained 38 votes (0.68%). She resigned shortly afterwards.On 11 September 2007, Propaganda handed total control of the Blah! Party to Captain Sensible, former Official Monster Raving Loony Party deputy leader Melodie Staniforth, Robert Staniforth, Sadie Ingoldby, Shaun Nightingale and Gary Spate. In December 2008, Propaganda closed the website. The party ended its association with Propaganda and Seabrook, launching a new website. At the same time it de-registered from the register of political parties, deciding to instead be a protest group.
Personal life
Captain Sensible was previously in a long term relationship with Rachel Bor of Dolly Mixture. The couple have three children together. He is currently married to Mayumi.Burns adopted his stage name Captain Sensible ironically because he described himself as a "debauched maniac" who had fun "regardless of the consequences." However, after living at Dial House (the commune where the anarcho-punk band Crass lived) for a week to record an EP in 1981, his life changed and he became a vegetarian who adhered to Crass' pacifist and creative aims. Captain Sensible has written several songs about animal rights, including "Torture Me" and most notably the 1985 single "Wot! No Meat?". He is a supporter of Crystal Palace F.C..
Early life
Captain Sensible was born in Balham, London, on 24 April 1954. He went to Stanley Technical School for Boys in South Norwood, Croydon. The first musical instrument he played was a Bontempi organ. Growing up, he listened to Brian Auger, Syd Barrett, Small Faces, Egg, Stray, Soft Machine and the Groundhogs.
The Damned
Originally a member of the Johnny Moped band, Captain Sensible joined the Damned in 1976 on the suggestion of his 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.
Captain Sensible left in the 1980s to concentrate on solo projects,and studied in West Sussex but rejoined in 1996 after Scabies left, and co-wrote Grave Disorder, the band's first new studio album for 8 years, in 2001. He continues to tour and record with the band.
Solo career
Captain Sensible's first solo release came in 1978 with the single "Jet Boy, Jet Girl", an Elton Motello cover recorded while the Damned were on hiatus. He followed this in 1981 with the This Is Your Captain Speaking EP on Crass Records. He signed to A&M Records and 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 and a band including Robyn Hitchcock on guitar. This was later sampled for British hip hop artist Dizzee Rascal's 2004 song "Dream".Other Captain Sensible songs that became hits in the UK and Europe were "Wot", "One Christmas Catalogue" and anti-Falklands War "Glad It's All Over", which was co-written and produced by Tony Mansfield. 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.
Captain Sensible's 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, Kirk Brandon (Spear of Destiny) and Slim Jim Phantom, and the Sensible Gray Cells with current Damned mate Paul Gray.
Politics
In September 2006, Captain Sensible formed a new British political party known as the Blah! Party, saying, "We believe that voting is an important part of the democratic process, and we want the Blah! Party to be the party of protest, a channel through which the people of the U.K. can vent their dissatisfaction at nonsensical everyday things, and protest against the government and the current crop of political parties."The Blah! Party was largely modelled on the principle of direct democracy, with suggestions being made by anyone on the party website. These suggestions would then be voted on by the membership, resulting in a "rolling manifesto." The party was launched on 24 September 2006 at a conference in Manchester. Initial policies included stopping "chav culture and the idolisation of airhead celebrities like the Beckhams, Paris Hilton and Jade Goody", alongside more serious policies of opposing the Iraq War and ID cards, instead spending money on public transport, hospitals and renewable energy.The Blah! Party entered into a sponsorship deal with Seabrook Crisps in September 2006, with the party logo and details on joining for free printed on their packets. The party also received non-financial support from PR company Propaganda. The party received £168,309 in the last quarter of 2006. The party was debt-free in 2008, with a membership of 8,544, up from 5,000 in 2007.The first Blah! Party candidate was Carl Finlan, who stood in the 2007 local elections in Thornton and Allerton ward, Bradford. He gained 69 votes (1.6%). Deputy leader Melodie Staniforth stood in the Holme Valley North ward of Kirklees as 'Boney Maroney' in 2008. She gained 38 votes (0.68%). She resigned shortly afterwards.On 11 September 2007, Propaganda handed total control of the Blah! Party to Captain Sensible, former Official Monster Raving Loony Party deputy leader Melodie Staniforth, Robert Staniforth, Sadie Ingoldby, Shaun Nightingale and Gary Spate. In December 2008, Propaganda closed the website. The party ended its association with Propaganda and Seabrook, launching a new website. At the same time it de-registered from the register of political parties, deciding to instead be a protest group.
Personal life
Captain Sensible was previously in a long term relationship with Rachel Bor of Dolly Mixture. The couple have three children together. He is currently married to Mayumi.Burns adopted his stage name Captain Sensible ironically because he described himself as a "debauched maniac" who had fun "regardless of the consequences." However, after living at Dial House (the commune where the anarcho-punk band Crass lived) for a week to record an EP in 1981, his life changed and he became a vegetarian who adhered to Crass' pacifist and creative aims. Captain Sensible has written several songs about animal rights, including "Torture Me" and most notably the 1985 single "Wot! No Meat?". He is a supporter of Crystal Palace F.C..
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- Biography -
60 albums
God Save Our Queen, Jordan Mooney 1955-2022
2023 - United KingdomPunk
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Damaged Goods
Too Much Reality E.P.
2013 - United KingdomPunk
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 4 Tracks
Time And Matter Records
Wot (I Say Captain)
2005 - United KingdomNew Wave, Disco
CD Maxi-Single ⎯ 4 Tracks
Sony Bmg Music Entertainment
My Baby Don't Care
2004 - United KingdomPunk, New Wave
Vinyl 10" ⎯ 4 Tracks
Weizenheimer
The Collection
2003 - United KingdomAlternative Rock, Synth-pop
CD Album Compilation ⎯ 19 Tracks
Spectrum Music , Spectrum Music
The Masters
1998 - United KingdomPunk
CD Album Compilation ⎯ 14 Tracks
Eagle Records
The Universe Of Captain Sensible
1998 - United KingdomPsychedelic Rock
CD EP ⎯ 5 Tracks
Jarmusic
Lucky Seven Inch Record
1998 - United KingdomPunk
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 6 Tracks
Incognito Records
Cigarette Sandy / Waiting For The World
1998 - United KingdomPunk, Britpop, Indie Rock
Vinyl 6" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Musical Tragedies
While Wrecking The Car
1997 - United KingdomAlternative Rock, New Wave
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Empty Records
The Best Of Captain Sensible (Sensible Lifestyles)
1997 - United KingdomCD Album Compilation ⎯ 15 Tracks
Cleopatra
The Captain's Box
1996 - United KingdomProg Rock
CD Album Compilation ⎯ 46 Tracks
Humbug
A Slice Of ...
1996 - United KingdomPost-Punk, Psychedelic Rock, New Wave
CD Album Compilation ⎯ 14 Tracks
Humbug
Mad Cows & Englishmen
1996 - United KingdomAlternative Rock, Power Pop
CD Album ⎯ 12 Tracks
Scratch Records
Fliptop World (Remix) / An (Abridged) Taste Of Humbug
1996 - United KingdomSynth-pop
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Fear And Loathing
Meathead
1995 - United KingdomAlternative Rock, Psychedelic Rock
CD Album ⎯ 32 Tracks
Humbug
The Hokey Cokey / One Foot In The Grave
1994 - United KingdomSoundtrack, Parody
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Pmw Records, Victa Records
The Hokey Cokey
1994 - United KingdomNovelty
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Have A Nice Day Records
Holiday In My Heart / Life Up In The Stars
1993 - United KingdomAlternative Rock, New Wave, Indie Rock
CD Single ⎯ 2 Tracks
Humbug
The Universe Of Geoffrey Brown
1993 - United KingdomAlternative Rock, New Wave, Indie Rock
CD Album ⎯ 11 Tracks
Humbug
Smash It Up (Pt. 4) / Market Day
1990 - United KingdomPunk
Vinyl 12" ⎯ 6 Tracks
Deltic Records
The Snooker Song
1988 - United KingdomVinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Trax Music, Adventure Records
The Toys Take Over
1988 - United KingdomNew Wave, Synth-pop
Vinyl 12" ⎯ 3 Tracks
Deltic Records
Savage Amusement E.P.
1987 - United KingdomFolk Rock, Glam
Vinyl 12" ⎯ 4 Tracks
Barracuda Blue
Brenda / Surrender
1986 - United KingdomRock & Roll, Theme, Synth-pop
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
A&m Records, Epic
A Day In The Life Of ...
1984 - United KingdomNew Wave
Vinyl LP ⎯ 13 Tracks
A&m Records
Glad It's All Over
1984 - United KingdomPunk, Synth-pop
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
A&m Records
There Are More Snakes Than Ladders
1984 - United KingdomVinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
A&m Records
One Christmas Catalogue
1984 - United KingdomDowntempo, Synth-pop
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
A&m Records
Glad It's All Over / Damned On 45
1984 - United KingdomPunk, Synth-pop
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
A&m Records
The Cricket E.P.
1983 - United KingdomNew Wave
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 6 Tracks
Pavilioned In Splendour
The Power Of Love
1983 - United KingdomPunk, New Wave
Vinyl LP ⎯ 12 Tracks
A&m Records
Wot! / Croydon
1982 - United KingdomNew Wave, Disco
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
A&m Records
I'm So Excited / Wot!
1982 - United KingdomDisco, New Wave
Vinyl 12" ⎯ 3 Tracks
Alfa
Change / Wot!
1982 - United KingdomDisco
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Unlimited Gold, A&m Records
Women And Captains First
1982 - United KingdomNew Wave
Vinyl LP ⎯ 11 Tracks
A&m Records
Wait For The Blackout / Jet Boy, Jet Girl
1982 - United KingdomPunk, Alternative Rock
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Big Beat Records
This Is Your Captain Speaking
1981 - United KingdomPunk, Power Pop
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 3 Tracks
Crass Records
Jet Boy, Jet Girl / Children Of The Damned
1978 - United KingdomPunk
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
Poker
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Last Update : 01 Mai 2024
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