Captain Sensible 666931 226069469 2008-07-16T18:14:52Z Frostie Jack 7473265 disambiguate "Supergroup" {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians --> | Name = Captain Sensible | Img = CaptainSensible.jpg | Img_capt = Captain Sensible, performing live with [[The Damned]] in 2006 | Img_size = | Landscape = | Background = solo_singer | Birth_name = Raymond Burns | Alias = Captain Sensible | Born = {{birth date and age|1954|4|24|df=yes}} | Died = | Origin = | Instrument = [[Bass guitar]], [[electric guitar]] | Voice_type = | Genre = [[Punk rock|Punk]], [[pop music|pop]] | Occupation = | 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 [[bass guitar|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 Burns in [[Balham]], [[London]]. ==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 (musician)|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. ==Solo career== Sensible had a UK number one hit in 1982 with a cover of "[[Happy Talk (song)|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. [[Image:CaptainSensible02.jpg|thumb|upright|Playing live in [[Abergavenny]] in 1994]] Captain Sensible is also a member of [[Dead Men Walking]], a [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]] featuring [[Mike Peters (musician)|Mike Peters]] ([[The Alarm]]), [[Kirk Brandon]] ([[Spear of Destiny (band)|Spear of Destiny]]) and [[Slim Jim Phantom]] ([[Stray Cats]]).<ref>{{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}}</ref> ==Studio albums== *''[[Women and Captain First]]'' (1982) *''[[The Power of Love (Captain Sensible album)|The Power of Love]]'' (1984) *''[[Revolution Now]]'' (1989) *''[[The Universe of Geoffrey Brown]]'' (1993) *''[[Live at the Milky Way]]'' (1994) *''[[Meathead (Captain Sensible album)|Meathead]]'' (1995) *''[[Mad Cows and Englishmen]]'' (1997) == Politics == Previously a member of the [[Green Party of England and Wales|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==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 {{The Damned}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Captain Sensible}} [[Category:1954 births]] [[Category:English rock guitarists]] [[Category:English rock bass guitarists]] [[Category:English male singers]] [[Category:English vegetarians]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Music from Brighton, England]] [[Category:The Damned members]] [[Category:People from Balham]] [[de:Captain Sensible]] [[es:Captain Sensible]] [[fr:Captain Sensible]] [[pt:Captain Sensible]]