The Damned - Eloise

Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan said that Dave Vanian's dance moves and stage persona were a huge influence on him in the early 1980s. Gahan said that he used to nervously cling to the microphone stand during his early performances, but watching video of Vanian and imitating him inspired him to move about on stage more and then he became more confident and would later develop his own style. After watching this I now know exactly what Gahan was talking about. The stage presence and dance moves from this era are very similar between the two.

Almost 40 years on and this still sounds fresh. Absolute classic.

The hair, the eyes, that mouth, the shirt , the trousers and that eyebrow !!!!! Not forgetting that beautiful voice ! Dave really has it all.....

30 years later, I finally now have Dave’s hair, only in reverse 🤣

This is just epic. Dave Vanian is on top form in his Count Dracula look. The Damned had some mega hits but for me, this was outstanding and the best.

Ahhh those days of walking into a dark, sweaty club (usually in a cellar) and hearing those songs pounding out, feeling the beat through the walls! Halcyon days ❤

I love this man's voice.

I was fortunate to meet a lot ppl when I was younger and lived in Philadelphia. Dave Vanian is top of that long list he was the nicest guy and one of my teenage crushes so when I met him in my 20s cause he came in the Halloween store I was working at (imagine that Dave Vanian visiting a Halloween store unheard of lol) I thought I’d hit the floor. I pretended I had no idea who he was though I most certainly did as soon as he came through the door just so I could talk to him like a real person. We talked for like a half hour. Nicest and most favorite person I ever met from bands I loved. He was with the Phantom Chords at the time and not with the Damned. Been great to met them all! Love the Damned! Seriously Underrated band! And in person.... my GOD he was beautiful!

Dave Vanian, the only true Dark Prince of Gothic Romanticism!

The look he gives the camera at 2:45 is IT. I need to sit down.

My 2nd grand daughter was born a few hours ago, and they’ve called her Eloise.

Even Barry Ryan's own brother said that the damned did his brothers song absolute justice so Dave Vanian you are always held in great esteem

How can anyone NOT like this tune????

Dave Vanian was my style guru in my 20’s/30’s - I loved his look….so cool!!

I loved it in the 80's when I was a teenager still love it now at 52 😊

this performance lives in my head rent free

my mum named me after this song :)

It's amazing that Dave Vanian had such an operatic baratone/bass voice it isn't praised as much as others. This was probably due to his punk roots which seemed gloriously out-of-place even at the time. It wasn't until The Damned began recording music like this that his voice was able to be appreciated for what it was.

Dave had such class, charisma and a great sense of style. Even nowadays he's still the same charming man. It saddens me to see that my generation seems to lack boys like him. :/

2024 April and still a classic