A cover of Help has been regarded as a successful adaptation of the “angst of every youngster.”
The Damned offered a surprising cover of The Beatles‘ hit with their first-ever B-side. The deep cut was released as part of their New Rose single, and proves to be quite the odd choice for the group. The band’s first-ever show came in a support slot for the Sex Pistols at the 100 Club, while Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde credits The Damned’s success to her lack of involvement. Hynde had been linked to the band and Masters of the Backside, which had featured staple members Captain Sensible, Dave Vanian, and Rat Scabies. Hynde wrote: “Without me, they [The Damned] were probably the most musically accomplished punk outfit in town.” High praise for the band would come from comments left on a YouTube upload of their Beatles cover.
A fan of The Damned’s version of Help wrote: “John Lennon said The Beatles version was fast because of commercial reasons, and wished he recorded a slow version instead, like the one Deep Purple did. But I feel The Damned rendition captures that angst that every youngster have felt at some point. God damn, punk suits this song so well.”
The Damned’s cover of Help would later feature on the CD reissue of Music for Pleasure. Though the Beatles cover was not printed on the original release, it was added along with Sick of Being Sick and Singalong a Scabies.
Fans were thrilled by The Damned’s version, with some considering it the best cover in music history. One fan wrote: “There’s cover versions then there’s this, possibly the best cover of any song, absolute mental drumming, and just basic rock and roll.”
Another added: “Always liked this version. I like the Punkles version too. And the Beatles of course.” A third wrote: “This is great. Jeez, I love this band.” Some have also suggested Help stands as the best piece of work The Damned released during their decades-spanning career.
One fan suggested: “Seriously, B side to New Rose it ripped the past wide open to everything imaginable whatever. All clay in whoever dared to hold and mould. Nobody doing that now.” Another suggested the “Phoney Beatlmenaia” mentioned on The Clash’s London Calling could be a knock at The Damned cover.
One listener wrote: “I love The Damned, especially their early singles, but could this version be why The Clash were referring to a ‘phoney Beatlemania’ in London in the late 70s?”
Another added: “Better than the original easily. Captain Sensible purposely detuned his bass to make it sound worse.” A third wrote: “
Not everyone was thrilled by the cover, though, as one person said it should be the law not to cover The Beatles’ work. They fumed: “This is terrible and a waste of time. It should be against the law to cover the Beatles.” The original uploader replied: “It should be illegal to be stupid.”
Another detractor wrote: “Not sure if I like it.” A third derided the cover, adding: “Embarrassing for you guy to destroy this song.” You can listen to The Damned’s searing rendition of Help below.
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