Dead Men Walking

This is three bands:

The Jack Tars is the current iteration that fans of The Alarm probably care about. After 2015 Dead Men Walking as different but related band. (See The Jack Tars page for updated information).

History

Supergroup Mike Peters and his tour manager put together starting in 2001 to make a mockery of ageism in the record business and show that old punk rockers could put on an amazing performance. The line-up has changed many times over the years.

The version of the band consisting of Mike Peters, Slim Jim Phantom, Captain Sensible, and Kirk Brandon recorded an original album in 2008 that went unreleased for many years because of falling out with between band members. Subsequently Kirk Brandon and the band’s manager split from the other members.

After laying dormant for almost 10 years, the remaining members (Mike Peters, Captain Sensible, Slim Jim Phantom) added Chris Chaney from The Living End and on Sept. 14, 2014, they put on their most famous performance, a gig at the Troubadour in Los Angeles featuring Fred Armisen from Saturday Night Live and Duff Mckeegan from Guns and Roses

When the album named “Easy Piracy” (Now with Chris Chaney from The Living End as permanent member) was released in 2015 in the USA, it did not include any of the original material recorded by Kirk Brandon in 2008, which led to further complications. A legal battle ensued in the UK, and Kirk Brandon and his manager won the rights to the name Dead Men Walking on a legal basis. Kirk Brandon then formed his own version of Dead Men Walking with Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers), Dave Ruffy (Aztec Camera), and Seg Jennings (The Ruts).

The remaining original band members subsequently renamed themselves as The Jack Tars, but the album Easy Piracy remains unreleased in the UK.

List Of All Members

Guests

  • Danial Wylie (Cosmic Rough Riders) (2002)
  • Mick Jones (The Clash) (2003)
  • Fred Armisen (2014)
  • Duff McKagan (2014)
  • Topper Headon (The Clash)
  • Brian Setzer (Stray Cats)
  • Lemmy (Motörhead)

Recordings

Trivia

Ian McNabb of Icicle Works was one of the first people Mike Peters approached about Dead Men Walking, but he declined to join-up.

2001 : Dead Men Walking

Original Press Release (July 4th, 2001)

“The British answer to the Rat Pack, the Dead Men Walking Experience is an unforgettable one. Born out of friendship and mutual respect combined with Peters’s desire to create a contemporary Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Dead Men Walking is a collective of the UK’s rock’n roll’s finest; Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistols, Pete Wylie from the Mighty Wah, Kirk Brandon from Spear of Destiny and Mike Peters from The Alarm. For an evening of acute entertainment, following on from DMW’s recent jaunt, look forward to a sprinkling of dates in August (dates to follow) and later in October/November when DMW will be embarking on an extensive tour of the UK. Please keep in touch for finalized dates.”

Members

Mike Peters, Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), Pete Wylie (Mighty Wah!), Kirk Brandon (Theater Of Hate)

Performances
  • 27-Mar-2001 The Loft, Aberdeen
  • 28-Mar-2001 The Irish Centre, Leeds
  • 29-Mar-2001 Mars Bar, Worcester
  • 30-Mar-2001 Black Pig (Barn), Salisbury
  • 31-Mar-2001 Fat Pauly’s, Norwich
  • 01-Apr-2001 The Ocean 2, London
  • 25-Jun-2001 Dingwalls, London
  • 26-Jun-2001 Fibbers, York
  • 27-Jun-2001 Full Moon Rising, Bristol
  • 28-Jun-2001 The Witchwood, Ashton Under Lyne
  • 29-Jun-2001 Phoenix, Exeter
  • 30-Jun-2001 The Flowerpot, Derby
  • 01-Jul-2001 City Arts Open Air, Portsmouth
  • 03-Aug-2001 Special Olympics Closing Ceremony, Cardiff Castle
  • 04-Aug-2001 The Forum, Tunbridge Wells
  • 05-Aug-2001 Guldford Festival, Guildford
  • 11-Aug-2001 The Arc, Stockton (Rescheduled From August 3rd)
  • 12-Oct-2001 Naima Club, Forlì, Italy
  • 13-Oct-2001 Bloom, Mezzago (MI), Italy
  • 17-Oct-2001 The Springhead, Hull
  • 18-Oct-2001 The Forum, Billingham
  • 19-Oct-2001 Palace Theatre, Newark
  • 21-Oct-2001 The Cathouse, Glasgow (cancelled)
  • 22-Oct-2001 Bar Cuba, Macclesfield
  • 23-Oct-2001 Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh
  • 24-Oct-2001 Courtyard, Hereford
  • 25-Oct-2001 Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale
  • 27-Oct-2001 Arts Centre, Aberystwyth
  • 28-Oct-2001 Pontardawe Arts Centre, Swansea
  • 29-Oct-2001 Yales Central Station, Wrexham
  • 31-Oct-2001 The Platform, Morecambe
  • 01-Nov-2001 Robin 2, Bilston, Wolverhampton
  • 02-Nov-2001 Neptune Theatre, Liverpool
  • 03-Nov-2001 Stables, Milton Keynes
  • 04-Nov-2001 The Junction, Cambridge
  • 06-Nov-2001 Town Hall, High Wycombe
  • 07-Nov-2001 Arts Centre, Kings Lynn
  • 08-Nov-2001 Arts Centre, Swindon
  • 09-Nov-2001 Theatre Royal, Winchester
  • 10-Nov-2001 Marrs Bar, Worcester
  • 11-Nov-2001 Civic Hall, Guildford
  • 12-Nov-2001 Town Hall, Reading
  • 16-Oct-2001 Janice Long Show, Radio 2 (12:00 Midnight)
  • 16-Oct-2001 Toucan Club, Cardiff

2002 Dead Men Walking

Members

Mike Peters, Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), Pete Wylie (Mighty Wah!), Kirk Brandon (Theater Of Hate), Roy Martin (Modern English)

Performances

Standing Only Tour

  • mon 18th march leeds new roscoe
  • tue 19th march glasgow king tuts
    • Guests : Bruce Watson, Daniel Wylie
  • wed 20th march hull wellington
  • thu 21st march macclesfield bar cuba
  • fri 22nd march liverpool lomax
  • sat 23rd march wrexham central station
  • tue 26th march london underworld
  • wed 27th march oxford zodiac
  • thu 28th march leicester charlotte
  • fri 29th march bristol fleece
  • sat 30th march manchester witchwood
  • sun 31st march worcester marrs bar

2003 Dead Men Walking

Notes

Pete Wylie exited. Slim Jim Phantom joined full-time. Billy Duffy joins, but got hurt playing soccer, so Bruce Watson filled-in for him on some UK dates.

Press Release
  • 2003 Press Release (May 28,2003)

Dead Men Walking will be taking to the road again throughout September / October
of 2003. Live and dangerous and presenting what for many will be the
soundtrack of a generation. Dead Men Walking began out of a loose bond
between friends and musicians whose aim is to perform familiar songs in a
new and dramatic setting. Stripping the songs back to basics is what this
tour is all about. Lyrics and melodies, voice and guitars.

The latest members to join Dead Men Walking are Billy Duffy who, as well as
being co-writer of all The Cult’s massive world wide hits such as ‘She Sells
Sanctuary’, ‘Rain’, ‘Love Removal Machine’ and last year’s US hit ‘Rise’ to
name but four, is still regarded as one of the finest and most influential
guitarists of modern times. The Cult are currently taking a sabbatical from
touring, while vocalist Ian Astbury continues his work with reconstituted
60’s legends ‘The Doors’, enabling Billy to join Dead Men Walking and resume
a musical relationship with Kirk Brandon which began in the legendary
original line-up of ‘Theatre Of Hate’.

Billy Duffy will also be resuming a musical partnership with Mike Peters
that began with ‘Coloursound’ – a band formed by Peters and Duffy that made
one critically acclaimed album back in 1999 before the demands of The Cult
and The Alarm intervened.

Slim Jim Phantom who is currently on tour in the US with The Stray Cats, will bring his unique
stand-up style of drumming to Dead Men Walking. Phantom, who co-wrote some
of the Stray Cats best known tracks like ‘Runaway Boys’ and ‘Rumble In
Brighton’ with guitarist Brian Setzer, has recently made records with r’n’r
legend Jerry Lee Lewis and Motorhead’s Lemmy.

Slim Jim’s connection with the
various members of Dead Men Walking began when The Stray Cats came to London
during the early1980’s. In fact, Mike Peters’ first met Slim Jim when
Seventeen supported The Stray Cats on their first ever ‘Runaway Boys UK
Tour’. All five have remained friends ever since.”

Members

Mike Peters, Glen Matlock, Kirk Brandon (Theater Of Hate), Billy Duffy (The Cult), Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats), Bruce Watson (Big Country)

Performances
  • Sep. Tues 16 Winchester Theatre Royal
  • Sep. Weds 17 Milton Keynes The Stables
  • Sep. Mon 22 Buxton Opera House
  • Sep. Tues 23 Wrexham Newi
  • Sep. Thus 25 Norwich Waterfront
  • Sep. Fri 26 Lowestoft Marina
  • Sep. Sat 27 Aylesbury Civic Centre
  • Sep. Sun 28 Newport Centre
  • Sep. Mon 29 Bolton Albert Halls
  • Sep.Tues 30 Birmingham Carling Academy
  • Oct. Weds 1 Wolves Round Robin 2
  • Oct. Thurs 2 Colne Municipal Hall
  • Oct. Fri 3 Blackburn Darwin Theatre
  • Oct. Sat 4 Warrington Parr Hall
  • Oct. Sun 5 Billingham Forum
  • Oct. Tues 7 Hull Welly Club
  • Oct. Weds 8 Stoke Sugarmill
  • Oct. Thurs 9 Aldershot Princes Theatre
  • Oct. Fri 10 Manchester Academy
  • Oct. Sat 11 Liverpool University
  • Oct. Sun 12 Whitehaven Civic Centre
    • Glen Matlock sick-out
  • Oct. Tues 14 Aberdeen Larva
  • Oct. Weds 15 Glasgow Carling Academy
  • Oct. Thurs 16 Bradford Pennington’s
  • Oct. Fri 17 Huddersfield Town Hall
  • Oct. Sat 18 Brecon Theatr Brycheiniog
  • Oct.Sun 19 London Shepherd’s Bush Empire
    • Guest: Mick Jones (The Clash)
  • Oct. Mon 20 Burgess Hill Martletts Hall
  • Oct. Tues 21 Bristol Carling Academy
  • Oct. Thurs 23 Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms

2004 Dead Men Walking

Notes

Duffy exited to concentrate on The Cult. Bruce Watson joined full-time

Members

Bruce Watson – Big Country , Slim Jim Phantom – Stray Cats, Kirk Brandon – Spear of Destiny, Mike Peters – The Alarm, Glen Matlock – Sex Pistols

Performances
  • wed 22nd BRISTOL ACADAMY
  • thu 23 sep BASINGSTOKE THE ANVIL
  • fri 24 sep FELIXSTOWE THE SPA PAVIILON
  • sun 26 sep WOLVERHAMPTON ROBIN 2
  • tue 28 sep NOTTINGHAM RESCUE ROOMS
  • wed 29 sep DERBY THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS
  • thu 30h sep HUDDESFIELD TOWN HALL
  • fri 1 oct LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY
  • sat 2 oct MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY
  • mon 4 oct LEEDS IRISH CENTRE
  • tue 5 oct GRIMSBY AUDITORIUM
  • wed 6 oct MANSFIELD TOWN MILL
    • No Glen Matlock
  • thu 7 oct ITALY TBC
  • fri 8 oct ITALY TBC
  • sat 9 oct ITALY TBC
  • sun 10 oct ITALY TBC
  • tue 12 oct STOKE SUGARMILL
  • wed 13 oct EDINBURGH THE VENUE
  • thu 14 oct GLASGOW KING TUTS
  • fri 15 oct BOLTON ALBERT HALLS
  • sat 16 oct DARWIN LIBRARY
  • sun 17 oct HULL WELLY CLUB
  • mon 18 oct WARRINGTON PARR HALL
  • wed 20 oct HASTINGS WHITE ROCK
  • thu 21 oct FOLKESTONE LEAS CLIFF
  • fri 22 oct LONDON MEAN FIDDLER
  • sat 23 oct BURGESS HILL THE MARTLETTS
  • sun 24 oct NORWICH WATERFRONT

2005 Dead Men Walking

Notes

Glen Matlock exited, Captain Sensible joined

Members

Captain Sensible (The Damned) Slim Jim Phantom (The Stray Cats) Mike Peters (The Alarm), and Kirk Brandon (Spear Of Destiny).

Press Release (August 25, 2005)

Dead Men Walking will take to the road again with new member Captain Sensible (The Damned) who will join existing members Slim Jim Phantom (The Stray Cats) Mike Peters (The Alarm), and Kirk Brandon (Spear Of Destiny).

Four artists from some of the most influential bands of our time and individually, they can lay claim to having played a part in creating some of the finest songs of a generation. A combined chart rating of over forty UK Top 30 singles, 20 million record sales worldwide and over twenty Top 20 UK Hit albums – almost as many hits as The Beatles and Elvis Presley combined!!!

Dead Men Walking will be taking to the road throughout September / October 2005.

Performances

September Wednesday, 21 House of Blues, Anaheim, California
September Thursday, 22 Key Club, Los Angeles
September Friday, 23 CBGBs, New York 2
September Saturday, 24 Downtown, Farmingdale, New York (cancelled)
September Wednesday, 28 Central Station, Wrexham
September Thursday, 29 Sugarmill, Stoke
September Friday, 30 The Loft, Kinloss

October Saturday, 1 Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
October Sunday, 2 King Tuts, Glasgow
October Tuesday, 4 Forum Theatre, Billingham
October Wednesday, 5 Boardwalk, Sheffield
October Thursday, 6 Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes
October Friday, 7 Library Theatre, Darwen
October Saturday, 8 Library Theatre, Darwen
October Sunday, 9 Civic Centre, Whitehaven
October Tuesday, 11 Irish Centre, Leeds
October Wednesday, 12 Assembly Rooms, Derby
October Thursday, 13 Arts Centre, Colchester
October Friday, 14 Voodoo Lounge, Dublin
October Saturday, 15 The Platform, Morecambe
October Sunday, 16 Barracuda, Newquay
October Tuesday, 18 Coxs Yard, Stratford Upon Avon
October Wednesday, 19 Princes Hall, Aldershot
October Thursday, 20 Academy, Birmingham
October Friday, 21 Academy, Liverpool
October Saturday, 22 Academy, Manchester
October Monday, 24 Academy, Bristol
October Tuesday, 25 Arts Centre, Swindon
October Wednesday, 26 Waterfront, Norwich
October Thursday, 27 Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
October Friday, 28 Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale
October Saturday, 29 Shepherds Bush, London
October Sunday, 30 Martlets Hall, Burgess Hill

2006 Dead Men Walking

Members

Captain Sensible (The Damned) Slim Jim Phantom (The Stray Cats) Mike Peters (The Alarm), and Kirk Brandon (Spear Of Destiny).

Performances

October Wednesday 4 Liverpool Carling Academy
October Thursday 5 Bristol Fleece and Firkin
October Friday 6 Edmonton Millfield Arts Centre
October Saturday 7 London Islington Academy
October Sunday 8 Norwich Waterfront
October Monday 9 Hereford Courtyard
October Wednesday 11 Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
October Thursday 12 Wolverhampton Robin2
October Friday 13 Accrington Town Hall
October Saturday 14 Manchester Academy III
October Sunday 15 Nuneaton Crew Queens Hall
October Tuesday 17 Leeds City Varieties Music Hall
October Wednesday 18 Glasgow King Tutts Wah Wah Hut
October Thursday 19 Warrington Parr Hall
October Friday 20 Darwen Library Theatre
October Saturday 21 Whitehaven Civic Centre
October Sunday 22 Croydon The Ashcroft Theatre
October Tuesday 24 Cardiff St Davids Hall
October Weds 25 Worksop The Circle

2014 Dead Men Walking

Members

Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats), Captain Sensible (The Damned) Mike Peters (The Alarm) , Chris Cheney(The Living End)

Press Release (September 2014)

The Infamous Dead Men Walking will once again tread the boards in California, USA this September 14th with a one off show at the world famous Troubadour in West Hollywood. Tickets On Sale Here.

This time out the line up will feature Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats), Captain Sensible (The Damned) and our own Mike Peters of The Alarm alongside debutants Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses, Chris Cheney from Australian rock band The Living End and Saturday Night Live Alumni Fred Armisen who is also the star of hit US TV show Portlandia.

News about the return of the Dead Men has caused quite a stir in the USA and the Troubadour show is already the talk of the town in Los Angeles with news items appearing all over the net and in print including the LA Times.

n years past The Dead Men Walking has featured such illuminaries as Kirk Brandon (Spear Of Destiny), Pete Wylie (Mighty Wah!), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), Bruce Watson (Big Country) and Billy Duffy of The Cult with one off guest appearances from Mick Jones (The Clash), Topper Headon (The Clash), Brian Setzer (Stray Cats) and Lemmy from Motörhead all taking place  at various times and cities across the globe between Los Angeles and London.

“Without The Damned, Stray Cats and The Alarm, we most certainly wouldn’t have modern alternative rock. And one of the most influential rock bands of all time, Guns N’ Roses, may not have been the same if it weren’t for Duff McKagan’s punk roots, a direct result of Dead Man Walking band mates Captain Sensible, Slim Jim and Mike Peters. Naturally, they all became friends over time and what better way to connect than to do what they all do best—play music!  Now enter Fred Armisen. In a 2014 Entertainment Weekly piece on his favorite cult records, the Saturday Night Live alum and Portlandia star counts The Damned as one of his all time favorite bands. He grew up listening to cult classics from The Damned, The Stray Cats, The Alarm, Velvet Revolver, Guns N’ Roses and more. Fred even created a character in the likeness of all of his musical heroes, the undeniably charming and hilarious British punker Ian Rubbish. Together, they form Dead Man Walking, living proof that punk has truly stood the test of time and continues to inspire new generations every single day. It’s no longer just sub-culture – it’s OUR culture.”

Performances

12, September, 2014 Alex’s Bar, Long Beach CA. USA

13, September, 2014 The Viper room, Los Angeles

14, September, 2014 The Troubadour, Los Angeles
Note: This is probably the band’s most famous gig as SNL’s Fred Armisen wanted to play with the band, and Duff McKeegan from Guns And Roses also made an appearance.

Dead Men Walking 2015

Members

Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats), Captain Sensible (The Damned) Mike Peters (The Alarm) , Chris Cheney(The Living End)

Press Release May 2015

Dead Men Walking will release it’s debut album album entitled ‘Easy Piracy’ on 7th May 2015.

The record will be released on the Slimstyle label in the USA to coincide with an armada of West Coast concert dates beginning at the Crocodile Cafe, Seattle on May 5th and running through to May 10th at the Soda Bar, San Diego.

As always with Dead Men Walking you never know who might just show up on the night, but we can confirm that Dead Kennedy’s singer Jello Biafra will join the band on stage in San Francisco at the Brick and Mortar Music Hall on May 7th and a return to the Troubadour in Los Angeles with DMW alumni Duff McKagan (GNR) plus guest appearances from members of The Pogues and Foo Fighters, is scheduled for May 9th.

A date at Dante’s in Portland on May 6th will be MC’d by Jackass star Danger Ehren and an additional date at the Constellation in Santa Ana will also feature on May 8th.

Easy Piracy’ the album, is packed full of original material co-written by principal members Slim Jim Phantom, Captain Sensible, Mike Peters and Chris Cheney.

You can check out the brand new exclusive track ‘Rock And Roll Kills’ here at Ultimate Classic Rock

All the shows will feature original material from the ‘Easy Piracy’ album and a full broadside of hits from the four bands associated with the members of Dead Men Walking – The Damned (Captain Sensible), Stray Cats (Slim Jim Phantom), The Living End (Chris Cheney) and The Alarm (Mike Peters). This band can lay claim to literally providing the soundtrack for a generation, hits include ‘Rock This Town’, ‘Smash It Up’, ‘Prisoner Of Society’ and ‘The Stand’ to name but four…….

Performances

May 5th Crocodile Cafe Seattle 
May 6th Dante’s Portland 
May 7th Brick and Mortar Music Hall San Francisco 
May 8th The Observatory Santa Ana
May 9th Troubadour Hollywood 
May 10th Soda Bar San Diego 

The Jack Tars (2015)
(see The Jack Tars)

Dead Men Walking (2016)

Members
  • Kirk Brandon, Segs Jennings, Jake Burns , Dave Ruffy (2016)

The Jack Tars (2020)
(See The Jack Tars)

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