Captain Sensible

Raymond Ian Burns 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.{{cite magazine |first= Ginger |last= Coyote |title= Captain Sensible Interview |magazine= Punk Globe |access-date= 6 January 2014 |url= http://www.punkglobe.com/captainsensibleinterview209.html |archive-date= 24 September 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150924083223/http://www.punkglobe.com/captainsensibleinterview209.html |url-status= live }}

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.{{cite magazine |title= The Damned Return with First Album Since 2001 |magazine= Uncut |access-date= 6 January 2014 |url= http://www.uncut.co.uk/the-damned/the-damned-return-with-first-album-since-2001-news |archive-date= 6 January 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140106181042/http://www.uncut.co.uk/the-damned/the-damned-return-with-first-album-since-2001-news |url-status= dead }}{{cite web |first= Martin |last= Kielty |title= The Damned Announce New Album, 'Evil Spirits' |website= Ultimate Classic Rock |date= 23 January 2018 |access-date= 21 October 2018 |url= http://ultimateclassicrock.com/the-damned-evil-spirits/ |archive-date= 21 October 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181021232437/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/the-damned-evil-spirits/ |url-status= live }}

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.{{cite book|first= Martin Charles |last= Strong |year= 2003 |title= The Great Indie Discography |publisher= Canongate |pages= 23–24 |isbn= 1-84195-335-0}} 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".{{cite magazine |title= Happy Rascal |magazine= NME |access-date= 6 January 2014 |url= http://www.nme.com/news/dizzee-rascal/18254 |archive-date= 26 December 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131226023356/http://www.nme.com/news/dizzee-rascal/18254 |url-status= live }}

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.

File:CaptainSensible02.jpg, 1994]]

Captain Sensible is also a member of Dead Men Walking, a supergroup featuring Mike Peters, Kirk Brandon (Spear of Destiny) and Slim Jim Phantom,{{cite web|title= Dead Men Walking |publisher= BBC Online |date= 5 October 2006 |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/articles/2006/10/05/louder_deadmenwalking_feature.shtml |archive-date= 10 February 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090210004937/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/articles/2006/10/05/louder_deadmenwalking_feature.shtml}} and the Sensible Gray Cells with current Damned mate Paul Gray.

{{quote box|width=20%|align=right|quote="I always wanted to put a brick through the TV when I saw Blair pop his head up. It's quite easy to write lyrics when politicians are so corrupt. I had to start my own political party I was so angry. I called it the Blah Party. It was 50 per cent joke, 50 per cent serious but was my way of dealing with it."|source=Burns in November 2008{{cite news|title= The Damned are back |date= 28 November 2008 |newspaper= Derby Telegraph |access-date= 18 February 2010 |url= http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Damned/story-11642436-detail/story.html |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150923223935/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Damned/story-11642436-detail/story.html |archive-date= 23 September 2015}}}}

In September 2006, Captain Sensible formed a new British political party known as the Blah! Party,{{cite web|title= The Blah! Party |url= http://www.blahparty.org/ |archive-date= 12 November 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061112110954/http://www.blahparty.org/}} 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."{{cite web|title= Captain Sensible Starts Political Party |access-date= 6 January 2014 |url= http://www.aversion.com/news/news_article.cfm?news_id=7346}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}

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."{{cite news |first= Katie |last= Campling |title= It's a load of Blah! as punk and politics mix |date= 10 August 2007 |newspaper= Huddersfield Daily Examiner |access-date= 18 February 2010 |url= http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/its-load-blah-punk-politics-5049205 |archive-date= 24 September 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150924042102/http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/its-load-blah-punk-politics-5049205 |url-status= live }}{{cite news |first= Angela |last= Balakrishnan |title= Voter apathy? Here's the Sensible solution |date= 3 May 2007 |newspaper= The Guardian |access-date= 18 February 2010 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/may/03/otherparties.musicnews |archive-date= 3 October 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141003130830/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/may/03/otherparties.musicnews |url-status= live }} 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.{{cite news |first= Jenny |last= Loweth |title= Crisp firm backs the new force in politics! |newspaper= Telegraph & Argus |date= 27 September 2006 |access-date= 2 October 2007 |url= http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/941438.crisp_firm_backs_the_new_force_in_politics/ |archive-date= 8 February 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090208225330/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/941438.crisp_firm_backs_the_new_force_in_politics/ |url-status= live }}{{cite news |first= Melinda |last= Varley |title= Seabrook sponsors political party |website= Mad.co.uk |date= 29 September 2006 |access-date= 18 February 2010 |url= http://www.mad.co.uk/Main/Home/Articles/b0544d72cae54be1b2f0cfaf91f49c02/Seabrook-sponsors-political-party.html |archive-date= 9 March 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120309060944/http://www.mad.co.uk/Main/Home/Articles/b0544d72cae54be1b2f0cfaf91f49c02/Seabrook-sponsors-political-party.html |url-status= live }} The party also received non-financial support from PR company Propaganda. The party received £168,309 in the last quarter of 2006.{{cite news |title= Tories' donations outstrip rivals |date= 26 February 2007 |work= BBC News Online |access-date= 18 February 2010 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6396965.stm |archive-date= 28 February 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070228095620/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6396965.stm |url-status= live }} The party was debt-free in 2008, with a membership of 8,544, up from 5,000 in 2007.{{cite news |title= Atticus |first= Roland |last= White |date= 1 June 2008 |newspaper= The Times |access-date= 18 February 2010 |url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/article4040060.ece |archive-date= 15 May 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220515094006/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/ |url-status= dead }}

The first Blah! Party candidate was Carl Finlan, who stood in the 2007 local elections in Thornton and Allerton ward, Bradford.{{cite news |title= Election hopefuls line up for ballot |first= Jo |last= Winrow |date= 9 April 2007 |newspaper= Telegraph & Argus |access-date= 18 February 2010 |url= http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/1316820.election_hopefuls_line_up_for_ballot/ |archive-date= 1 April 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090401052746/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/1316820.election_hopefuls_line_up_for_ballot/ |url-status= live }} He gained 69 votes (1.6%).{{cite web|title= District Council Election |date= 3 May 2007 |publisher= City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council |access-date= 18 February 2010 |url= http://www.bradford.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/555182AF-258E-4C76-B9FD-04359B469AF8/0/LocalElectionResults2007.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110615103849/http://www.bradford.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/555182AF-258E-4C76-B9FD-04359B469AF8/0/LocalElectionResults2007.pdf |archive-date= 15 June 2011}} Deputy leader Melodie Staniforth stood in the Holme Valley North ward of Kirklees as 'Boney Maroney' in 2008.{{cite web|title= Candidates for the 01 May 2008 District Council Election by party |year= 2008 |publisher= Kirklees Council |url= http://www2.kirklees.gov.uk/you-kmc/kmc-howcouncilworks/election/party11.shtml |archive-date= 5 May 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080505061225/http://www2.kirklees.gov.uk/you-kmc/kmc-howcouncilworks/election/party11.shtml}} She gained 38 votes (0.68%).{{cite web|title= Results for the 01 May 2008 District Council Election |year= 2008 |publisher= Kirklees Council |url= http://www2.kirklees.gov.uk/you-kmc/kmc-howcouncilworks/election/result11.shtml |archive-date= 5 May 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080505050047/http://www2.kirklees.gov.uk/you-kmc/kmc-howcouncilworks/election/result11.shtml}} 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.{{cite web|title= Welcome to your new home |work= Blah! Party |date= 13 December 2008 |url= http://www.theblahparty.co.uk/?p=3 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090318190014/http://www.theblahparty.co.uk/?p=3 |archive-date= 18 March 2009}} 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.

Captain Sensible was previously in a long term relationship with Rachel Bor of Dolly Mixture.{{cite news |first= Lisa |last= De Silva |title= Almost Famous: Dolly Mixture |newspaper= South Downs Living |issue= 47 |date= April 2009 |access-date= 23 December 2013 |url= http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1frnm/SouthDownsLivingmaga/resources/48.htm |archive-date= 24 December 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131224091832/http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1frnm/SouthDownsLivingmaga/resources/48.htm |url-status= live }} The couple have three children together. He is currently married to Mayumi.{{cite news |first= Tony |last= Dewhurst |title= The Damned, Clitheroe Grand |newspaper= Lancashire Telegraph |date= 11 July 2013 |access-date= 23 December 2013 |url= http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/leisure/whats_on/10542308.Captain_Sensible_and_The_Damned_set_for_Clitheroe/ |archive-date= 24 December 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131224102602/http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/leisure/whats_on/10542308.Captain_Sensible_and_The_Damned_set_for_Clitheroe/ |url-status= live }}

Burns adopted his stage name Captain Sensible ironically because he described himself as a "debauched maniac" who had fun "regardless of the consequences."{{cite web |first= Jim |last= Sullivan |title= 40 Years and Counting: The Damned and Captain Sensible Still Rock the Stage |publisher= WBUR-FM |date= 21 October 2014 |access-date= 7 September 2018 |url= http://www.wbur.org/artery/2014/10/21/the-damned-royale-boston |archive-date= 8 September 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180908015732/http://www.wbur.org/artery/2014/10/21/the-damned-royale-boston |url-status= live }} 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.{{cite web |first= John |last= Gentile |title= The Damned's Captain Sensible on "punk," Lemmy, and the band's new LP |website= Punknews.org |date= 1 November 2016 |access-date= 7 September 2018 |url= https://www.punknews.org/article/62315/interviews-the-damneds-captain-sensible-on-punk-lemmy-and-the-bands-new-lp |archive-date= 8 September 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180908015808/https://www.punknews.org/article/62315/interviews-the-damneds-captain-sensible-on-punk-lemmy-and-the-bands-new-lp |url-status= live }} Captain Sensible has written several songs about animal rights, including "Torture Me" and most notably the 1985 single "Wot! No Meat?".{{cite web |title= Damned : "Torture Me" |website= La Terre d'abord ! |date= 23 September 2015 |access-date= 7 September 2018 |url= https://laterredabord.fr/?p=19680 |language= fr |archive-date= 7 September 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180907205734/https://laterredabord.fr/?p=19680 |url-status= live }}{{cite magazine |first1= Jeff |last1= Tamarkin |author-link1= Jeff Tamarkin |first2= Deirdre |last2= Rockmaker |title= Greening of Rock |magazine= Vegetarian Times |date= November 1985 |pages= 32–36 |issue= 99 |issn= 0164-8497 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=gwcAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34 |access-date= 7 September 2018 |archive-date= 16 April 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210416040551/https://books.google.com/books?id=gwcAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34 |url-status= live }}

He is a supporter of Crystal Palace F.C..

Burns is a railfan, particularly enjoying diesel locomotives after being rescued from a stranded service in cold weather by one as a child. He later named Deltic Records after the Deltic locomotives. Class 47 diesel locomotive 47810 was previously named Captain Sensible after Burns.{{Cite journal |date=16 February 2007 |title=Notable Workings Pictoral |url=https://www.railwayherald.com/magazine/download/72 |journal=Railway Herald |issue=72 |pages=16}}

;Albums

• Women and Captains First (1982), A&M – UK No. 64
• The Power of Love (1983), A&M
• Revolution Now (1989), Deltic
• The Universe of Geoffrey Brown (1993), Humbug
• Live at the Milky Way (1994), Humbug
• Meathead (1995), Humbug
• Mad Cows and Englishmen (1996), Scratch

;Compilations

• Sensible Singles (1984), A&M
• A Day in the Life of ... (1984), A&M
• A Slice of Captain Sensible (1997), Humbug
• The Captain's Box (1997), Humbug – [contains A Slice of Captain Sensible and Meathead]
• Sensible Lifestyles: The Best of Captain Sensible (1997), Cleopatra
• The Masters (1998), Eagle [reissue of Mad Cows and Englishmen, including bonus tracks]
• The Collection (2003), Spectrum Music

;EPs

• This Is Your Captain Speaking (1981), Crass – UK Indie No. 3{{cite book|first= Barry |last= Lazell |title= Indie Hits 1980-1989 |date= 1997 |publisher= Cherry Red Books |access-date= 14 October 2020 |url= http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/c.htm |archive-date= 5 June 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110605132906/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/c.htm}}
• The Universe of Captain Sensible (1998), Jarmusic [contains 5 tracks from Revolution Now and The Universe of Geoffrey Brown]

;Singles

Notes

{{notelist-ua}}

{{See also|The Damned discography}}

• Damned Damned Damned (1977)
• Music for Pleasure (1977)
• Machine Gun Etiquette (1979)
• The Black Album (1980)
• Strawberries (1982)
• Grave Disorder (2001)
• So, Who's Paranoid? (2008)
• Evil Spirits (2018)
• The Rockfield Files (2020)
• Darkadelic (2023)

• Live At CBGB New York City (2005), Resistance
• Graveyard Smashes Volume 1 (2006), Resistance
• Easy Piracy (2015), Slimstyle Records

• A Postcard from Britain (2013), Easy Action
• Get Back into the World (2020), Damaged Goods

• The Jack Tars EP (2015){{cite news |first= Dave |last= Woodhall |title= Ahoy there Jim lad!!! |newspaper= The Birmingham Press |date= 1 December 2015 |access-date= 19 January 2021 |url= http://thebirminghampress.com/2015/12/ahoy-there-jim-lad/ |archive-date= 29 September 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200929210738/http://thebirminghampress.com/2015/12/ahoy-there-jim-lad/ |url-status= live }}

{{Reflist}}

• {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000545328}}
• {{discogs artist}}
• {{IMDb name|id=0784483}}
• [http://www.rockerzine.com/index.php/2011/10/the-damned-35-years-of-evil/ Interview with Captain Sensible] (includes video of interview, and of The Damned's 35th anniversary tour), Rocker Magazine, 2011.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20041207211705/http://idiot-dog.com/music/captain.sensible/ Captain Sensible discography]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20040110093020/http://www.idiotbox.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ Extended discography]

{{The Damned}}

{{Authority control}}

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