The Damned are a punk rock group originally from Croydon, England, a suburb of London, who were formed in 1976. Despite being one of the definitive early punk bands they were also one of the most ambitious; with their later albums moving away from the breakneck garage sound of their debut and taking in elements from goth and psychedelia to prog and metal. They are notable for being the first of the British punk bands to release a single, put out an album, and tour the United States.