Why did The Damned cancel 2025 North American tour dates? Reason explained

British punk band The Damned has officially canceled three North American tour dates, citing an "unexpected and catastrophic event" at a band member's home.

The announcement was posted to the band's official social media platform on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. The affected dates include headline shows in Seattle and Vancouver and a festival appearance at Project Pabst in Portland. These shows were all originally scheduled for this coming weekend. Refunds for the headline shows are being issued at the point of purchase. Moreover, Portland's Project Pabst organizers have confirmed that FIDLAR will replace The Damned on their lineup.

No further details on the cancellation were shared publicly by The Damned. The band later followed up and took to Instagram Stories to confirm that "everyone is safe and well" and that "no other dates are affected."

The Damned shared the North American tour dates via an official Instagram post, which read:

"We are very sorry to have to cancel our Seattle, Portland and Vancouver shows this weekend, due to an unexpected and catastrophic event at a member of The Damned's home. We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Refunds will be available for our two headline shows at your point of purchase."

The Damned was formed in London in 1976. They were one of the pioneers of the U.K. punk scene. The band was the first British punk band to release a single ("New Rose") and a full-length album (Damned Damned Damned, 1977). The band's current lineup consists of frontman Dave Vanian, guitarist Captain Sensible, keyboardist Monty Oxymoron, bassist Paul Gray, and original drummer Rat Scabies.

In March 2025, original guitarist Brian James passed away at 74.

What was canceled?

The canceled appearances were part of The Damned's July run in North America, following earlier spring tour dates across the U.S. and Europe. The following shows will no longer go ahead:

Friday, July 25, 2025 – Seattle, WA – Headline Show
Saturday, July 26, 2025 – Portland, OR – Project Pabst Festival
Monday, July 28, 2025 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom (Headline Show)

Fans who bought tickets for the Seattle and Vancouver gigs are advised to contact their original ticket vendor for a full refund. The Project Pabst lineup will now include FIDLAR to fill the vacated slot.