THE true spirit of punk was alive and spitting in Blackburn on Wednesday.

The Damned took to the stage at King George's Hall to a mixed crowd. The originals from '76, perhaps with a little middle aged spread, but still no less enthusiastic mingled with new wave disciples of Marilyn Manson.

Singer Dave Vanian is a cross between Elvis and Dracula. When he took the mic the venue's dance floor, probably home to countless wedding functions, throbbed to the beat of hundreds of army boots po-going together.

All the old favourites were here. The highlight for me was seeing Captain Sensible dressed in tutu and wig belting out Happy Talk.

Old Punks never die, they get better with age!