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The Damned | Captain Sensible Stage-Played, Photo-Matched & Signed ESP LTD Viper 1000 Guitar (2014)
Currency:USD
Category:Memorabilia / Music Memorabilia
Start Price:100.00 USD
Estimated At:3,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
CURRENT BID
0.00USD
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2026 Jun 06 @ 10:00 (UTC-07:00 : PDT/MST)
A stage-played and band-signed ESP LTD Viper 1000 electric guitar (serial #R0816718) used by Captain Sensible of The Damned during live performances and featured prominently in the 2015 documentary film Don't You Wish That We Were Dead, directed by Wes Orshoski — including in the film's closing sequence and end credits filmed at Captain Sensible's historic 60th birthday concert at The Forum, London on April 24, 2014. The guitar is signed on the back by three members of The Damned: Captain Sensible, Dave Vanian, and Monty Oxymoron.
Video Documentation
[YouTube] "Don't You Wish That We Were Dead" End Credits · The Forum, London (April 24, 2014)
Historical Context
The Damned are a British punk rock band formed in London in 1976, widely recognized as one of the most important and influential acts in punk and post-punk history.
They released the first British punk single ("New Rose," October 1976) and the first British punk album (Damned Damned Damned, February 1977), establishing them as foundational figures in the development of the genre. Captain Sensible (born Raymond Ian Burns) is the band's lead guitarist and one of its founding members, known for his eccentric stage persona and distinctive guitar style.
Don't You Wish That We Were Dead (2015) is a feature-length documentary directed by Wes Orshoski chronicling The Damned's history and 35th-anniversary reunion tour. The film culminates with Captain Sensible's 60th birthday concert at The Forum, London — a landmark event at which tickets were sold at the original 1977 price of £1.70. The Forum show featured guest appearances by TV Smith and Vom from Die Toten Hosen, Ruts DC, Johnny Moped, and Ed Tenpole Tudor. This guitar is played by Captain Sensible throughout the Forum performance and is visible in the film's closing sequence and end credits.
Stage & Performance Use
This guitar is documented in use at Captain Sensible's 60th birthday concert at The Forum, London on April 24, 2014, which forms the closing segment of Don't You Wish That We Were Dead. The concert was a historically significant event within the British punk community, with tickets sold at the original 1977 price of £1.70.
Captain Sensible posted about the event on his Facebook page: "Bang bang bloody bang... what a night it was having managed to persuade a bunch of my mates to gig with us at the Forum last night. TV Smith & Vom from Die Toten Hosen, Ruts DC, Johnny Moped, Ed Tenpole Tudor, all were brilliant... after a spirited punk styled version of Happy Talk I'm sure I heard Stu muttering 'well, what do you expect for £1.70?'"
Photo-Match
This guitar is photo-matched to the April 24, 2014 performance at The Forum, London, through the distinctive combination of the dark see-thru finish over flamed maple, the ESP Viper body silhouette, and the abalone bat-wing fretboard inlay markers — all identifiable in concert photography from the event taken by photographer Paul Slattery. A dedicated photo-match graphic is included in the photographic documentation accompanying this listing.
Specifications
· Manufacturer: ESP Guitars (LTD series)
· Model: LTD Viper 1000
· Serial Number: R0816718 (Korean manufacture)
· Body: Mahogany with flamed maple top, see-thru black finish; SG-style double cutaway
· Neck: Mahogany, set neck construction
· Fretboard: Rosewood with abalone bat-wing inlay position markers
· Pickups: Seymour Duncan humbuckers
· Hardware: Black chrome; locking tuners
· Binding: Body binding present
· Signatures: Captain Sensible (gold marker, back of body); Dave Vanian (gold marker, back of body, dated 2017); Monty Oxymoron (gold marker with hand-drawn sketch, back of body)
Condition
The guitar exhibits wear consistent with active stage and touring use. Specific condition notes as described by Captain Sensible in his original listing: a bash near the jack socket; one strap knob was relocated during ownership, leaving a small hole at the original location; some glue residue on the back from an attempt to permanently fasten the other strap knob. The guitar otherwise looks and plays well. Signatures in gold marker on the back of the body are intact. Accompanied by the original ESP hard shell case, which bears Captain Sensible stickers on the exterior.
Included Items
Original ESP hard shell case with Captain Sensible stickers — "case candy" including a "Captain" button badge, "Neat Neat Neat / The Damned" badge, "DAMNED DAMNED DAMNED" badge, white cat-eye glasses pin.
Handwritten and signed setlist (blue pen, signed by Captain Sensible).
Signed black and white photograph.
Original Camp Anarchy All Access laminate pass from The Damned's performance at Camp Anarchy, Legend Valley, Thornville, Ohio (Saturday, June 1, 2019).
Original "I Sat on the Sensible Seat" novelty art card — a square-format glossy color card.
Provenance
Acquired from Captain Sensible. In his original listing, Captain Sensible described the guitar:
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"This is the last of my ESPs, a little bit posher than the others.. having some nice binding, locking tuners and Seymour Duncan pickups. For this reason I somehow resisted the temptation to cover it with stickers and profanities. The guitar has done its fair share of touring, and lived to tell the tale - even joining me onstage during a memorable 60th birthday bash at the Kentish Town Forum."
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Stage use and documentary appearance confirmed through the film Don't You Wish That We Were Dead (2015, dir. Wes Orshoski) and contemporaneous concert photography by Paul Slattery. Captain Sensible's own Facebook posts documenting the 60th birthday concert at The Forum are preserved as supporting documentation.
Nostalgia Bandit Letter of Provenance
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Shipping & Measurements
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» Item: 39 x 13 x 2.5" · 8.24 lbs.
» Case: 46 x 17 x 4.5" · 14.60 lbs.
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Arizona State Tax |
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Infinite |
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