POP punksters The Damned will be staging a gig in Worcester alongside a unique Harley-Davidson bike named after them.

The Damned, who made their name originally as the support act for the Sex Pistols in the mid-70s, will be playing the one-off Worcester gig at The Marr's Bar with a Harley-Davidson Deuce on stage.

Motex Harley-Davidson, a motorcycle dealership in Worcester is lending the motorbike to them.

The dealership is helping stage the gig on Friday, July 5, and the bike will be painted with special cartoon characters used by the band.

"The band have special cartoon characters they put on every thing when they go on tour," said Kevin Woodcock, sales team leader at Motex.

"We're calling the bike The Damned Deuce and the cartoon characters will be painted on the bike."

The bike, currently being prepared at Motex's Warndon workshop, will join the band on stage for the Marr's Bar concert and then continue with the group for the final three dates of their British tour.

Dave Vanian of The Damned is a keen Harley-Davidson enthusiast who owns a number of bikes and is a member of an owner's club.

Motex, in Shire Park near Wainwright Road, Warndon, is promoting the gig in conjunction with the Marr's Bar.

"It's an unusual step for us but it's a promotion we are all enjoying and we've had a brilliant response from our customers who have snapped up the majority of tickets already," said Andy Harley, director principal of Motex.

Open day

Mr Harley said every Harley-Davidson dealership had an owners' group and the gig came about when one of Motex's group members, who did some work for The Damned, suggested Motex invited the band to play at one of its open days.

"We wanted to make our open days something different, to get quality bands to play," said Mr Harley.

"But it was difficult trying to get The Damned in for one of our open days so we set up the gig."

The band's current line-up for their British tour consists of Captain Sensible, Monty Oxy Moron, Dave Vanian, Patricia Morrison and Pinch.

Tickets are on sale at Motex or The Marr's Bar, Pierpoint Street, for £15 in advance.

For further details and tickets contact The Marr's Bar on 01905 613336 or Motex on 01905 756883.