THE Damned guitarist Brian James has been buried at sea in a special ceremony.
The punk rocker’s body was laid to rest on the ocean floor off the coast of Newhaven, East Sussex.
Nine friends and family — including his widow Minna — sailed out from Eastbourne to witness the burial on April 28.
It followed a small memorial service at a church near the couple’s home in Brighton.
Minna told The Sun: “It was a beautiful day and the sea was calm.
“We’ve been together since I was 18, so it was very emotional.
“A burial at sea is pretty unusual, but it was in his will so we had to do it.”
A local funeral firm had to apply for a certificate from the Marine Management Organisation.
The musician died at the age of 74 on March 6.
A source said: ‘’Brian now sleeps with the fishes, which is what he wished for before he died.
“He was a true original in life and has carried that on in death.
‘’The spirit of punk never left him and he was adamant he wanted his final resting place to be at sea.
‘’A few loved ones went out on the boat for around three hours and watched as his coffin was dropped into the drink.’’