Vanian's baritone singing voice, dark lyrics and vampire-themed costumes, were a major influence on the goth subculture.

[1] Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England, Vanian moved with his parents to Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire when he was a couple of months old.

[citation needed] In November 1976, the British music magazine NME stated that Vanian "resembles a runaway from the Addams Family".

In 2004, he and fellow Damned member Captain Sensible turned on the Christmas lights in Cambridge, causing some controversy.

[4] Vanian has kept his personal life out of the limelight, opting out of any input into the Damned biography, The Light at the End of the Tunnel, by Carol Clerk.