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The Stranglers are one of the most successful and longest-surviving bands to have originated in the UK punk scene.
Formed in 1974, they signed to United Artists and released three top four albums in just 13 months during 1977 and 1978. In total they’ve notched up 23 UK top 40 singles – including no 2 single Golden Brown in 1982 – and 17 UK top 40 albums to date.
Their musical sound was always a little more complex than their contemporaries too, with a lot of emphasis on Dave Greenfield’s Doorsesque riffs and JJ Burnel’s rasping bass.
JJ Burnel playing with the Stranglers in Chicago, 2013.
Photo: Robman94 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
I was delighted to have a chat with JJ about the origins of the band and their early successes – and what they’ve been up to more recently.
The band are currently writing new material and are just about to embark on a UK tour which takes them to Southend on March 21 and Brixton the following day.
BACK ON THE TRACKS TOUR – 2019
FEBRUARY
Thursday 28 – Belfast Ulster Hall
MARCH
Friday 01 – Dublin Olympia
Tuesday 05 – Scunthorpe Baths Hall
Thursday 07 – Aberdeen Beach Ballroom
Friday 08 – Dunfermline Alhambra
Saturday 09 – Glasgow O2 Academy
Monday 11 – Nottingham Rock City
Tuesday 12 – Reading Hexagon
Thursday 14 – Newcastle O2 Academy
Friday 15 – Leeds O2 Academy
Saturday 16 – Birmingham O2 Academy
Tuesday 19 – Guildford G Live
Thursday 21 – Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Friday 22 – London O2 Academy Brixton
Saturday 23 – Cambridge Corn Exchange
Monday 25 – Bournemouth O2 Academy
Tuesday 26 – Brighton Dome
Thursday 28 – Bristol O2 Academy
Saturday 30 – Manchester O2 Apollo
More news including summer dates can be found on the band’s official website.
