The Stranglers Artistfacts

The Stranglers song list

The Stranglers Artistfacts

1974-
Jean-Jacques BurnelBass, lead vocals1974-1990, 2006-
Jet BlackDrums1974-2018
Hugh CornwellGuitar, lead vocals1974-1990
Dave GreenfieldKeyboards, vocals1975-2020
John EllisGuitar, vocals1990-2000
Paul RobertsLead vocals1990-2006
Baz WarneGuitar, lead vocals2000-
Jim MacaulayDrums 2018-
Toby HounshamKeyboards2021-
The inspiration behind The Stranglers' first hit single, "Peaches," was from when the band lent their PA to a "sound system" event in London. The reggae music they heard that day proved to be infectious, which led to JJ Burnel coming up with the song's trademark bass line.
Along with Ian Dury and the Blockheads, The Stranglers were one of the few UK punk rock/new wave bands to regularly incorporate electric organ into their tunes.
Although Punk Rock was largely associated with youth, The Stranglers' drummer, Jet Black, was 38 years old at the time of the release of their debut album, 1977's Rattus Norvegicus.
In a 1978 article for NME, Cornwell didn't seem too satisfied with this scholastic experience, when he remarked, "Greatest thing I discovered at university was marijuana."
In August 1990, Cornwell left the band. His last album with the band was 10, which spawned two UK hit singles, a cover of ? & the Mysterians' "96 Tears" and the original composition, "Sweet Smell of Success."
In the Songfacts interview with JJ Burnel, he admitted The Stranglers weren't exactly chummy with the majority of their peers early on. "We weren't friends with anyone! But we made friends with individuals, like Joe Strummer was a mate for a short while. And Dr. Feelgood, they were a band who very much were admired by The Stranglers. But we weren't befriended by many."
The Stranglers' current singer/guitarist, Baz Warne, was previously a member of another English Punk band, Toy Dolls, for which he supplied bass.
Hugh Cornwall has a bachelor's degree in biochemistry.
Jean-Jacques Burnel is a shihan (chief instructor) in karate with a 7th dan black belt. He admitted to Mojo magazine that he kept fighting for too long: "I stopped tournaments at 41, but I should have stopped much earlier. My last one was in Nice. I met the French champion - who was number two in the world at the time - and he knocked me out live on Eurosport."
The Stranglers found keyboardist Dave Greenfield through an ad in Melody Maker. "He turned up with long hair and a bag over his shoulder," Jean-Jacques Burnel recalled to Mojo magazine. "Flares. Black and white Cuban heel boots and a fag in his mouth. We had this little keyboard that he played the s--t out of and we all just looked at each other. Suddenly we had a real musician on board."

Comments: 1

Tania from Brisbane, AustraliaI’d love to know their thoughts behind the hit song “Skin Deep”! Until recently, I’m ashamed to admit, that I thought the lyrics were “You better watch out for the String Bean”! It didn’t matter the songs title was different lol

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