The Stranglers

Profile:
English rock band (New Wave, Punk, Rock), formed as the Guildford Stranglers on 11 September 1974 in Guildford, Surrey, UK.

Originally comprised of Hugh Cornwell (vocals, guitar), J.J. Burnel (bass, vocals), Brian Duffy aka Jet Black (drums) and Hans Wärmling (keys); Wärmling left the band when he moved back to Sweden in 1975 and was replaced with Dave Greenfield. The Stranglers' early sound was driven by Burnel's melodic bass, but also gave prominence to Greenfield's keyboards. Their early music was also characterised by the growling vocals and sometimes misanthropic lyrics of both Burnel and Cornwell.

Briefly, in 1977, the band would be billed as the Mutations, where they would be fronted by vocalist Celia Gollin. This only lasted one single; by the time the second single had released, only Burnel was still in the Mutations, featuring only on the A-side.

On the 3rd and 4th of April 1980, gigs were scheduled before Hugh was arrested on drug charges; the gigs went ahead under the banner of The Stranglers And Friends, featuring guest performers in place of Hugh.

Cornwell left in 1990 to pursue a solo career, being replaced by Paul Roberts on vocals and John Ellis on guitar. During live gigs in this era, Roberts sung tracks traditionally performed by Burnel. For a 1993 tour, including the Fontwell Park gig, Jet was ill and Tim Bruce filled in on drums.

Ellis left the band in 2000, passing the reins to guitarist Baz Warne; when Roberts left the group in 2006 over disagreements during the recording of Suite XVI, Warne was promoted to lead vocalist also, rerecording the tracks already recorded by Roberts alongside Burnel.

Jet Black started experiencing health issues in 2007 that caused him to miss gigs; technician Ian Barnard played in such instances. Black's live role was lessened in the 2013 tour, with Jim Macaulay playing the first halves of UK gigs and solely playing US gigs. Black played no gigs following March 2015, officially retiring in 2018; Macaulay's role as Black's replacement was officiated in 2016.

After contracting COVID-19 in hospital, Dave Greenfield died on the 3rd of May 2020. Following the release of Dark Matters, Toby Hounsham became the band's new keyboardist for their final full tour in 2021-2022. Following his own poor health, Jet Black died on the 6th of December 2022.
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Albums

TC-UAC-5034 No More Heroes — The Stranglers The Stranglers No More Heroes (Album, Single, Comp) United Artists Records TC-UAC-5034 Australia 1977 Sell This Version
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UAS 7191 Stranglers IV (Rattus Norvegicus) — The Stranglers The Stranglers Stranglers IV (Rattus Norvegicus) (Album, Single) United Artists Records UAS 7191 Rhodesia 1977 Sell This Version
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D 57.793, D-57793 Black And White — The Stranglers The Stranglers Black And White (Album) United Artists Records D 57.793, D-57793 Spain 1978 Sell This Version
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UAG 30262 The Raven — The Stranglers The Stranglers The Raven (Album, Comp) United Artists Records UAG 30262 UK 1979 Sell This Version
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10C 064-062.412 Live (X Cert) — The Stranglers The Stranglers Live (X Cert) (Album, Single) United Artists Records 10C 064-062.412 Spain 1979 Sell This Version
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#148 BBC Rock Hour #148 — The Stranglers The Stranglers BBC Rock Hour #148(LP, Transcription) London Wavelength #148 US 1980 Sell This Version
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none The Gospel According To The Meninblack — The Stranglers The Stranglers The Gospel According To The Meninblack (Album, Comp) Liberty, Liberty none France 1980 Sell This Version
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c 076-33219 La Folie — The Stranglers The Stranglers La Folie (Album, Comp) Liberty c 076-33219 Portugal 1981 Sell This Version
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CN 3977/S In Concert-276 — The Stranglers The Stranglers In Concert-276 (Album) BBC Transcription Services CN 3977/S UK 1982 Sell This Version
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EPC 32711 Feline — The Stranglers The Stranglers Feline (Album, Comp) Epic EPC 32711 Greece 1982 Sell This Version
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EPC 40-26220, 40-26220 Aural Sculpture — The Stranglers The Stranglers Aural Sculpture (Album) Epic EPC 40-26220, 40-26220 UK 1984 Sell This Version
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CN 4571/S In Concert-356 — The Stranglers The Stranglers In Concert-356 BBC Transcription Services CN 4571/S UK 1985 Sell This Version
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PECT-90745 Dreamtime — The Stranglers The Stranglers Dreamtime (Album) Epic PECT-90745 Canada 1986 Sell This Version
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460259 1 All Live And All Of The Night — The Stranglers The Stranglers All Live And All Of The Night (Album) Epic 460259 1 Greece 1987 Sell This Version
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46120 10 — The Stranglers The Stranglers 10 (Album) Epic 46120 US 1990 Sell This Version
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CDP 7987892 Live At The Hope And Anchor — The Stranglers The Stranglers Live At The Hope And Anchor (Album, Comp) EMI, EMI CDP 7987892 UK 1992 Sell This Version
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WOLCD 1030 In The Night — The Stranglers The Stranglers In The Night (Album) China Records WOLCD 1030 Singapore 1992 Sell This Version
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ESSLP 194 Saturday Night Sunday Morning (Ally Pally 1.8.1990) — The Stranglers The Stranglers Saturday Night Sunday Morning (Ally Pally 1.8.1990) (Album) Essential! Records, Beaky Records, Castle Communications ESSLP 194 UK 1993 Sell This Version
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TECW-20220 Live: Death And Night And Blood — The Stranglers The Stranglers Live: Death And Night And Blood (Album) Receiver Records Limited TECW-20220 Japan 1994 Sell This Version
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WEN LP 001 About Time — The Stranglers The Stranglers About Time (Album) When! Recordings WEN LP 001 UK 1995 Sell This Version
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SIS CD003 Access All Areas — The Stranglers The Stranglers Access All Areas (Album) SIS SIS CD003 UK 1995 Sell This Version
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EAGCD006, GAS 0000006 EAG Friday The Thirteenth (Live At The Royal Albert Hall) — The Stranglers The Stranglers Friday The Thirteenth (Live At The Royal Albert Hall) (Album) Eagle Records, Eagle Records EAGCD006, GAS 0000006 EAG UK 1997 Sell This Version
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WEN MC 009, GAS 0000009WEN Written In Red — The Stranglers The Stranglers Written In Red (Album) When! Recordings WEN MC 009, GAS 0000009WEN UK 1997 Sell This Version
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RMCD 220 The Stranglers Live In London — The Stranglers The Stranglers The Stranglers Live In London(CD, Album) Rialto RMCD 220 UK 1997 Sell This Version
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8573804772 Coup De Grace — The Stranglers The Stranglers Coup De Grace (Album) Eagle Records, Eagle Records, Eagle Records 8573804772 Australia 1998 Sell This Version

Add Review

MrKringle777

MrKringle777

December 8, 2022
RIP Jet Black Fly Straight you will be missed greatly
minman

minman

April 18, 2022
I’m a huge Stranglers fan, but PLEASE, let’s set the record straight regarding Dave Greenfield being the “Ray Manzarek” of punk. I read in an interview with Dave Greenfield that he wasn’t really a Doors fan and that one of his main influences was Jon Lord from Deep Purple. Perhaps that’s why he sported a mustache like Jon Lord, but that’s only speculation on my part. Anyway, this came from Mr. Greenfield himself in his own words. I love The Doors but let’s drop the Ray Manzarek comparison, please. Regardless of his influences, Dave Greenfield was in a category all his own. My mind will forever be blown away by his playing. May he Rest In Peace. 🙏
sydneyt10

sydneyt10

March 24, 2022
Please move Stranglers IV Rattus Norvegicus above No More Heroes to be chronologically correct.
See 1 reply
idjitsavant

idjitsavant

January 15, 2022
No sign of the 96 Tears 7” with paint pallet shrink wrapped to PS…I have it (still sealed) anyone else have it?
See 1 reply
martdee

martdee

December 10, 2021
Rattus Norvegicus (which, incidently is the 1st Stranglers album and not the 2nd) was and always will be one of my "played it to the actual death" all time favourites from any band. I first heard it upon its release in 77 via cassette (I was 15 years old and still at school) and I actually wore the tape out. Who could ever forget first time of hearing "Get a grip" with its interjections of sax and the sinister and aggressive "Sometimes" and epic album closer "Down in the sewer". I have played this album 1000's of times in all its formats and it still raises the hair on my neck. It then led me to the Doors and beyond but I will never forget hearing Rattus for the 1st time on a poxy little mono Waltham cassette player. Glorious.
gherreme

gherreme

July 27, 2021
edited about 1 year ago
In 1977, I was only 14 and didn’t understand punk, as my favourite bands were Deep Purple, Santana and Kansas. My cousin was a year and a half older than me and going out to the tunes of the Specials and the B52s by 1978 and also bought ‘Never mind … ‘ and ‘Rattus …’. My first forays into the new wave were ‘Flex’ by Lene Lovich and ‘Black & White’ w/ that white 7”. The Stranglers had superior musicianship and great ideas about how music should evolve and I followed them religiously until Hugh left. ‘B&W’ is still my favourite Stranglers album (those keyboards throughout over those rough bass and guitar tones!); It took me 3 or 4 more years until seeing Depeche Mode live to say my prog and jazz-rock albums farewell and embrace postpunk wholeheartedly and the Stranglers remained a favourite for some time. Still waiting for a cd re-release of ‘Fire & water (Ecoutez vos murs)’;the 2008 edition is too expensive.
Aliasinblack

Aliasinblack

April 28, 2021
Contrary to the listing above,No More Heroes was, of course, The Stranglers 2nd album, coming months after IV Rattus Norvegicus.
See 2 replies
event13

event13

March 12, 2020
edited over 3 years ago
The Stranglers were one of the most talented and original bands to emerge from the punk/new wave era. I saw them at Wembley stadium supporting 'the Who' in 1979 and a couple of times after that. They were superb live and also fantastic studio artists. One of the few bands from that era I can still listen to. They are likened to the doors for some unknown reason but I think only because they used keyboards (the genius of Greenfield). I can't see any similarity myself. Miles better than the clash in my opinion but never given the same level of kudos ( I'd like to have seen Joe Strummer square up to JJ, that would have been funny). I also met them once at their 'Golden brown' appearance on top of the pops, they were really nice and not big headed at all. Proper geezers. Massively talented. They also helped 'the Skids' out when they were trying to break into the punk scene. I love them for that as well. If I could go back in time and see an old band they would be right up there on the list. Along with the Skids of course. Two of the best live bands from that period. Both monumentally underrated. But not by me.
See 4 replies
dave_disaster

dave_disaster

March 10, 2014
Punk was (& should always be) an ATTITUDE not a fashion! Punk was about being original & being different. THE STRANGLERS were unique in their style then, but their sound owes much to THE DOORS, which again shows punks' many styles in which you take your influences & create something new. Punk was never about being pigeonholed into one particular sound & style, of which was lost during the 2nd wave of punk whern all the bands became copies of each other. Listen to the diverse sounds of the SEX PISTOLS, THE CLASH & THE DAMNED, & then compare to ADAM & THE ANTS (pre his stupid pirate era), SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES & WIRE, & then again to THE BUZZCOCKS & THE JAM. All totally different styles, yet all were punk rock.
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Rich.C

Rich.C

April 25, 2012
Upon arrival, the Stranglers were perhaps inappropriately corralled into London's boisterous Punk camp. Like many Punk bands, they specialized in offensive, woman-baiting song lyrics and chord-defacing guitar speed, and they were notorious for mercilessly hectoring their fans who appeared to enjoy the abuse. But though they've been around long enough to witness the style's evolution through its Pre- and Post- phases, calling the Stranglers "Punk" dilutes the term's precision. In the band's early days, they sounded more like a faster, harder Dr. Feelgood with tracks like "no more heroes", "peaches", "something better change" "straighten out" than the Sex Pistols. Later they started to sound more "sing-a-long" like Genesis with releases like "strange little girl" & "always the sun." If you compare the bands first LP Rattus Norvegicus (preceding the arrival of the Pistols' Never Mind the Bollocks by a number of months), and 1986's flame-retardant Dreamtime there is a world of difference, this for me is the sign of a good band. Id compare their evolution to that of the Clash, from the early "in your face", two fingers to the establishment sound to the more artistic, easy listening sounds as the band matured, ["Golden brown" will forever be a classic]. Having said that,they once played on Top of the Pops with no strings in their guitars, and were forever refusing to answer the press [most notably JJ Brunel in interviews!!]. However,the band have continued in the abscence of singer Hugh Cornwell who thought the band had run out of steam and has pursued a solo career, but like the Jam touring without Weller i cant help thinking this is just like panto, and a band going through the motions, cashing in on past success. Over their quarter century career in music these quasi-Punk dinosaurs seem to be going the way of all dinosaurs by slowly calcifying into fossils.
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