The Stranglers​

The Stranglers formed in Guildford, Surrey, in early 1974, initially known as the Guildford Stranglers. The original lineup included Jet Black (Brian Duffy) on drums, Jean-Jacques Burnel on bass and vocals, Hugh Cornwell on guitar and vocals, and Hans Wärmling on keyboards and guitar. Wärmling was replaced by Dave Greenfield within a year. The band quickly built a following in the mid-1970s pub rock scene. By 1976, they became associated with the emerging UK punk rock movement, opening for notable acts such as the Ramones and Patti Smith. Their early sound, combining melodic bass by Burnel and prominent keyboards by Greenfield, distinguished them. Their first three albums, “Rattus Norvegicus,” “No More Heroes,” and “Black and White,” released within 13 months between 1977 and 1978, were commercially successful, generating hit singles like “Peaches” and “No More Heroes.” The band’s confrontational approach and distinctive musical style set them apart from their contemporaries.

The Stranglers entered a new phase in 1979, experimenting with a more melodic and complex sound on their album, “The Raven.” In 1981, they released “The Gospel According to the Meninblack,” a concept album, followed by “La Folie,” which included their major mainstream hit, “Golden Brown.” This track became their biggest success, reaching No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart and earning widespread radio play. In 1983, the band signed with Epic Records and released “Feline,” which featured a more electronic and European-influenced sound with acoustic guitars and electronic drums. This was followed by “Aural Sculpture” in 1984, which expanded their success to Oceania, and “Dreamtime” in 1986, which yielded another hit single, “Always the Sun.” The band continued to tour extensively throughout the UK and Europe. After Hugh Cornwell’s departure in 1990, the band continued with new members, including John Ellis and Paul Roberts, recording four more albums throughout the 1990s. In the 2000s, with Baz Warne joining on guitar and vocals, the band experienced a resurgence, releasing “Norfolk Coast” in 2004 and “Suite XVI” in 2006. The band released their 17th studio album, “Giants,” in 2012. Over five decades, The Stranglers have scored 23 UK Top 40 singles and 20 UK Top 40 albums, establishing themselves as a long-enduring and influential rock band.

The band has continued to tour and release new music, demonstrating sustained relevance in the music industry. In 2018, Jet Black retired from touring, and Dave Greenfield passed away in 2020 due to COVID-19 complications. Their 18th studio album, “Dark Matters,” released in 2021, featured Greenfield’s contributions and reached number 4 on the UK Albums Chart. Jet Black passed away in December 2022. Despite these changes, the band, composed of Jean-Jacques Burnel, Baz Warne, Jim Macaulay, and Toby Hounsham, maintains an active touring schedule.