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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.