Hellraisers, trail blazers and defiant punk heroes The Stranglers are as potent a live band today as they were when they registered the name on September 11, 1974.
The Stranglers arrive in Ireland for their Definitive Tour this week. The men-in-black always deliver a formidable live show with an extensive back catalogue that has spawned 15 live albums released so far.
Today the band features two of the original founding members from the mid-1970s Jean-Jacques Burnel (bass) and Dave Greenfield (keyboards).
Drummer Jet Black was a part of The Stranglers from the beginning. The entrepreneurial Jet was in his thirties when he joined. He owned a fleet of icecream vans (the band toured in one) and an off-licence where they rehearsed. Jet (aka Brian Duffy) retired from live touring in 2015; he will be 80 years old on his next birthday.
Jim MacAulay stepped in for Jet on touring duty in the last decade. Guitarist Baz Warne completes the line up.
With backgrounds in jazz and blues music the band was initially influenced by The Doors and Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac. But it was at a gig by raw blues rockers Dr. Feelgood that The Stranglers saw their future direction.
Bassist JJ Burnel described to BBC 6 Music recently the experience of that first Dr. Feelgood show. He called it “jaw dropping, exciting, like nothing I had seen in real life. This was a return to what rock’n’roll should be!”
The Stranglers won support slots with Patti Smith and The Ramones, released their debut album ‘Rattus Norvegicus’ on United Artists. ‘Peaches’ was released as a double A-side with non-album track ‘Go
Buddy Go’ giving The Stranglers their first hit single in May 1977.
The Definitive Tour coincides with the re-release of the first seven albums originally issued on the UA and EMI/ Liberty labels – six studio LPs and one live album.
Expect to hear The Stranglers play a generous chunk of their 70s/ 80s material.
Alongside from the obvious classics ‘No More Heroes’ and ‘Golden Brown’ expect to hear live favourites ‘Nice n Sleazy’, ‘Five Minutes’ and their distinctive cover of Dionne Warwick’s ‘Walk on By’.
The Stranglers with special guests Therapy? play live at the Big Top on Friday March 2.
Decks & Drums for The Stranglers after show party
DOLAN’S is hosting an After-Show Party this Friday March 3 for fans of The Stranglers and Therapy? Called Decks & Drums, this free event features Niall on drums and Eric picking the records playing “punk, funk, indie disco, hard and fast.” The gig kicks off in Dolan’s after The Stranglers show.
Everyone is invited for a drink and a dance with Niall and Eric from Limerick punk band The Hitchers. While The Hitchers and Niall Quinn’s own band Theme Tune Boy are not gigging, the duo get together on decks and drums to make noise for fun in the band’s studio.
“Expect anything from Punk to Daft Punk from this professional touring entertainment act with own light show and smoke machine!!!” says drummer Niall Quinn. DECKS & DRUMS happens at Kasbah Social Club, Dolan’s this Friday March 2 from 11pm. Free admission.
