News

The Stranglers Answer Their Fans' Questions

With three decades' worth of Top 40 hits in their native England, The Stranglers just might be British punk's most venerable institution. After a few lineup changes, including the departure of founding member Hugh Cornwell, the band has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years as a four-piece, featuring founding keyboardist Dave Greenfield, original drummer Jet Black, and original bassist Jean-Jacques "JJ" Burnel, who shares vocal duties with guitarist Baz Warne, who joined the group in 2001.

To follow up their critically acclaimed 2004 album, Norfolk Coast, the Stranglers retreated to the English countryside and crafted their sixteenth studio album, the appropriately titled Suite XVI. To celebrate, we got some of the band's most rabid fans to ask the gents about their new album, their various personnel changes, the odds of touring the States again anytime soon, and their favorite football (soccer) clubs.

Tim Ford from Hong Kong (formerly London) asks:
The production on Suite XVI seems to sound richer, cleaner if you like, than some of the tracks on Norfolk Coast. Is it just me or is there something different about the instruments/recording used on Suite XVI?

Baz answers: We decided to do Suite at a different studio for a start. We wanted to take our time and have as few outside influences as possible. Norfolk Coast had been received very well and the band seemed to be heading back to that rawer, harder sound of earlier days. We decided to use our front of house sound engineer to produce, too. He cut his teeth as a studio engineer, has some great techniques, and we thought it'd be interesting. We knew we wanted to try and get back to a more organic live sound, and who better to steer the whole thing than the guy who makes us sound like we do live night after night on tour, you know? Not every band has the benefit of an engineer who's equally comfortable in a live OR studio situation, but he is and he knows us very well obviously too, so we all got along together and a healthy vibe was there from the start. I don't think it hurt too much that we recorded at a quiet farm deep in the rural splendour of Somerset either...very sedate!

JJ was playing his new Shuker basses and I experimented with a few different guitars that I have...a couple of Gibsons and a Fender Strat as well as the ubiquitous Fender Teles. Dave's rig was updated after more than 10 years and his sounds are a lot crisper too. All these things combined, plus more, helped make the album sound like it does...oh, and shitloads of authentic west country cider!

Lori Pidgeon from Brampton, Ontario asks:
I enjoy listening to the song "I Hate You." It makes me think on a not so beloved co-worker. I am curious to know who or what inspired this song.

JJ answers: Well, Lori, this song is heartfelt in a semi-tongue-in-cheek kinda way. It's dedicated to two people I have known, who shall remain nameless, although I do hope they know that it's about them! It was done in the style of, as a tribute, to the original Man in Black, Johnny Cash.

Alex from Harlow, Essex asks:
Looking back at the '90s, do you think it was a mistake not to remain as a four piece after Hugh left? Don't get me wrong, Paul brought alot of energy to the band, especially live, and gave his all, but the Stranglers are the Stranglers again for me since Baz and JJ are now singing and playing as a "band" again.

JJ answers: At the time, it was what I wanted. I had lost my confidence in my singing and the prospect of singing alone, because Jon Ellis definitely couldn't sing, was too daunting. It took Baz joining for me to see that we could possibly, in the future, revert to a four piece with two lead singers. When the occasion arose it seemed the most natural thing to do. I'm really enjoying it again. I think a lot of people are echoing your sentiment worldwide.

Tim from London asks:
Would the band ever, under any circumstances, consider playing with Hugh Cornwell again? Maybe for a one-off concert or tour?

JJ answers: Hi Tim, I can't see any reason to do so. Hugh wouldn't fit in the present Stranglers dynamic. We are about looking forward. Hugh was then. Not now.

Ian from Dartford asks:
How do you feel about television using your music now, when years ago you was slagged off by the media?

JJ answers: Well, Ian, there's a certain smug satisfaction that songs from the past are being used in the present day by television and advertisers. First of all it proves that a lot of what we wrote is still relevant, or at the very least wasn't instantly disposable. To be fair, though, most criticism came from the press [not television].

Steve from Livermore, California asks:
When will you be touring the US next? It's been 10 years since you were here!! Would you ever consider doing the Coachella Festival or the Warped Tour? These would be great, mass exposure for the Stranglers in the US.

JJ answers: Thank you, Steve; yes, I know that it's been quite a while since the Stranglers were over your way. I personally would love to strut our stuff over in the US of A, especially in view of the revived stock of the band. Suite XVI is our first US release for a while so there may be a better chance than there has been. We've had offers in the past but they weren't very serious.

Kenneth King from Bath asks:
Do the band keep up to date with new bands emerging, and if so, which new bands do they like?

Baz answers: Well for myself, Kenneth, I do listen to quite a bit of new music and newer bands when I can. Sometimes you can hear something that can really grab your attention and that's when you take notice I guess. There are a lot of bands who are the same roughly the same within their genres you know? I'll avoid them like the plague....In recent years I've got stuff by Doves, The Rakes and probably my pick of the bunch, The Coral. I saw them on TV live from one of the festivals last year and they were fucking great. You never know what they're going to come up with, yet it always sounds like them -- very quirky and inventive and always catchy. I like them a lot, aye.... JJ answers: There are so many good young bands about at the moment that it's impossible to be aware of them all. However, I do take an interest, as far as it goes, and am involved with a band called Teasing Lulu, who I will be producing in the studio at some point this year. The Stranglers and karate take up so much of my time.

Gareth Michael Watkins from Chertsey, Surrey asks:
I know it's a silly question, but always wondered if the boys liked football and if so which teams do they support?

Baz answers: Maybe you've heard of the term Mackem? Well that's me. For my sins, I'm a lifelong Sunderland supporter...it's where I'm from, and in my day you supported your hometown team. You don't fucking just choose the best team like so many people do these days...very scabby! It's no coincidence a huge amount of Man U fans live in Hampstead! It's about local pride I guess and it's in your blood…especially if you were brought up with strong working class roots in the North like I was. Jet and Dave hate football I know, but JJ can be a closet gooner from time to time, probably on account of the majority of Arsenals' team being French. But me and him went to the World Cup last year to see a couple of games and we had a blast, so he can tolerate the beautiful game if he has to...

Anthony Goodwin from London asks:
Is it true that Baz Warne is not his real name, but an abbreviation, and that his real name is Viscount Barrington Warneford of Sunderland?

Baz answers: Ah, Tony, you’re behind the times my son. I’m an Earl now! It came in the post last week.

The Stranglers' new album, Suite XVI, is available now in the ARTISTdirect Store.