In 1977, ‘Rattus Norvegicus’ was released. With its blazing keys and the rumbling bass tones of Jean-Jacques Burnell, The Stranglers changed rock music forever. Now, back on the road following their 50-year anniversary tour, ’51’ marks an exclusive run of shows that the unstoppable band provides, including a date in Newcastle. Cameron Wright caught up with the band to find out more.
How are you preparing for the new tour?
Now the old age is creeping in, it takes us a bit longer to gear up for a tour, so the exercise and fasting have already begun. We just finished the last tour, which involved some rather luxurious nights in France and, well, eating and drinking were inevitable. We’re just getting back on top of it now.
How does this tour differ from the last?
The last tour was all about the big 50; it felt right to make a spectacle of it. It was a bit more self-indulgent – a fancy set, all dressed in suits, two sets with an interval, and some deeper cuts thrown in. This tour, however, is stripping back to basics. There are fewer venues but bigger audiences: nine major shows featuring some old classics and a few unheard tracks, whether new material or archived bits from the 70s.
What are the mechanics of curating a setlist?
You want to keep everyone happy; you don’t want to leave anyone miffed – believe you and me, Stranglers fans can get miffed. You want to start strong, open with a banger. The best part of any show is just before we set foot on stage, hearing the crowd roar, and all of us looking at each other thinking, how the hell did we get here? After a few hits, we start playing around. We have what we call the ‘erection section’ – a few of the more romantic moments. There are a few tracks we’re pulling out, including some older, more controversial lyrics, but we always end big.
Touching on those controversial lyrics – how do you think punk has aged?
I mean, you look at someone like Lyndon. Yes, he’s controversial and provocative, but there’s a smartness to him. Punk was reactionary back in the day, but you have to remember, when The Stranglers started, Jet Black – the drummer – was in his 40s. I’d say we were never really a ‘punk’ band. We weren’t young kids mouthing off; there was more intelligence behind it, and maybe that’s why we’re still here when so many others haven’t been.
Fifty years on and and you’re still together. What do you put that longevity down to?
There are a few others still kicking – The Damned are special, as are Stiff Little Fingers – but for us, it’s two reasons. First, we just get on. We’re too old for drama. We don’t want to live the life of The Ramones, never talking to each other off stage – we’re too old for that nonsense. Our road crew has been with us for decades; everyone’s part of the family. Second, it’s the quality of the music.
When I hear The Stranglers, it sounds so quintessentially British. Why’s that?
I couldn’t agree more. There’s nobody who sounds like The Stranglers – we’ve always had a singular sound. If I were to point to one American band we all enjoyed, it would be Television; there was a sophistication to those guitar lines. But what was happening in Britain was so singular. There are so many stories I could tell you about American record labels trying to get hold of us – JJ once set an American flag alight in someone’s office. That sends a message.
What should people expect live?
We’re from four different decades: someone in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s – but on stage, you could get a fag paper between us. We’re tight. We’re formidable. You hear those sounds and those songs, and you know you’re in for a very, very special night.
The Stranglers play Newcastle’s O2 City Hall on Tuesday 21st October. Tickets, priced from £38.50 in advance, are available at seetickets.com.
