The Stranglers and Film

The Meninblack: The Stranglers

My first exposure to The Stranglers (http://www.stranglers.net/) came in the form of “Nuclear Device”, the 1979 single that was included on the compilation cassette “Life in the European Theatre”. I was a collector of compilations. Compilations were “shuffle” before the ipod was but a twinkle in Steve Jobs (http://www.apple.com/pr/bios/jobs.html) eye. Compilations could always be counted on for two things: songs that sucked and great songs that would turn you on to a new group or artist you might never had come in contact with otherwise. Especially for suburban kids who were into punk or new-wave in the late 70’s. The only way to learn about new bands was from friends or taking a chance on new music. And the compilation allowed you to try 10 new bands for the price of one. I always looked at the name of the bands first. If I recognized any of the groups, then it was a bonus. If I didn't know the group, then was the name intriguing enough to make be buy? I bought the first Psychedelic Furs album on name alone. "The Psychedelic Furs, I thought...with a name like that, it’s gotta be good". Same with fIREHOSE. But I digress. Life in the European Theatre was an anti-nuke compilation that featured artists as diverse as The Doors (Peace Frog) (http://www.thedoors.com/), Au Pairs (Diet) (see below), The Clash (London Calling) (http://www.theclashonline.com/) and XTC (Living Through Another Cuba) (http://www.xtcidearecords.co.uk/) among others. It met my compilation criteria…The Clash, XTC? Now’em, love’em. The Stranglers? Don’t know’em but sound interesting. So, going in you knew it was worth the $5. The Clash and XTC, they had you covered. And Nuclear Device was no let down. I listened to that song and that compilation over an over. The entire cassette (see track listing below) is a true hidden gem that was never released on CD and only sparingly available on LP if you catch ebay or Amazon just right. My original cassette is probably sitting between the seat cushions of my rusted out '71 Mustang in some junk yard somewhere right now. But a funny thing happened on the way to the record store. I never bought any more Stranglers releases. Not one. Over the years I forgot about The Stranglers, including another long forgotten compilation discovery, the 1978 single “Nice and Sleazy”. Twenty-six years would go by before The Stranglers and I had our long over due reunion. While researching music for my radio show I came across the song Nuclear Device. It all came back to me. I immediately located everything the Internet had to offer from The Stranglers discography and, with a few mouse clicks, the sins of my past were erased.

(l-r) Hugh Cornwell, Dave Greenfield, Jet Black & JJ Burnel

The Stranglers were formed as a result of an early mid-life crisis. It was 1973 and Jet Black (real name Brian Duffy or Jethro Whitehorne, depending who you ask)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_Black), despite making a comfortable living off various business ventures, grew tired of his routine existence. He wanted to regain the glory of his youth when he played drums in various jazz and pop bands in his teens and early 20’s. As he approached his mid-thirties, he knew if we was going to pursue his dreams, the time was now. As fate would have it, an ad placed by a North London band in search a new drummer would introduce Jet to Hugh Cornwell ( http://www.hughcornwell.com/ ) and, after several line-up adjustments, form the nucleus of what would eventually become The Stranglers for the next 16 years. By 1974, the line-up now including JJ Burnel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Burnel ) on bass, Black finally severed all ties with his former existence by selling all his remaining business assets to fund the band. Everything except one ice-cream truck, which became the de facto touring vehicle for the next several years. By 1975 keyboard player Dave Greenfield (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Greenfield) was added and the single biggest obstacle to regular paying gigs was The Stranglers musical style, a style that defied categorization. Burnel, Cornwell and Black formed a solid rhythm section, but Greenfield added a completely different element to the group. An accomplished keyboardist, Greenfield was a lifelong musician who had logged more time in bands than the other three combined. The psychedelic aspect of Greenfield's playing added a sound that separated The Stranglers from anyone playing the London pub circuit at the time. But then the calendar turned to 1976 and The Stranglers were in the right place at the right time. Well known in the burgeoning London music community from endless touring of pubs throughout England, The Stranglers had a name that fit squarely in the ideal of what the scene was to become, regardless of their more refined sound. The Damned (http://www.officialdamned.com/) became the first of the bands to sign with a label, hooking up with Stiff Records (http://www.stiff-records.com/) in September of 1976. The Sex Pistols (http://www.sex-pistols.net/) followed shortly thereafter, signing with EMI (http://www.emirecords.co.uk/) in October and releasing “Anarchy in the UK” at the end of November. That single and a memorable appearance on British TV, which ended with the Pistols cursing the interviewer, broke everything wide open. The scene finally had a name, and the name was Punk. All the demo’s, letters sent to labels and endless touring mattered little now, The Stranglers were a Punk band with a Punk name and Punk was a music phenomenon. By the end of December The Stranglers were signed by United Artists (http://www.unitedartists.com/). A week after the signing, the ice cream truck engine finally shot craps...the end of one era and the start of another.

The Stranglers Discography: http://www.stranglers.org.uk/

"Life In The European Theatre" released January, 1982

Track listing:


1. The Clash - London Calling
2. The Jam - Little Boy Soldiers
3. The Beat - I Am Your Flag
4. The Specials - Man At C&A
5. XTC - Living Through Another Cuba
6. Peter Gabriel - I Don't Remember
7. Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 3
8. Madness - Grey Day
9. Bad Manners - Psychedelic Eric
10. The Stranglers - Nuclear Device
11. The Undertones - It's Going To Happen
12. Echo & The Bunnymen - All That Jazz
13. The Au Pairs - Diet


Just What the Doc Ordered: Film

Looking for that special something for that special someone this Christmas. Here's a few documentaries worth giving:


"Punk: Attitude"
Released in 2005, this documentary from Don Letts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Letts)follows the rise of Punk from the garage rock of the late 60's through the hardcore scene of present day. Don't trust me? Read the Rolling Stone review then(http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/dvd/8878414/review/8897876/punk_attitude).


"We Jam Econo"
Amazing 2006 doc by friends and Minutemen fans Tim Irwin and Keith Schieron, We Jam Econo (http://www.theminutemen.com/) traces the band from it's San Pedro, CA roots to singer d. boon's (http://sidemouse.com/boon.htm)(http://www.hootpage.com/hoot_gallery-dboon.html) untimely death from an automobile accident at age 27. Special extras, including 62 songs from 3 separate Minutemen live performances. A Must.

(l-r) d boon, Mike Watt & George Hurley

"End of the Century: The Ramones"
Saga of the brothers Ramone (http://www.officialramones.com/) , from their CBGB's start to the bitter feuds and conflicts that led to their demise.




"Heartworn Highways"
This 1975 doc is what the punk movement would have looked and sounded like had everyone chosen work-shirts over safety-pins and moved to Nashville instead of London or New York. Okay, it is country but the scene with everyone sitting around Guy Clark's dinner table is about as Punk as you can get. Read more (http://www.puremusic.com/heartworn.html)