Burning up Times Issue One: September 2005 Exclusive Online Stranglers PDF

The Burning Up Times Issue one: September 2005 Exclusive online Stranglers PDF

Featured album: Kicking ass with Black And White Jean Jacques Burnel Battersea exposed

Latté with Black And White on tour Hugh Cornwell Rock Goes To College uproar The Burning Up Times Issue one

Page 2 The Burning Up Times Issue one

In this issue… 4 You have been informed 20 things you really ought to know about Black And White 12 5 The road to Ruan Bearshanks Lodge uncovered

8 What an album! What a year! 1978 The Burning Up Times We look back at Debbie Harry, Wonder Woman and other delights Issue one September 2005 11 Dissecting Dave’s organs In The Shadows Everything you ever wanted to know about Greenfield’s toys Editorial 19 Black and white innit? Welcome to issue one of The Burning John Robb argues why Black And White is definitive post-punk Up Times, a brand new Stranglers PDF created on a shoestring by Stranglers fans. Each issue will be available when JJ Burnel remembers 1978, 21 Total recall... Bearshanks and all that... it’s ready, and will focus on a particular A personal view of Black And White from Jim Drury year and a particular album. And here in issue one you can 29 I was there! indulge yourself in all things Black And 22 White. It’s 1978 again! Throw on a Battersea exposed! tank top and get a basin haircut! Dig out your vinyl copy of the LP and turn it 31 I was there, two! up loud! Fans looks back at Bingley Hall and Lancaster University gigs There are exclusive interviews with band members, along with articles by established writers as well as fans on a 32 Cocks go to college myriad of related topics and themes. How storming off stage at the BBC cost the Stranglers dear There is also, hidden somewhere in this issue, a hyperlink to a rare unofficial 33 Rovers’ return live recording from Madrid (19 May Vivid memories of the Northern Ireland tour 1978). Happy hunting! Thank you to everyone who supported this issue and helped us out. Hugh Cornwell trawls his 39 Means To Me Special thanks to JJ Burnel, Hugh memories of creating Black Cornwell, Jim Drury, David Fagence, And White Fans old and new reminisce on Black And White Jamie Godwin, Alastair Graham, Stephen Howard, Tony Kinson, Jackie

Burning Up Times is published when it’s ready. It is available free of charge from the website and you are free to distribute it to whoever you want. Issue one, In The MacKay, Donald MacKay, Jim Radley, Shadows, September 2005. © Planet Earth Editor: Gary Kent Production Editor: Dominic Pilgrim Webmaster: Ian Keiller Contributors: Chris Alderton, Billy Bragg, Gary Stephen Reid, John Robb and The Cook, Jim Drury, Jamie Godwin, Stephen Howard, Richard Kolkman, Donald MacKay, John Robb, Carl Sanderson, Barry Spooner, Mark Tall, Eric Vonk, Al Wallis, Stratfords. Damian Franklin, Mike Contact: [email protected] Website: www.strangled.co.uk

Page 3 The Burning Up Times Issue one You have been informed 20 things you should know about Black And White...

Black And White was the first Teenager Billy Bragg was one of the JJ wrote the music for Toiler Stranglers LP written to order. first to hear the songs at Bearshanks. On The Sea in 1 5 11Northamptonshire and Hugh wrote the lyrics in Morocco. The Each side was to be divided into It is their only album to not feature title comes from a novel by French Hugh’s music and JJ’s lyrics and the Stranglers name on the cover. writer Victor Hugo. 80s electronic 2 vocals – with JJ’s music and Hugh’s 6 band A Flock Of Seagulls took lyrics and vocals on the other. their name from the lyrics in the It is probably the first album to middle 8 section. The Walk On By video featured The band originally wanted white feature Morse Code in a song, the two guest musicians on the vinyl on the White side of the LP. According to JJ, Threatened was B-side, Old Codger: well-known which was invented by Samuel 17 7 inspired by a conversation on jazz man George Melly – and an 3 Morse. The first dot-dash-dot architecture. It built up from infamous harmonica virtuoso and message in 1844, read: “What hath 12 Bearshanks Lodge in there. Built up from there…! Boom, wild man of R’n’B by the name of Northamptonshire was the place the God wrought?” In a similar vein, the boom... Lew Lewis. Lew, real name Keith 4 band wrote the album. It was message in Enough Time read: “This Lewis, lived in West Road in owned by musician and is planet Earth, we are fucked!” – Sweden (All Quiet On The Westcliffe-On-Sea. In December photographer Ruan O’Lochlainn, courtesy of Mr. -.. .- …- . Eastern Front) could have been 1986, he robbed a post office of whose remit was take the front Greenfield. 13a single. A video was filmed. £5,386 with an imitation pistol. The cover picture. post office was in the same road Frank Sinatra’s lawyers objected to In Sverige, ‘Jag Ar Insnoad Pa where he lived. He got seven years. the title of Nice ‘n’ Sleazy. They Estfronten’ means ‘I am snowed 8 thought it was too similar to Nice 14in on the Eastern Front.’ Tank and Walk On By were ‘n’ Easy. Though the hair colourant originally intended as a double of that name didn’t receive such A video was made for Nice ‘n’ 18A-side release. Sleazy, but never shown. The attention from the crooner’s legal band rejected it. “It was The album was released on eagles. Keep your toupee on, 15 terrible!” JJ told The Burning Up May 12th. It was also Burt Frank! Times in 2005. 19Bacharach’s birthday, the co- writer of Walk On By. Nice ‘n’ Sleazy is about touring the Hugh directed a video for US and the Dutch Hell’s Angels. Walk On By, based on It went straight in at No.2 in 9 16Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1966 the albums charts. The album cult classic, Blow Up. It was shot 20that stopped them hitting the Shut Up! is the shortest in Maryon Park, Charlton, southeast top spot? Saturday Night Fever. Stranglers’ B-side at 6 seconds London where the film features ‘Well, you can tell by the way I use 10over the minute mark. heavily. my walk…’ ❏

Page 4 The Burning Up Times Issue one

Calling occupants of Bearshanks Lodge! Gary Kent tracks down residents past and present of the The Stranglers arrived with Hell’s Angels and isolated farmhouse that gave birth to the Stranglers’ Black And White album Finchley Boys. One thing I’ll never forget is Jet being the mummy of the band. He sent Hugh and JJ miles off to the shops to get some food and gave them a £10 note – and they came back with a tenner's-worth of The road to Ruan Wagon Wheels! Billy Bragg

hippy couple in wellies and Laura Ashley up his kit – out in the cornfield! Then after garb. that, we got a booking from The “They didn’t like us much, and this Stranglers.” farmer dumped a huge pile of manure News quickly spread among the youth opposite our home, just to let us know our from the myriad of villages and towns in place. So Ruan wrote a song about it, with the area. Although it was doubtful whether lyrics based around us going to the any of them had ever seen The Stranglers country for some peace of mind and before. Billy Bragg: “When me and Riff finding a pile of shit instead. Raff went into town in our ripped jeans, “He then contacted Esther Rantzen’s everyone thought WE were The Stranglers! That’s Life TV programme and sung to All the girls wanted kisses and autographs, them down the phone. By the time he’d and their boyfriends would be waiting finished, they said: “Right – we’re sending round the corner to kick our heads in!” up a team! So when they came with the Soon teenage Billy moved in and film crew, Ruan jumped on top of the became a bit of a handy man. “I looked manure with his mandolin and performed after the goats, although, I remember one the song with Riff Raff while I went about day they all escaped, went into the house spraying a can of air freshener!” and chewed through a reel of quarter Surrounded by flat arable fields and inch tape!” little else, the old farmhouse lies at the Bearshanks Lodge in 1982 end of a long lane in the middle of Dinner with The Stranglers nowhere. Once the renovation work Jackie also recalled the day The Stranglers OR TWO snow-swept months during bustle of West London in 1975. “We began, a 50ft studio was set up for bands arrived, but she soon sensed something had the white winter of 1977-78, The always had this dream of having a house to practise and record four-track demos. been troubling the band about the FStranglers stayed at Bearshanks Lodge in the country with a studio,” said Jackie, Their first ad in Melody Maker went out in arrangements at Bearshanks. They decided near Oundle, Northamptonshire to write a who is now in her mid-60s. “We found the summer of 1977. they wanted the place solely for collection of songs that became Black And Bearshanks – which was basically a pile of “Billy Bragg was the first person to themselves. “They were realIy sweet, and White, their most abrasive and bravest stones – and we loved the location. We call. I actually named his band Riff Raff, extremely apologetic, and they didn’t quite album to date. put in a bid in a Dutch Auction – where and I became their roadie, driving them to know how to ask us. Anyway, it was okay Bearshanks was an old rambling we said we’d bid £50 more than anyone gigs in my old BRS lorry. I’d make a stew with us – we moved out to a rented cottage farmhouse that bordered Rockingham else’s bid – it was all very controversial – to take along and after the gig, we’d all in a nearby village. But that evening, I Forest, owned by a bohemian couple Dai but we got it. It cost us £4,500.” end up in the back of this old lorry having cooked dinner for all of us at Bearshanks, Davies knew from London’s pub rock Over the phone, Jackie immediately a great time. and we all sat round our enormous kitchen scene. Photographer Jackie and Irish comes across as a lovely woman, sweet The second phone call came from table, including my two little nippers, multi-instrumentalist and bon viveur Ruan and extremely helpful. But in the early Pierre Moerlin from the progressive band, Oscar and Finn, plus The Stranglers. O’Lochlainn met in the mid 1960s, days of their residency, it was evident not Gong. They used to get up really early and “Traditionally, my two never ate much married, and moved out of the hustle and all the locals appreciated this strange new rehearse. I once saw their drummer setting dinner, so we always ended up finishing

Page 5 The Burning Up Times Issue one off their plates. On this night, everyone ate how come?” And he just laughed it off. But like horses, and there wasn’t that much I loved Jet. Jet Black was a gentle, beautiful left over for seconds. I offered JJ Finn’s guy, always looking out for people, always leftovers, and Ruan was completely thinking about the little things. He was gobsmacked by what I’d done – offering fatherly. He seemed to underpin the The Stranglers Finn’s leftovers! I remember camaraderie of the band. the shame and embarrassment of it all – “I don’t remember much about Dave, and there were The Stranglers all falling though.” about laughing! They all thought it was Armed with the new Black And White hilarious. But we left that night so they repertoire written and rehearsed, the band could write their album, and we stayed in embarked on a small UK tour before the cottage. We came to visit them, and recording commenced at TW Studios in got to know them. Fulham with producer Martin Rushent. “I remember that the first thing you’d Meanwhile, both Billy and Wiggy were hear when you came up the road was JJ’s back at base to greet the teenage girls bass. You could hear it as clear as who’d come up after school in search of anything – and then as you got nearer, the The Stranglers. But late one night, Jackie drums. It was quite amazing when you too found herself with some unexpected arrived at the place. But of course, they visitors. All alone one night – the children weren’t disturbing anybody – everybody staying with friends and Ruan in London – The scene of many an infamous nosh up could do exactly what they wanted.” a deafening roar came from down the lane, marking the arrival of a 15-strong gang of Flying shoes and shagging came down to watch. The second or third “They were just fantastic. I had a great Hell’s Angels motoring up to Bearshanks. JJ had seen an old caravan in the grounds song in, we did Go Buddy Go and JJ got game of chess with Hugh, and for me it and claimed it as his bedroom. He had up onstage and sung it with us. It was will always be a highlight. He was highly been handed a telephone number of a superb.” Riff Raff guitarist Wiggy intelligent, very much an intellectual, young female fan when they set off for remembered seeing Hugh’s old Telecaster always concerned about world affairs, Bearshanks, and one day he called and sitting there in the studio, along side JJ’s always with an informed opinion. If you sent a car to collect the girl from the bass and Hi-Watt amps, with bits of paper looked at Hugh, though, you wouldn’t station. In the caravan that night on an with scrawled out lyrics strewn all over think of him as someone in a band, evening the O’Lochlainn’s came down, the floor. would you?” poor seven-year-old Finn got a fright. One Saturday night, Wiggy came into The Stranglers playing chess featured in Recalls Jackie: “Finn burst into the the lounge to find the band watching the NME Teazers section the day 5 Minutes caravan and he found JJ and the girl, shall film ‘The Boston Strangler’ on television. was released. “That goat in the photo is we say, having some fun! JJ threw a shoe “I just thought it was quite funny.” He Felicity,” Jackie remarked, “but we also at him telling him to ‘bugger off’ and he said. “We later got the support slot on the named a sweet little white billy goat after came running into the house, crying: ‘JJ’s Black And White tour when The Stranglers JJ. I’d love to see JJ again. He was one of hurting the girl!’ We had to explain to him played Peterborough Wirrina Stadium. I’ve my favourites. Had it not been for JJ, Oscar that JJ is not hurting her and it was all never had to scrape so much gob of my wouldn’t be the bass player he is today.” perfectly okay. ‘But JJ threw a shoe at me!’ guitar! But it was great fun, obviously a One day, Jackie found a scrap book Jet He said, sobbing.” sign of appreciation!” had left lying on the kitchen table and Billy recalled the bands urgency in An indelible impact was also made on started flicking through it. It contained getting the job done with Hugh the most Jackie, who had nothing but praise for The cuttings of all the press reviews of the determined, and JJ the most approachable. Stranglers 27 years later: “They were all band. When he returned, Jackie told him: “We did a gig in a nearby pub and JJ such incredibly decent people.” She said. “Jet – there’s not one good review here,

Page 6 The Burning Up Times Issue one

“They said they’d come to see The “They discovered cancer on his lung. They Joyce Irishman, and I was too naïve at the Stranglers.” Jackie recalled. “So I said: said cancer was the cause on the death time to handle that. I was a righteous old ‘They’ve gone’ and one of them, called certificate, but he didn’t die from that. He cow. Anyway, we split up... the constant Moose, came out with a few expletives, had a successful operation to remove it – pressure of money… I moved out. But and said they were really tired after the only, they left a little piece of bone when times were rough for him, I’d always long journey. So I invited them in, all of sticking into something, so he was in turn up at Bearshanks with a big pile of them, and sat them around the table and desperate pain, and they just thought he groceries. But he ended up letting things fed them toast and crumpets and cooked was putting it on. They kept giving him go. He once ran out of oil for the heating, them anything I could find in the freezer. aspirin – he had so much aspirin that it it all went to pot and he went back to “Afterwards they each got their stash shot his stomach lining and he died of Ireland for a couple of years. So we sold out – grass, hash, all different kinds and starvation about six weeks after the Bearshanks.” everything – and laid it all out right down operation. It was just so unnecessary.” For the cosmopolitan hippy couple in the middle of the table. All I can say is that the wellies, the rural studio dream was it was one hell of an evening! They were Colourful and characterful over by 1979/80. Bearshanks was briefly incredibly nice guys, The Essex Chapter. I Ruan led a colourful life. Having played in owned by a music promoter before being was a woman alone in the middle of former Small Face Ronnie Lane’s Slim sold to the present owners, a charming nowhere, but I never felt safer. Once they’d Chance and pub rockers Bees Make couple from the teaching profession in rested, they drove off into the night. Moose Honey in the mid-70s, Ruan had a 1982. Life at Bearshanks should have and I kept in touch and became mates and reputation for wild nights. Even from the quietened down, but late one night, the Ruan with his sax we’d often go out for a drink and he’d confines of the audience, such was his new owners were awakened by a drive me around on his motorbike.” talent he’d jump up onstage and play a terrifying police visit, with dogs. wonder how that would have ended up Sadly the one person I couldn’t talk to killer riff on the keyboards or the A fugitive was on the loose, and had Bearshanks been prettier, more about Bearshanks was Ruan, the saxophone, blowing both the band and following a tip-off from a local, the police verdant, and filled with spring buttercups photographer of Black And White’s iconic the crowd away in the process. arrived to search the place from top to and meadows? For it was also here that Jet monochrome cover. Ruan passed away “Ruan was such a fantastic character – bottom. Finding nothing, they left and the devoured the pages of The Flying Saucer some years back from pulmonary cancer. but he drank a lot. He was a total James ordeal was over. But a short while Review, chancing upon the relatively afterwards, the couple discovered a false unreported enigma of the Men In Black. floorboard cut out in one of the upstairs Unremarkable in many ways, rooms. They prised it open to reveal a bag Bearshanks is remarkable all the same for full of dried aromatic leaves – fortunately, providing warmth and shelter to the the police had overlooked that. O’Lochlainn family, and the realisation of Today, Bearshanks Lodge itself hasn’t their bohemian dream, however really changed much from the early mercurial. But listening to the eloquent photos seen here in 1982. Neither has the and frank Jackie, you sense an enormous divide between locals and newcomers, amount of unresolved business. Perhaps it although no one dumps piles of dung was attributed to more than Ruan’s outside peoples’ doorsteps anymore. untimely death. “It was awfully sad… But “We’ve only recently been accepted in the if I could have my life over again, I village,” Polly Stratford remarked. “Even wouldn’t have left Ruan… It is my biggest after all these years!” regret still to this day.” ❏ Bearshanks Lodge has a profound history. For Riff Raff fans, it was the birth A huge thank you to Jackie MacKay, Billy place of I Wanna Be A Kosmonaut and Bragg, Wiggy and to The Stratfords for allowing Romford Girls. For Stranglers fans, the us to visit and for providing us with the experimental Black And White album. I Bearshanks Lodge photographs. The Essex chapter finally tracks down Mr Burnel

Page 7 The Burning Up Times Issue one What an album! What a year! 1978 Black And White Kate Bush.. Debbie Harry...Wonder Woman… plus Olivia Newton John dressed in skin-tight black Lycra? Stephen Howard wonders if 1978 could get any better F someone said: name three things from filled location in the middle of nowhere. produced both Rattus and Heroes, to start 1977, you could bet your best tank top News leaked out that JJ quit the band, and work on Black And White. This was Ithey’d say Punk, the Silver Jubilee and Hugh had already predicted to journalists something that Anna Ford was only too Elvis Presley dying. And while most music- that the band probably wouldn’t last the happy to relate as she became ITV’s first led retrospectives focus on the controversy year. In fact it seemed the whole punk female newsreader. (Or probably not!) surrounding the Sex Pistols, to proper scene was in danger of imploding as by In March the Stranglers finished music aficionados, the year undoubtedly the end of January Johnny Rotten had quit recording and tried to succeed where the belonged to the Stranglers: two top five the Sex Pistols during an acrimonious US Sex Pistols had not by embarking on a albums in the charts at the same time and tour (“Ever get the feeling you’ve been tour of the States. However, they three Top 10 singles (Peaches and cheated?”) and the Damned announced encountered the same hostility the Pistols Something Better Change passed each they were calling it a day (for the first of had earlier in the year and made few other in the top 30). Backed up with over many times) and a farewell tour was friends. The band as ever stood up to 130 sell out gigs across the UK made the mooted. To add to the woes of punks provocation and a series of controversial Stranglers one of the biggest bands by the everywhere, the charts suggested the statements saw JJ issued with three time the year of Punk, the Jubilee and the supposed revolution had made little separate death threats, with the band death of the King came to an end. impact on the music scene: Wings’ Mull of receiving an ultimatum from their US In 1978, The Stranglers looked to build Kintyre topped the singles chart record company to shape up. upon their success – writing album throughout the month with compilation Meanwhile, Blondie had a debut hit number three cocooned at a remote snow- album Disco Fever heading the LP charts. with Denis, as did Kate Bush with the Punk apathy and decline continued, No.1, Wuthering Heights. The world’s April as the phenomenon that was and in February, leading punk teen- biggest super tanker disaster occurred Saturday Night Fever packed cinemas and fanzine Sniffin’ Glue called it a day. Then when the Amoco Cadiz split in two topped the singles and album charts. it was Abba’s turn for world domination in pumping 220,000 tonnes of oil into the Grooves got fatter as the 12” record was both the singles and album charts. Brittany sea. Former Italian PM Aldo Moro also born. Close Encounters Of The Third Thankfully, The Stranglers stuck together, was kidnapped in an ambush in Rome by Kind made it to the UK cinemas. and emerged from nowhere to perform a the left-wing Red Brigade. His body was Meanwhile on BBC1, Grange Hill made its low-key mini-tour of pubs using found riddled with bullets 55 days later, in first appearance to the delight of kids pseudonyms like “The Old Codgers” and the boot of a red Renault 5 parked everywhere and the dismay of parents and “The Shakespearoes” to dissuade any strategically between the headquarters of teachers. However the big event of the attention. The tour coincided with the the Communist Party and the ruling month for Stranglers fans was the release release of 5 Minutes which entered the Christian Democrat Party. The Tories of the single Nice ‘n’ Sleazy on April 21st. charts at No. 23 and backed up by a recruited Saatchi & Saatchi to revamp The taste of what might be expected on video which showed the band at their their image in a move to topple Labour’s Black And White – the white reggae menacing best peaked at No.11. At the “Sunny” Jim Callaghan. Margaret Thatcher tinged song met with mixed reviews from end of the month they returned to the was just around the corner… the press and the record buying public studio with Martin Rushent, who had Disco took a hold on the nation in reaching number 18 in the charts.

Page 8 The Burning Up Times Issue one

In May, in Perthshire, weather ensued, which saw both Jet and JJ arrested backed by a line of strippers. By now the watchers recorded the biggest temperature for a hotel incident in Glasgow, climaxing Boomtown Rats had finally knocked range in Britain: -7°C in the morning, and in a sell out gig at Stafford’s New Bingley Travolta and Newton John off the top of 22°C in the afternoon. The Swiss grave of Hall. the charts with Rat Trap, however by the Charlie Chaplin was dug up and his coffin In June, Naomi James broke the solo end of the month the world was met with stolen. This was later discovered in a field round-the-world sailing record. Cricketer the news that Pope John Paul had died just a mile away in Lausanne. Two motor Ian ”Beefy” Botham became the first man 33 days after being elected. He was mechanics, inspired by a similar attempt to score a century and take eight wickets replaced by Pope John Paul II in October in Italy were arrested and charged with in one innings of a test match (ear). Host whilst at the same time Sid Vicious was stealing the coffin and extortion. nation Argentina won the World Cup, charged with the murder of his girlfriend The Stranglers took a plane-load of beating Holland 3-1. Ally’s Tartan Army – Nancy Spungen in New York. The journalists to Iceland for a few days for the the Scottish Football Team – were knocked Stranglers made the news before the official launch of Black And White. The out in the first round, even though they month was out as they stormed off the trip was drink-fuelled and left one music beat runners-up Holland 3-2! stage at Guildford University for the BBC’s hack stranded for being too inebriated for Gimmick-hits came in the shape of Ca Rock Goes to College series following a the journey back. Plain Pour Moi by Plastic Bertrand and row over ticket distribution. Black And White, with advanced The Smurf Song. The band toured Europe Outrage occurred in political circles in orders of 134,000 and backed by an during the summer, surviving a riot in November when Liberal Party MP Jeremy extensive promotional campaign, was Portugal after a gig was cancelled at the Thorpe was accused, and acquitted the released on May 12th and shot straight to last minute through no fault of their own, following year, of plotting to kill his No. 2 in the charts, being held off top spot and then returning to the States as LP, Euroman Cometh. Grease took over former gay lover Norman Scott. The charts by the Night Fever soundtrack in the previous death threats issued against JJ the planet with John Travolta and Olivia were ignited by Blondie’s Hanging On The official charts. Only the NME album chart thankfully never materialised. On Newton John topping the charts Telephone and Public Image by Public recognised it at the top spot. A short tour returning to London, JJ worked on his solo throughout the summer with You’re The Image Ltd. One That I Want, something many a male The Stranglers made more enemies, was thinking each Saturday night as Lynda this time stateside, when they sent a Carter hit the TV screens in Wonder telegram to A&M records in America Woman. Meanwhile in July Louise Brown reading: “Get Fucked – Love The from Oldham became the most famous Stranglers” in a protest over lack of record kid on the planet being the first “test tube promotion. To compound matters in baby” to be born. December, producer Martin Rushent had The Stranglers regrouped in August been working on new tracks with the ready for the release of the single Walk on band and mixing the forthcoming Live (X- By. With 75,000 copies having being Cert) album when he said he could no given away with Black And White, the longer work with the band after hearing single was a surprising choice. Backed by the track they had started working on, Tank and the George Melly-sung Old entitled Meninblack. The latter inspired an Codger, it reached No. 21. September saw album two years later, all from a UFO Top 20 hits from Sham 69, the Boomtown publication Jet read the previous winter at Rats, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Jilted John, Bearshanks Lodge on the Men In Black. The Commodores, 10cc, David Essex and Meanwhile, Boney M’s Mary’s Boy Darts. The Stranglers hit in the headlines Child topped the Christmas charts, again when, as part of a UK tour, they ensuring peace on Earth and goodwill to played an open air gig at Battersea Park, all men prevailed. Aaaw, Gawd Bless! performing an extended Nice ‘n’ Sleazy Good old 1978! ❏ Portrush 8/9/78 Pic: Alastair Graham

Page 9 The Burning Up Times Issue one

Page 10 The Burning Up Times Issue one

The third keyboard player to be auditioned pitched up and plugged in. It was 1975. Pony-tailed and high-heeled, Brighton-born wizard David Paul Greenfield set up his organ and instantly impressed his would-be band mates, The Stranglers. Suddenly, the famous keyboard sound was born. Jamie Godwin gets to grips with Dave’s early keyboards, tickling our oscillators in the process Oberheim 4 Voice

AVE set up his Vox Continental, Vox Continental Gaffer-taped and new analogue synths. Some great much in the same way perched psychedelic sounds were got by feeding DRay Manzarak somewhat the Hammond through it. Remember did when he tuned in, precariously those glorious swirling phasings on turned on and on top of the tracks like Wog, Dead Ringer and Death dropped out for The L100 was the & Night & Blood. Check out the break Doors some years sorely missed in Curfew played live the next time you before. Ever heard Light Hohner Cembalet. This watch The Old Testament video, and My Fire, or Break On is the famous instrument that you’ll know what I mean. disappeared into dust to be replaced by Through? Yeah – that’s the produced the well-known melody Once The Raven came out in the touch-sensitive Yamaha CP30. Anyone sound Dave started out with. riffs in Heroes, Tank and Toiler and September ‘79, synths like the Oberheim who has the video of the Battersea Unfortunately, it appears that there many other early keyboard signatures. OB-XA were added, along with the Park gig can see Dave he uses it for are no existing recordings of the Sadly, Dave truly colossal Oberheim 4 Voice the chorus arpeggios on Hanging fledgling Stranglers with this particular mothballed the and the Korg Vocoder. This last Around. A big instrument! keyboard. Why? Dave soon upgraded to Cembalet when synth is well-known According to Dave, the fast the heavier and more famous Hammond spare parts for Dave’s vocal parts arpeggios on Toiler where L100. became too for Baroque Bordello, particularly difficult to play on Everyone knows that one! Hanging hard to find. North Winds and the CP30 as it was touch- Around? The A minor stabs on the intro? In the current Always the Sun – not sensitive. Can you spot the

The piercing, penetrating lines in I Feel world of Hohner Cembalet to mention JJ’s Oberheim 4 Voice on this Like a Wog? Original tone-wheel technology, it has proved Freddie Laker. And video too? Hammond organs are Hammond L100 a challenge to totally replicate this who could forget the tiny Korg Vocoder Well, that sums up the rig Dave very heavy instruments distinct sound. One black and yellow Wasp synth employed right up until 1979, although instruments, and can wonder if a wizard like with its unique flat keyboard? which Oberheim is played where might be later on, Dave can’t raise extinct During some gigs, open to discussion. One might suspect ini Moog Dave instruments Frankenstein- M another Oberheim sat even Dave might be discovered like, then who can? next to the Mini excused from Yamaha CP30 lightweight The trusty Moog. Was it recalling such and more Mini Moog which an OB1 anorakian reliable was used on which he details! synthesisers with a instrumental freak- used for the ❏ Hammond rack-mount sound outs like Nubiles sample and module to replicate the old sounds. and Nice ‘n’ Sleazy sat hold effect on Just Chiropractors have since believed to have on top of his rig up right up until Like Nothing On Earth? gone out of business – that’s how heavy The Raven era when the set-up Possibly. It was around this this keyboard was! Ask the roadies. changes to accommodate the masses of time that the Hohner Cembalet Dissecting Dave’s organs

Page 11 The Burning Up Times Issue one

JJ Burnel talks to Gary Kent about new songs, Black And White, why Sweden is off the smorgasbord and the trouble with Jet Euroman cometh and all that Interview: 30 June 2005

ALL me a perceptive, insightful old I add to the feint rhetoric with fool if you must – but I thought I something along the lines of not getting Ccould detect a subtle hint of involved with anything less than four sarcasm in Jean Jacques Burnel’s clipped wheels on it. “New bike, is it?” I playfully “Thanks, Gary.” venture while JJ alights his macho machine The big superbike belonging to our with a cocked leg and a cockier grin. bass-playing black-belted icon had stalled “Yeah – good old Triumph!” right before me as it mounted the kerb, He straightens up his clothing, and we leaving the rider momentarily marooned, walk up the steps to the airy foyer of the with half a tonne of motionless metal fitness club that houses his dojo. between his legs. “I texted you about 10 minutes ago,” I’m at the Barbican, Thursday 30 June, he says, “to see if you were here yet.” 2005. Having just arrived outside JJ’s “Yes, I just got that – I was in the, err, Central London dojo – following a piss car park. Probably…” and a swift pint of Dutch courage in the pub on the corner – I slide open my phone and check the time. It’s just gone 5 We sat down together at a teak table by o’clock and there’s a text message here. the bar, away from the clanking pool table It’s from JJ. and the tennis on the telly. Little did I Is he about to cancel the interview, I know just what a sonic impact these wondered? I open the inbox as I take would play on the interview’s mini- shelter from the summer rain beneath the cassette when I got home. Meanwhile, the modern cloisters adjacent. A quick glance dank smell of distant deodorant and in the direction of Chiswell Street, and muscle-bound men filled the one of the capital’s seemingly ubiquitous cosmopolitan health and fitness centre. courier bikes purrs unobtrusively along the I couldn’t help being reminded of the cobbles. Or so I think. 16-year-old lad living in Leytonstone: an The rider slows up, his eyes briefly acne-faced adolescent who sat watching meet mine, probably prowling for a JJ’s experimental Euroband play to an place to park before mounting the kerb, empty auditorium at Gants Hill Odeon in and pduff... The engine stalls halfway April 1979. It was an amazing spectacle, onto the pavement. Off comes the with so few choosing to witness it – not helmet, and a fit-looking and furtive JJ one kid from my school went. Not only appears. Still astride his bike, he single- did I have the whole of the stalls to myself handedly steers the now-silent Triumph and an unobstructed view, but I felt towards its bike bay. privileged to be allowed inside what felt “Thanks, Gary. For the help.” like a private gig, especially watching JJ JJ in Covent Garden in 1999, a bit younger then... Pic: Ian Keiller

Page 12 The Burning Up Times Issue one lovingly drag his sluggish Bonneville beast un-PC even in 1978, but we’d been onstage to roar and splutter through the accused of sexism ever since the first line instrumental Triumph Of The Good City. on the first album. For the Battersea gig “Yes, cos Bonneville means good city that summer, Linda asked if she could – and it was also one of the titles in Plato’s bring some friends along who would be Republic.” more than willing to show them who’s in Jean Jacques Burnel was in a good control. Jane of course, volunteered mood after all: I think he likes dishing out herself, and she was one of the highlights a little cheeky banter to start with. He’s of that video. She was stunning. like me, except he got in there first. We poured our pots of tea into service station- You still in touch with any of the girls? style tea cups and sipped our glasses of iced water. Conversation was easy and No. I lost touch with Tracey and Jane, buoyant as I studiously set up my although I did speak to them a few years Dictaphone and paperwork with all the ago, but Tracey had issues with me: she prompters neatly in front of me. JJ quizzed didn’t like the way we split up. But Jane the Euro-garcon who served us: became a world expert in dolphins. “I know that accent, where is it from?” He asked. “Aah, I had a girlfriend from What else do you remember about there. She was a famous dancer. You know Battersea? her…?” With a view to getting the interview I’d burned my hand on the exhaust on my under way, our Stranglers small talk went Triumph Bonneville, cleaning it or as effortlessly into something far more something. So I wore a white bandage intellectually uplifting and stimulating, round my wrist to stop it rubbing on the something deep and thought-provoking… strings cos it was very painful. I remember some Finchley Boys there, and going back The Battersea Park strippers! to Tracey and Jane’s flat in Ealing after the gig. There was one guy from Sheffield who “Well, I was seeing a girl called Tracey,” I met after one of the gigs who was there – recalled JJ. “She had a flat she shared with he died shortly after that in police custody. her sister Jane, who was 16 – along with Linda, who’d been a girlfriend of Carey He was a fan? Fortune – one of our very first fans when we were playing the Nashville Rooms on Yeah, we used to meet fans sometimes in a regular basis, and later became the hotel bars – we never cut ourselves off drummer for Chelsea. We called him from fans – it was a great way to meet Mutant… he was also our roadie. He was girls too! a bit of a body builder, although he was only about five ft nothing – but he was After two albums in six months, how come also quite a violent little bloke – he had a you set to work so quickly on the third? lot of issues… Anyway, Linda was living in the flat and she offered to strip for us on Well we hadn’t really written for a while. Nice ‘n’ Sleazy at the Brighton Conference We’d done Rattus and No More Heroes, Centre first. So she did that. It was very and apart from a few songs, maybe, we

Page 13 The Burning Up Times Issue one

houses. We had money. But before then, Nokia. It’s that annoying ring tone you after Chiddingfold, I wasn’t living hear in restaurants, pubs and the tube. anywhere. I was living where I could. I Even the Crazy Frog would have been less spent at lot of time round Tracey’s, annoying, and more appropriate, to a although I was a bit naughty… I was like a degree. kid in a sweet shop: I had a lot of “It’s not my phone, Sil got me this. I girlfriends, and I had a lot of things lost my one. Hello?” available to me. I was a young, good- For JJ’s karate students, tonight was the looking boy with a motorcycle, and I slept big one: it was the heats and a chance for wherever I felt like it. them to impress the boss. While karate- When the chance of living at talk ensued between the caller and the 6th Bearshanks for a couple of months came Dan, I couldn’t help wondering what it up, I jumped at it. I remember everyone would be like getting in a tangle with the went away for Christmas, and Dave was master, and me – a complete and utter married by then, and they all had families. martial arts no-hoper, but nevertheless a I didn’t have any family or anything. So I force to be reckoned with in an arm- spent the whole of Christmas at wrestling tournament. Bearshanks with various girlfriends Could a surprise flick of a fist break coming up to keep me company. the man? Stun him long enough to floor But in all that time, I’d been mucking him with a forearm smash? Would he about with guitars, playing and writing a return with quality kyokoshinkai – or just Belfast Ulster Hall 7/9/78 Pic: Alastair Graham few riffs and songs. I remember coming up a swift kick to my nether regions as if he with Toiler – as much as Hugh likes to think was aggressing an aggravating music he did it – it’s definitely a JJ kinda song! scribe from the late 70s, swatting him hadn’t written any new stuff. So, we had Did you feel under any pressure to write dead like an annoying fly in the ointment? quite a lot of ideas already, because we’d the next hit? You hummed the melody line to Hugh, Last year Goldblade’s John Robb confided been collecting ideas, so there were lots didn’t you? to me JJ hurled him across the room – and of songs ready to be written. Yeah – the management desperately that was just practice! wanted us to write. They’d been building I was actually playing it with Dennis of You already had 5 Minutes, didn’t you? an empire: they had moved from a little the Finchley Boys. He drummed to it. office in Wandsworth to a big building in Did you do need to do demos for Black We had that on the No More Heroes tour Oxford Street and we were living in squats Was he a drummer? And White? at the end of 77 that’s right. But we didn’t and floors. put it on an album which was kind of silly Naah, but he could sorta keep time. The No, we didn’t do demos in those days. We really. So were your royalties yet to come rehearsal room was right next door to the do now. In two weeks we’ll start demoing through at that stage? house, and one night I started assembling three to four new tunes which are Bit like Strawberry Fields/Penny Lane not the parts to what became Toiler On The completely under our belt. There are about on Sgt Pepper’s..? No, they would have started coming in. Sea. The lyrics were written by Hugh seven songs we’re kicking about with. They gave us a bit of money but we hadn’t following a disastrous Christmas holiday Well, we did all the wrong commercial done much about it. I think Hugh was still with a very pretty Japanese girl to You’re working full-on for the next moves, if you want. In retrospect, I think it living at his friend’s flat in Egerton Morocco. album, aren’t you? was quite a nice thing to do. Gardens, off the Brompton Road. I Nowadays if you had a hit single, sometimes slept on the floor there along Yeah, yeah. Y’know in music, when you’re you’d want it on an album. But at the with some college mates of Hugh’s. I think Suddenly the chime of JJ’s mobile went as on a creative roll, it would be crazy to time, we had a certain way of thinking. everyone at the end of 78 was looking for a tinny Toreador 1 rang out from his ignore it. We want it to get it right.

Page 14 The Burning Up Times Issue one

5 Minutes uncovered

What are the French bits at the end of 5 Minutes? It's a long time ago. Let me think. Is it: “ma pauvre chou chou enculée?” Or “cherie enculée?” That means “my poor darling who was…”, well, it can’t really be translated. Enculée is the worst French word you can think of. You can’t say it in France, but basically, it means ‘fucked over’, or buggered. This is when I rented a flat off Wilko in West End Lane, West Hampstead. Wilko’s mistress lived there, and so did a girl called Susie, who worked for the Pistols. The summer of ‘77 was a great one, but when we all came back at the end of summer, we found out Susie had been raped there at knifepoint by five black guys – a mere five minutes from Bishop’s Avenue, the richest road in London. Before that it was an amazing place to live – there’d sometimes be Lemmy, The Clash, the Pistols. I even remember one night giving Steve Jones a copy of Rattus. Everyone loved Wilko, and Billy Idol used to stay there… and so did Steve Strange, who I shared a small bed with... But the magic had been destroyed, and I think Motorhead ended up taking over the flat. So it’s something like: “Et si je les trouve, ma pauvre chou chou enculée, je les aurais.” – “And if I find them, my poor darling who was ‘fucked over’, I will have ‘em.”

Belfast Ulster Hall 7/9/78 Pic: Alastair Graham

Page 15 The Burning Up Times Issue one

For Norfolk Coast, you went away to No... No Hell’s Angels. Finchleys yes, just been given the key and when Martin But that’s what Martin Rushent stated in Hunstanton to write songs. Recently, you because Dennis used to drive us in our Rushent and everyone left, I’d sleep there No Mercy – there’s about three or four went to Looe in Cornwall didn’t you? band car, which was a Ford Granada in the studio. I got stoned with some minutes of time left, we need another Ghia... “Hi…” Finchley Boys, and set about doing Crabs. song. You had a bass line already and Yeah, me and Baz. I get on very well with Enough Time developed from there. Baz, he’s been a complete shot in the arm The lyric – bring me a piece of my for the band. I mean, he even plays a M. Burnel’s gaze was distracted by a mummy, she was quite close to me. What He did? Oh well, that’s possible. Telecaster like Hugh did. But when I went female member of staff from the centre; a was that all about? to Norfolk, Baz wasn’t in the band. tall elegant Swedish-looking beauty with Morse coding in Enough Time – This is her long blonde locks scraped back, Er, well, it’s er… planet Earth – we are fucked, whose idea Do all stay over at Charlton Farm, Sil’s dressed in a tight white blouse and an was that? studio complex? even tighter black skirt. I’d already spoken Threatened. to her when JJ went to the loo, and I You know, I don’t know. Well, Jet commutes as he only lives about momentarily fell in love just minutes Threatened, yeah. Erm, one night I went 40 minutes away. Baz is in Frome, Dave before. Now it was JJ’s turn to flirt, out with these people in London who I Dave? still lives up in Cambridgeshire, but he cunningly using the subject of food to lure think were to do with Rough Trade, occasionally stays in, and I stay wherever I her with his enticing charms. funnily enough, and we were talking I assume he played it, but we had to find feel like staying. I’ll sleep in the barn, or “Hi. Hello. How are you? Are you on about the architecture in London, and I out off someone… don’t forget there were in Baz’s house… duty tonight? Cuz I think one of my girls was saying: it’s not bad, I rather like it. ideas coming fast and furious, some was inquiring about some sandwiches Some of it I do, some of it I don’t – and crazier than others. It sounds a bit like the Bearshanks era? being laid on. It’s for the karate club. Is I said: opinions aren’t really important, that okay at such short notice..?” they should just exist unless they Dividing the songs between you and Yeah, it does. Just with a bit more money It was okay, apparently. I think most threaten you. Hugh, the White side and the Black – in my pocket, flashier motorcycles. I’m things could become ‘at short notice’ right It went on to things that are how did that come about? still a kind of nomad really. I have a now as her delicious curves disappeared threatening, narcissism – a mish-mash of sleeping bag always in the back of my car. round into the aluminium kitchen area. philosophical ideas, and one of them was Everything was getting polarised for us. because I enjoyed shocking people with Being cast aside by our own peer group, What other memories of Bearshanks do the subject of cannibalism, cos it was kind so to speak, and a developing siege you have? Was it a derelict shit-hole? …No, definitely not Hell’s Angels. Dennis, of an interesting fetish, eating people… I mentality. We said: Fuck ‘em, we don’t possibly Steve [Hillier], Daddy and a few can’t remember the whole logical care – we’ll be all alone. All these so No. But it was a bit farmy. The rooms others. They often went around in a sequence 27 years on… called mates of ours, fuck ‘em – you’re were cosy, and I liked the idea of having convoy anyway. either with us or against us. We didn’t somewhere to live for a while. And The likes of Hey! And Enough Time were fucking care – it was even more so The because we had so many ideas anyway, it Who were you closest to around the filler tracks for the album, according to Stranglers versus the rest of them. With the wasn’t an effort. On the first day we just time? Stranglers literati? siege mentality, we didn’t care, and we wanted to make as much noise as were sufficiently strong enough to get possible, get some booze and have a Hugh. Hugh and I were as thick as I wouldn’t describe them as filler tracks, away with it, so it was an expression of party. I remember we wrote Shut Up there thieves. cos it was quite weird, experimental stuff our times. in 10 minutes. I also remember getting – sometimes you succeed, but you don’t We saw everything in black and white. Laura Logic up there to rehearse with us Didn’t you write the beginnings of know where or how it’s going to go. Everything was polarised, we were on Hey! (Rise Of The Robots). Euroman Cometh here? They’re not great classic numbers but I polarised and we started to be aware we wouldn’t call them filler tracks. We had could be quite global physically and also In ‘No Mercy’ it says you arrived with Crabs was the first song. Oh, I remember other filler tracks… But I don’t think intellectually questioning. So we thought Hell’s Angels and Finchley Boys. Is that when I started recording that, at TW anyone in the band would say “Oh, we one side could be melodic, and the other true? Studios – I had nowhere else to sleep. I’d just need three minutes to fill up.” side brutal, hard and soft – because The

Page 16 The Burning Up Times Issue one

Stranglers always had a brutal side as well there were shots taken of us playing chess southeast London. He just couldn’t do it. as a melodic side. out in the snow in the garden. Was it Fin About two weeks ago down at the Costello who took some of those black Farm, we did a list of all the drummers Do you think the Black And White album and white shots? Jet’s the one who would we’ve ever had in the band. We got about worked? have copies of everything. He’s the seven or eight drummers listed. Keith archivist, he’s the band historian. Tobe, a Japanese guy who did the whole At the time it worked – it went straight in American Tour, Tim Bruce, a mate of at Number 2. I think it was quite Only two pictures came from that session Paul’s… Rat Scabies – he was just awful. revolutionary at the time. Since, it’s – the other appeared on the back of the He did just one gig with us. He couldn’t become a reference point for a lot of Sverige single. Black And White was keep time to save his life! We flew him people, and only now they’ll admit to it as unusual in that the two front men weren’t over from Germany, and he got to the gig an influence. You couldn’t mention The to the fore. How did that come about? with 10 minutes to go, and it was a big Stranglers. Now it’s almost hip to. havoc to set up for the gig. It was in the I’ve no idea, we may have thought about middle of one song where he just couldn’t In No Mercy it says you quit the band it ourselves. I wonder if Ruan’s widow has get the timing. after a stormy argument at Bearshanks, any of those? Actually, Ruan’s son So I stopped the show. I went up to the with your management having to patch it contacted me a few years ago saying he crowd and said: “I’ve got to explain to up. Why was that? started up as a bass player in a band you, Rat Scabies has helped us out at because of me. short notice, he’s been travelling all day to I don’t know. I don’t remember that. get here because Jet, our drummer’s ill, so Martin Rushent didn’t like some of your can we have a big hand for Rat for Do you remember Billy Bragg staying at material, did he? helping us out…” and that was the end of Bearshanks? the tour. The next day, Paul lost his voice. Wasn’t that The Raven stuff when we They’d all caught everything, end of the Billy, yes. He was alright then, it’s just started parting company? tour. Cancelled it. later on he was up his own arse with his No – in No Mercy it said he wanted to politics, I thought. In No Mercy it says as early as In The replace Jet. Was there a promo video made for Nice Shadows in late 77 he dismissed the less ‘n’ Sleazy? And Ruan O’Lochlainn? melodic Stranglers songs – he said he Oh really? That is possible. Funnily thought it wasn’t really a song. enough, he contacted me a couple of Ruan was quite an eccentric, lovely guy. years ago. I replied to a couple of his There was one. It was terrible. Absolutely He’s dead, isn’t he? Probably from Well, he was onto a good money maker, emails, but he was after too much, but he terrible. It was shot in a studio like a booze… He loved his drink. He was into though. I remember when we went to the wanted to get back into our lives – mine sleazy night club with girls and feather booze, drugs, everything. He’s been in Black And White launch in Iceland, and Hugh’s life. I wasn’t interested, he’d boas and red lighting, dressed all sleazy some bands from the pub rock scene and Martin at one point he said to me and had alcohol problems for years and too and we refused to let it be shown. Dai Davies and Derek Savage knew him Hugh: “Are you happy with your much baggage, and we’d moved on. running a few pubs – the Red Cow, The management?” He’d put little ideas into When someone contacts you after 20 There was one for Walk On By, wasn’t Nashville Rooms, playing the Hope & our heads… intriguing. years, you either want to reconnect or not. there? Anchor on a regular basis. But there was always a bit of tension Carey Fortune, who you mentioned earlier, regarding Jet anyway. Is that not on any of our videos? Oh well, He took the cover shot of Black And was reported as far back as 1977 to have He’s got his own mind. It’s been a that’s with a Dionne Warwick lookalike, White at Bearshanks too, did he? put himself up in place of Jet on drums. good thing for the band, but his health has with George Melly and Lew Lewis in it, always been a problem. In the early days, and Hugh directed it. It’s quite good, it’s a Yes, but I can’t remember where that was Even back then we had a couple of before we signed up, we had to have a play on Blow-Up. Where you see taken, maybe in a studio somewhere. But drummers to fill in for Jet. substitute drummer for one gig in someone in the bushes and you’re not

Page 17 The Burning Up Times Issue one sure if you’ve seen the murder, and filmed all the families who were eating just fucking everyone else and jumped on this anti- And Michael Appleton became the in the same park. I’m sure it’s on one of scarpered, all the waiters were shitting Stranglers bandwagon or pro-Clash pro- producer on the Old Grey Whistle Test. our video collections. It’s a red video isn’t themselves. And we thought: Jet, this is not Pistols bandwagon. We were selling more Would you have played it had you been it, not the Greatest Hits. very cool thing to do, we don’t need this. records than those guys, but he would invited? Then Jet picked up a chair and smashed it write some nasty stuff. I remember Tony You always seemed to attract trouble on right round the bar – a bit like here – Parsons came on tour with us at Yes, of course. We would have done tour in Sweden, didn’t you? smashing all the glasses and bottle, and Cambridge, at the end of 77, and he didn’t anything. But as it happened, we had to then threw the chair through the window! like the whole Finchley Boys scene, and do it without any help whatsoever. Oh, the Raggere? They ruined our tour. We thought: We’re not going to eat, he’d managed to recruit a few musicians They all had 50s American Graffiti are we? So we all went up to our rooms. to the Socialist Workers Party, and we haircuts and big American cars. The first About five minutes later, all of our rooms were just toeing the fucking line. Once 1978 and Black And White was time, they came to beat us up. They’d were opened up – machine guns, armed So, we weren’t gonna suck up to these portrayed as JJ perceived it, I found myself heard about Punk bands. Suddenly a police, and escorted 120 km to Stockholm cunts, so it was like war, really. It’s like Jon returning to Euroman Cometh. I listened in whole posse of about 40-50 cars rolled Airport. We then had to sleep in the Savage – he wrote something scathing, awe as JJ spoke of these old early into this clearing – it was a huge chalet in airport that night. and one of us had a go at him, and he got electronic drum boxes being put through a wooded clearing just outside town – I think the Raggere died off… We up to attack me and I punched his lights loads of filters and reverbs in the 24 track with the cops guarding the gate. They just weren’t very popular in Sweden, what out – and at the Red Cow – which was in to end up sounding as superb as they did. drove straight through the gate, I don’t with three times having troops involved! front of everyone – Jake Riviera, Andrew Bossa Nova 1… Bossa Nova 2.. Rock Beat know what happened to the cops. Although we toured there in the 80s Lauder, our A&R guy who was lovely, Elvis 1… He also mused about the planned We were in the dressing rooms on the because Feline was a bit of a hit out there, Costello, Nick Lowe – all these people follow-up to Freddie Laker – The Girl From first floor, but our crew were on ground and we managed to play a gig in saw what I did. The Snow Country – had the record level. These guys, four to five in each car, Stockholm in tact. In that period, we made a lot of company not tried to release the demo came en mass and beat up our crew and enemies, bless ‘em, with these people instead, without his consent. smashed our gear up. We managed to What are your memories of the Black And who got in a lot of quite influential A young girl, an architect apparently, escape into the surrounding woods, and we White launch in Iceland? positions within the music industry and joined us and she excitedly spoke of the managed to put some petrol into bottles literature. Tony Parsons, Julie Burchill… apprehension she felt about tonight’s and threw them at their cars with them Well all these journalists, although they heats, having gained her black belt three inside. We got back, picked our things up, seemed to not like us and criticised us Do you regret that? weeks ago in Japan. Then that awful drove to Helsingbourg and caught the ferry badly, they were all up for a jolly. I mean, Toreador 1 rang from JJ’s pocket once back to Copenhagen… ha ha! we chartered a plane – we had our own No, not at all. I regret the long term effect more… The karate class was due to start Every time we played there, it’s been a plane – and all the journalists got it had on it. But on the other hand, we’re shortly, and it was time to rap up the disaster. At one time, Jet destroyed a absolutely fucking pissed, and we still going, and a lot of them aren’t. So interview. JJ went off with his student to whole restaurant. Most of us were sitting intended to seek revenge on a few of maybe that animosity gave us the strength get changed and do battle. round this huge semi-circular table in this them… Tim Lott… to fight our corner. My battle started when I got home. To restaurant on the first floor of this hotel. my horror, my mini-cassette had also We’d all ordered our food, and then Jet I met Tim Lott a couple of years back in Towards the end of 1978, the band recorded the Centre’s entire ambient turns up and sits there waiting for his Epping Library, he’s a really nice guy – famously walked off stage at Surrey racket to help smother JJ’s soft tones: the food. He thinks: I’m not getting any but as soon as I said the word Stranglers University on Rock Goes To College TV clanking of balls from the pool table, attention here. And there are all these to him, he started backing off into the programme – any regrets there? Wimbledon on the TV, the coffee cups families sprinkled around us. bookshelves saying: “You’re not an and saucers in the bar, the Centre’s fire So he walked out to the foyer and came associate of the band, are you?” I suppose I have to regret the impact, the alarm – they’re all in there. It just took back with one of those Pac Man Games perception people had of us. But we three days to decipher it all. But I left things, unplugged, and dropped it in the I think he’s a good writer, I liked his didn’t make any threats or anything. Our sated, and pleased that JJ was such a great middle of the restaurant and said: “Now articles in the Standard. I didn’t have a plugger resigned that particular night, the interviewee. One piece of advice though: they’ll notice me.” Well, they didn’t – but problem with him, but he was like BBC TV banned us for many years. get that ring tone changed. ❏

Page 18 The Burning Up Times Issue one Black and white innit?

TV punk pundit, Goldblade front man and author John Robb recalls

what he describes as the first post-punk album Let me tell you about Iceland

HE Stranglers stormed punk. The like Gang Of Four get elevated to godlike surly outsiders gate-crashed the party status, it’s time to look back and see who Tand instantly made a connection got in there first. with Britain’s musically disaffected teens. This was 1978 remember – punk was They were the biggest selling group of staggering and there was little else; Joy the period and their songs were anthems. Division were still in a formative stage, The ‘experts’ tried to deny their presence bands like the Stranglers were leading the but the band were breaking all the rules way – Peter Hook is still cool enough to and were getting the utmost respect from tell you who his bass god was. the new generation – releasing two great The Stranglers had arrived at that dark albums stuffed full of brilliant rock ‘n’ roll. hued period that came after punk: the The halcyon days of 1977 saw The sombreness that hung around after the Stranglers work non stop to establish their glorious failure of the punk revolution. A bass driven, yet melodic, prowling time when nuclear war seemed to be less machismo. A brilliant combination of a bad nightmare and more a horrible direct punk rock, snarling, neo- reality. When Britain still looked shabby psychedelic keyboards and genius guitar and the charts were full of shite – it wasn’t lines. Somehow they managed to barge a for no reason at all that The Stranglers space into the over-subscribed rock ‘n’ roll were dressing in black. pantheon – a formula that no-one had These were dark times, there was a meddled with before. pessimism and a cynicism in the air and Late 77: they were back in the studio the Stranglers caught this flavour in their again, a work rate that seems incredible new set of songs. these days when bands put out albums There is a journey into a heart of Black And White was a superb slice of Just listen to that bass sound again, it’s once every two or three years. They were darkness here, a whiff of the nihilistic post-punk psychedelia, all twisted total perfection, never has a bass ever in Bearshanks Lodge working up, for the cordite of 1978… landscapes and weird song structures, it sounded that good on a record. Heavy first time in their career, a whole new set was the Stranglers at their most obtuse and rounded ballistic and perfect it realised of songs. Instead of resting on their laurels yet you could still file it under pop. And a every note a black Doc Marten imprinted they took everything that was best about Everything about Black And White is lot of people did as the album hammered on the song, and yet every lick is so damn their sound and exaggerated it for a series perfection – from the songs, to the sound, into the charts at number 2. melodic. The bass kicking into Nice ‘n’ of numbers that would see the band at its to the artwork, to the simple brutal This was a band at the peak of its Sleazy – a neat rat walk of a thing – the most stark and experimental. concept. Even the idea of doing a press powers, their best album, their greatest chugging intro to Toiler On the Sea could The Black And White album released launch in Iceland, because that country’s moment (and that’s a tough call in a only be played by a black belt karate pair in 1978 is, arguably, the first post-punk amazing landscapes somehow looked like career stuffed full of genius moments) and of hands. The stark riffs of Enough Time album. And nowadays when post punk is how the album sounded, to how cool the with the sheer bloody nerve to stretch are beautifully jagged, the sound of bass re-examined and re-evaluated and bands band looked at that point. their sound to a vicious extreme. carnage, a fantastic horror. And while you

Page 19 The Burning Up Times Issue one can understand why Hugh would be For me, the Black And White period starts And then it really took off. Do You It had ended the gig that night, each pissed off with the sheer volume of the here, a new darker Stranglers, great for Wanna? was another in that grand old member of the band leaving the stage one bass in this track, it works. It sounds like fucked up young psychos from the tradition of Dave vocals and he sounded by one. It’s always ended the album for us, the gnashing of angry teeth and Hugh’s suburbs cranked up on magic mushrooms suitably vampiric, as the band jolted and played back to front: black side then white jagged guitar part counterpoints it to get off to and debate in long lurched around a crazy riff behind him, side. Perfect. perfectly, (listen again Hugh – the lop- meandering walks around boring seaside and fuck, the bass sound on this is While bands like Wire and Joy sided mix of Enough Time sounds like towns. This record was big for me and my phenomenal, crunching, jagged, bizarre! Division rightly get credit for taking punk perfection now). small coterie of dark-clothed friends. The way it segues into Death And Night into new areas it really pisses me off that Any album that opens with Tank is going I first heard Black And White on the And Blood is powerfully effective and JJ’s the Stranglers, who were a far bigger band to be on a winner – firmly in the Stranglers John Peel show: he played the whole paean to Yukio Mishima and warrior-hood in real terms, and a far more influential tradition of shit-kicking opener. Tank was the album in one go, I tried to tape it one my is as about as weird as Strangler music band, get left out. single that never was – and yet another primitive system and got a crunchy gets. The song oozes the strangest of Black And White is easily as bold and example of The Stranglers’ knack for writing muffled version of it which became atmospheres, its clipped verses collapsing brave as anything produced by any of the songs that sounded like their subject matter manna, the countdown to release day was into the most evil sounding chorus. hipper bands, and it turned far more kids – the hanging ending that sounds like the total excitement. What was the artwork Enough Time had everyone spending onto something weirder and freakier in bomb is timed beautifully and is a stunning going to like? Was there anything we had weeks trying to decipher the Morse code music. example of the band’s sheer musical missed? at the end, it’s another great Stranglers The Stranglers were so far ahead of the prowess and dark imagination. album finisher – more weird timings, pack it was outrageous. The Black And There had already been warnings of It’s hard to imagine now but collapsing drums, and black black black White period also encompassed the 5 where The Stranglers were going with the The Stranglers were dead bass sounds. Minutes single, Nice ‘n’ Sleazy charting February 78 release of 5 Minutes – the with the sensational punk rock ballad of darkest and heaviest slab of Strangola so far. centre in British pop culture Shut Up on the flipside – that bass run at 5 Minutes is not only one of the at the time. They were the The Stranglers played Lancaster on the the beginning! Wow! And JJ’s suitably greatest Stranglers singles, it’s one of the leaders Black and white tour I hired a double belligerent vocal. greatest singles ever released. decker bus and everyone paid about two There was also the band’s classic The amount of menace and brutal raw On release the album was played over quid each and we went up there (about mugging of Walk On By – the scratchy power crunched into one track is awe- and over. Where were the band going? 90 of us). It was one of the great nights in telecaster intro and JJ’s growling bass inspiring. That bass intro alone still sounds This was weird new territory and we were Blackpool punk rock history, the gig was stealthily coming in and that long middle as adrenaline busting now as it did all hooked immediately, the artwork, like the wild and the next day everyone formed a bit half inched from Light My Fire and those years ago, and the sledgehammer first two albums was fantastic, the band in, band. The Stranglers were perhaps the made all modern and tough for us the chorus still packs a punch that ran rings er, black and white. Perhaps their greatest catalyst band that came out of punk, their punk rock kids! round most of the other punk pretenders ever promo shot, looking cool as fuck, music suggesting so many different It’s hard to imagine now but The around at the time. even Dave – gawd bless him. avenues to explore. Stranglers were dead centre in British pop Oh and let’s not forget Hugh’s most We used to play the album back to We went back that night and slapped culture at the time. They were the leaders. psychotic ventures on acid guitar breaks front: black side first, the song cycle on the album back on again, trying to follow All the post-punk experimentalists came a that twangs out of the middle of the song. the Black side went further and further the bass in Robots. Getting off on Laura year or two after, even the black-fixated Let’s not forget the B-side, the fab Rok It into new places, Curfew was a manic and Logic’s free-form sax and singing along to Goth scene was a few years away. The To the Moon, with its crazed bass riff- ugly look at an apocalyptic future with its immense chorus, letting the mushrooms Stranglers had already been there and driven menagerie of madness, the two music to match, Threatened just stank wander around the keyboard break in done it, and done it the best. They will accompanying video promo clips were the with a weird paranoia and an obtuse lyric Sweden and then falling in love for the never get the credit they deserve but, then, band at their peak as well, the and delivery from JJ, In the Shadows was a millionth time with best song on the we know the truth and that’s what matters. malevolence in JJ’s eyes and Hugh’s drop hint at JJ’s solo album that was getting album – Toiler On The Sea – with its This was a genius band at the peak of dead cool surliness made them look the recorded at the same time – the barracuda wacky twanging guitar break, its their powers. two coolest beatnik freaks on the scene. bass and Jet’s awesome off-beat drumming descriptive music and Hugh’s first real Like Hugh said in an interview at the took the band somewhere else. crooned vocal. time: “It’s black and white, innit?” ❏

Page 20 The Burning Up Times Issue one

WAS 16 years old when I first heard Jim Drury, co-author with Hugh Cornwell on Song By Song gives us home, and whenever he didn’t have an Black And White. A whole 11 years after his thoughts on Black And White, and Hugh’s amazing memory exact answer to a question, he would at Ithis fabulous record had been released. least give an answer that was thought- In mitigation, I was just six years old in provoking. No small feat considering the 1978, so I think I can probably be forgiven amount of time he and the rest of the for my tardiness. band spent off their faces on various The Stranglers exploded into my Total recall... substances in the early years. I have consciousness when I was a socially written two similar books since, on awkward sixth former living in the East on vinyl that launched the start of what Hugh casually picked up a guitar from Squeeze and Ian Dury & The Blockheads, London-Essex border suburb of Barking. In was to be a long love affair with The beside his sofa and strummed the spine- and none of the musicians involved had common with many teenagers, I was Stranglers. chilling chords to Threatened – to explain as clear a memory. searching for an ‘adult’ identity and turned The first thing to mention about Black what he meant. I felt the hairs on the back I don’t know how much time Hugh to music to help provide it. The late 1980s And White, of course, is the cover; the of my neck stand up. Here was Hugh spent thinking about each album in was a pretty barren time musically, with bold and striking photograph of four Bloody Cornwell playing one of my preparation for my visits, but he never had the likes of Rick Astley, Bros, and Johnny menacing men dressed in black on a sheer favourite songs to me in his living room. a clue what I was going to ask him. I’m Hates Jazz polluting the airwaves. white background, with no band name or Talk about surreal. It’s my fondest memory sure this helped him be more open with his Madchester was still in its infancy and insignia in sight. What a statement. To this from working on the book. revelations on life in the band. I’d like to decent music seemed at a premium, so day, it’s my favourite record sleeve, Death and Night and Blood is another think that our book has gone some small when I bought a copy of the No More nudging Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the magnificently crafted piece of music, way to explaining the mysteries of the Heroes album in late 1988, the sound of Moon into a cocked hat. particularly the cross-fade section that group I regard as the greatest in the world. the band completely blew my mind. After listening to side one of Black And follows the bizarre Do You Wanna?. A Whatever anyone’s views on Hugh Bizarrely, I was in a history lesson at White on my creaking Sony stereo I was small mention should go to Martin since he left The Stranglers – and I’ll lay school when a teacher played us a video struck by what a powerful and curious Rushent and Alan Winstanley for allowing my cards on the table as a fan of his solo of BBC’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Years, and when I record I had just bought, with its The Stranglers to move beyond the ‘punk’ work – few could deny that the man saw The Stranglers on the screen I knew I references to Hell’s Angels, time, robots, formula that had served them so well on possesses a truly original mind. I think it’s had to hear more. and maiming soldiers. Tank, Sleazy, and their first two records. As the band took terrific that he is now reconciled with his Within weeks of making that purchase Toiler On The Sea still retain some of their great delight in telling the press at this history as a Strangler and that so many of I had used up my pocket money and freshness over a quarter of a century on time, they wanted to test the patience of those songs he wrote in the band are now savings to buy up the entire Stranglers and when I got off my bed to turn the the listener with bigger and bolder getting an airing at his live shows. back catalogue and any item of black record over I didn’t think the next experimentation. That the original line-up divided into clothing available in the shops of Barking. collection of songs could possibly sound Rushent often gets a slating, from separate entities is, to my mind, ancient I also had a new idol to look up to; a any better. However, as I worked my way members of the band and the fans, history. Both camps have carved out a suave, cool bass player with an exotic through the Black Side I was left absolutely because of his ignominious exit from the niche for themselves and we should all be name. No-one else at my school was dumbstruck by what I was hearing. Stranglers camp, but his was undoubtedly grateful to have the opportunity to see remotely interested in the Meninblack, so As the sheer power and violent a steadying hand in the studio. That he both The Stranglers Mark III and Hugh I finally had myself some kind of promise of Black Side became clear I threw a wobbly over the recording of the performing those old classics. distinctive identity, and a realisation that knew that I would love this band like no Meninblack shouldn’t lead to him being As for Black And White, I don’t listen music meant something more than a other. The first two songs, Curfew and written out of the overall picture. to the album very often these days but wedge haircut and wacky dance routine. Threatened contain some of the scariest What struck me when speaking to whenever it makes a re-appearance on my No More Heroes remains, somewhat riffs ever heard. More than a decade later I Hugh about Black And White, and indeed turntable I remember instantly that I am incongruously, my favourite album of all sat in Hugh Cornwell’s living room, all the albums from his time in The listening to a work of pure genius. To my time, due to its huge impact on me as a interviewing him for the Song By Song Stranglers, was what an impressive recall mind, the band’s first five albums still teenager, but it was my purchase one book, and he explained to me that those he had on events. Hugh’s mind would sound magnificent today, and I can safely Saturday afternoon a few weeks later of strange ‘interval’ chord sequences in the return to the time in question throughout say that no-one will ever replace the Rattus Norvegicus and Black And White verses were associated with satanic music. each of our two hour sessions in his Meninblack in my affections. ❏

Page 21 The Burning Up Times Issue one

With another solo single out and an autobiography in paperback, Hugh Cornwell looks back at 1978 and tells Gary Kent about making that difficult third album, Dave’s left hand and what George Melly kept in his tin Interview: 28 July 2005 Black And White becomes… Hugh Cornwell

UGH was eager talk about Black kicked that dog up the arse!” cappuccino. As he removed the spoon even kicked off with a few hello – hello – And White – The Stranglers’ first With a pied-a-turd narrowly avoided, from the cocoa-sprinkled froth, Hugh hellos for level. Hforay into experimental music 27 we crossed over and went inside suddenly noticed something appear Having watched Hugh play his solo years ago – and I was keen to ask him ‘Café’, where I took a table at the in his cup. set many times already this year: a last questions he hadn’t been asked previously, back, by the bogs. Hugh “Look at that,” he remarked minute Tsunami benefit at the Market particularly since the publication of Hugh’s discretely sorted out the guy with childlike charm, “it’s a Bar, Islington – The Café de Paris in first book, Song By Song. All we had to do behind the counter, and I duly perfectly formed heart- Leicester Square – The Carling Academy now was find a venue to talk. lost a contact lens. In a flash, shape!” – a drab affair at Croydon’s Fairfield Hall Hugh was cool and relaxed in jeans my ocular device had hopped “Aaww – it must be – and then the best Hugh gig I’ve ever and cap, and in close proximity to his from Formica to floor, where I love!” witnessed – The Horn in St. Albans, a West London pied-a-terre: he clearly knew spotted it, picked it up, and “Listen – is your car warm-up to the Canadian leg. Brighton’s all the coffee shops. The first one, a shot into the loos with it. Upon gonna be okay on that Komedia gig was also impressive as Hugh Starbucks, saw the pair of us traipse my return, the muzak still seemed meter? I’d hate to see you get combined an acoustic night with through in a line to check its interviewing too loud – too loud for recording a ticket.” readings from A Multitude Of Sins. I was suitability, but the microphone would an interview. So I suggested My mind fleetingly naturally keen to kick off by bringing up have struggled to pick up anything other Hugh asked his guy again, pondered as to his solo work. than the ear-busting percolator and and I couldn’t help whether the likes decibel-blasting piped music. I had this being reminded of of Tim Lott or Tony theory, as I told Hugh on leaving cringing occasions Parsons ever So Picked Up By The Wind is your new Starbucks, that the louder the percolator, where Hugh received such single, Hugh? the crapper the coffee shop. screamed at the attentiveness and I “It’s okay, there’s one across the road I onstage soundman laid my trusty tape Oh, yes... That’s nothing to do with Black know, over there. The guy in there’s okay – mid-song when the recorder mike on the And White! he once turned down the music before for levels were wrong. And table, as the muzak me.” the ubiquitous inter-song finally became more No, but it would make a good preamble Meanwhile, an old woman in aside: “More guitar please, ambient and into the piece on Black And White. Wellington boots and Mac meandered Mr. Sound Man. Can I hear conducive to the nonchalantly ahead of us in the Notting some acoustic, please? More chilled afternoon. Ha. Yeah – we’ve put some saxes on to it, Hill Gate throng. Her extendable dog lead level… Hello? More guitar – “Ah, some classical that’s what we’ve done to it. was barely visible, as was the poor please.” music. Perfect.” Hugh diminutive pedigree pooch several metres Hugh beckoned his guy then grabbed my mike and Are you still pleased with Beyond Elysian away from her. The gentle, slightly gangly and gesticulated with a smile held it in front of his Fields? gait of Hugh Cornwell suddenly came to a and a wave across the shop, mouth for the entire halt as his right foot stumbled over the and Hugh resumed his chatting interview to get the best Oh, fantastically pleased with it. It’s miniature black and white dog. and listening as he stirred in the recording, the consummate proved to be a landmark album for me “D’ya see that?” He said, “I nearly sachet of white sugar into his professional that he is. He because it’s the first time I’ve had

Page 22 The Burning Up Times Issue one

No. Aren’t you headlining? tried him out and Steve was great, and suddenly put somewhere I wasn’t familiar he’s been in and out forever. with to create. It’s something you have to I dunno – they just tell me where to go get used to. You must remember, for the and I just turn up. I think there’s some past two or three years, we’d been living progressive band on after me. I can’t Outside, Notting Hill Gate was a steady together – first in Guildford, the three of remember who, though. stream of silver Met. Police cars speeding us and then after Hans left and Dave came past, with engines revving and sirens in at Chiddingfold – and we’d been in a So who’s on bass for you – Steve blazing with wailing Doppler effect. The familiar environment. So to suddenly go Lawrence or Caz Campbell? hunt was on for the London Bombers, and somewhere we’d never been to ever a torrent of security alerts added to the before – it was completely new territory Caz is still filling in for Steve (adopts a US mayhem. Having sat in traffic outside the for us. It was strange. It could have been accent) who’s been abroad on business. BBC Television Centre earlier, I was snowing. I seem to remember the whole He’s been working with David Halliday in amazed to witness such heavy duty police period in my head seems to be covered in France so Caz has been covering for him presence. London was on high alert, and snow. It was winter… it was very bleak, very, very well. So it’s down to Steve’s any naïve trust London may have had, had like Russia or somewhere. It was like we’d availability, Caz’s availability, I mean, it’s a been well and truly tarnished by the been sent to Siberia! extended releases with it abroad: it’s very loose situation, which I like. I had a terrorists. In fact, Hugh brought up the coming out in Spain in September, chat with Steve last night, he’s in great subject of whether it was safe on the tube. Were there any songs already written? Germany in October, Australia towards the form, I spoke to Caz yesterday – she’s very Just before we crossed over, he pointed end of the year, and we’re talking about happy. So everyone’s just happy to go out a paper stand on the corner with the I didn’t think John and I had had even an American release, as well as Canada – when and wherever they’re needed. It’s headline: ARMED POLICE FLOOD started writing things down before we got so it’s all looking good. quite easy. LONDON. there. My memory’s hazy, and I might be Inside ‘Café’, a mother sat down a few totally wrong, but I seem to remember we Will that coincide with a tour? How did you come by Caz? tables away and helplessly watched her hadn’t even started thinking about what baby scream its face through several songs we were going to write before we The rest of this year, we’ll be doing the Caz is a friend of Windsor’s. They played shades of red. She seemed oblivious to the got there. book reading acoustic shows to promote in a band together about three or four noise pollution her kid was causing. I the Multitude Of Sins book, and then years ago – but she was actually didn’t know what worse, the noise from 5 Minutes was already written, wasn’t it? probably tying in touring in Germany, recommended to me by Steve, funnily outside or the noise from within. Spain and hopefully, as I said, further a enough! He said: Oh, I know someone Thankfully Hugh had chosen to hold the Yes, but that wasn’t on the record. So that field later on in the year, and that’s it. who can dep for me in the summer, so we mike up to his mouth, capturing virtually doesn’t count towards Black And White, More touring, really. tried her out and she was great. every word and intonation in the racket. does it? Or was 5 Minutes recorded in the Black And White sessions, but not You’re about to play at the So how did you meet Steve, then? included on the album? Rockingbeerfest in Godmanchester – is So the very first day The Stranglers this the first time you’ve shared a stage I met Steve through Robert Williams. pitched up at Bearshanks Lodge in I think so, but I don’t know for sure. 5 with Hazel O’Connor? Steve’s been in and out of my line-up like December 1977 – what was it like? Minutes was released on 28 February and a yo-yo. He was the first bass player after the Black And White sessions at TW was Oh, am I? Ha ha! I didn’t know that. CCW, and when I made Wired, Steve Bearshanks Lodge… I think we were – in February/March, but this is about came in on bass under recommendation well I was – a bit trepidatious about it, a 1978. And Paul Roberts is on the same bill in La from Robert Williams who I brought in bit unsure of what to expect, because it Vida Santana… from Los Angeles to play drums, and we was the first time we… we were so used Well, we must have written it before were looking for a bass player, and he to – I keep saying we, but I mean I – I was Bearshanks anyway. Oh really? Is he on the same bill? Do you said: “Yeah – I know a bass player. He’s so used to being in a cosseted, familiar know what the order of bands is? from LA, but he lives in London.” So I environment, and it was very strange to be Nice ‘n’ Sleazy was inspired by the Hell’s

Page 23 The Burning Up Times Issue one

Angels – did they stay at Bearshanks? albums were virtually from one session clothes we had, where some of them were with a few songs added, so this was the saying torn clothes were being Well the Hell’s Angels experience was at first time we had gone about the business manufactured. So, we said we were going the top of my mind. In my mind, I have a of writing a whole set of new material for to get away from all these journalistic file of papers of what’s happened to me, a very long time. There was an immense ideas of labelling us, by wearing black. and they were obviously right at the top of pressure. When it’s the first time you’ve the pile. I have a feeling it was right there done something, it’s the most pressure. But Wearing black clothes was trendy wasn’t at the top of the pile, or it had just the more you do it, it becomes easier. it? happened to us, or pretty soon before, so I When we did The Raven, we’d already think Sleazy was one of the first songs done this bit before. “This is like when we Well, no. Not at that time. I don’t think it we’d finished as a composition, when we did Black And White but we’re going was. People were wanting to be punks were writing there. John and I considered abroad!” It’s not much different. with the whole ethos and the punk fashion Sleazy to be the son of Peaches, with that took a great hold. The first thing that nice syncopation, that reggae-type feel Swapping snow-filled Northamptonshire focused on black was the Ska thing with taken to another stage. for sun-drenched Tuscany! black suits and white shirts and black ties. Bands like The Selecter and so on, they How did you become involved with the You took a short break from Bearshanks, Yes! But if Black And White had been a got on it, but not for the reasons we got Angels? didn’t you? disaster we’d have been even more on it. That was later. nervous going abroad. But because it had The second one was at Bearshanks, we Well, we had this remarkable introduction I took a break to Morocco, a disastrous worked for Black And White, we knew we became aware of the fact that Jet was to them in Amsterdam, invading our trip which I wrote about my experiences could try it again. The house we were reading these UFO magazines, and he backstage area and becoming our security, and came back with the lyrics to Toiler – renting in Italy overlooked a pond with explained to me the whole idea about but they adopted us, rather than the other or Toilet With No Seat, which was what Jet loads of frogs in. At night, all these frogs these UFOs, and I said to John and Dave: way round. We were very much a passive and I used to call it. I think I’d – we’d croaked all night, and it was amazing. At “You gotta listen to this, it’s amazing out of force in this whole relationship… Baby – already worked on the music before night we used to sit outside with a glass of what Jet’s reading – it would make an shut up! Er, I mean, it was a very new Christmas and I went off with this music wine and a joint and listen to the frogs. It amazing album.” Everyone got into it, the friendship, our connection with the in my head, it was easier to write because was an amazing cacophony of noise idea of the Men In Black. The third thing Angels, but later down the line, it went I had this song in my head already. coming from this pond, all these frogs was making an album with a black side into all sorts of things. Like, doing a mating away in the warm evenings. and a white side. So those three things all benefit for their club house in Did you do demos for Black And White at synchronistically occurred at the same Bournemouth, which ran into disaster. Bearshanks? When did the title Black And White first time. They were rebuilding their club house come about? John came up with the idea of wearing and put on a gig, and we were being No… we might have recorded but if we all black clothes, and my idea was to have escorted to the stage by their security, and did, it wasn’t used at any stage. It would Well, I think there were three things that the album called The Meninblack, and the just on the side of the stage, two of the have been just for our own… we didn’t do came up all at the same time. I can’t say album with a black side and a white side security were rolling around on the floor, that sort of thing, we didn’t record which one came first, but one was the fact as a cumulative thing. As the songs trying to kill each other with knives! I rehearsals. I mean Windsor records that we were very frustrated at being became finished, it became clear that, thought: this is kind of ridiculous. everything. He records himself brushing labelled by so many journalists and none well – that’s a black one and that’s a white This was even before we’d played the his teeth! of these labels were we happy with. Out one. It all happened simultaneously, so for gig! It didn’t endear me to their of that came the idea of not wearing any me, it reflects a pattern of thought brought organisation very much. They were just Did you feel pressurised to come up with colours, so by wearing black, we wouldn’t up from these three ideas. crazy. But it went onto other things after the goods after Rattus and Heroes? be giving any indications by our clothes. It was a very creative environment that, but the lyrics to Nice ‘n’ Sleazy were They’d said we were wearing torn clothes, when you’ve got all four people living and almost a naïve concept of the Hell’s I have a feeling we were under immense but the reason we were wearing torn working together in a creative place, so Angels. pressure to get things done. The first two clothes was because they were the only you get these things happening. But I

Page 24 The Burning Up Times Issue one know when we went into Bearshanks, we it was me singing or John singing, which I like that with your head down and JJ on didn’t go in and say: right, we’re going to found interesting, and says a lot for Martin his haunches? write an album called Black And White, Rushent’s production! I think he must have so I think it was part of this process. encouraged John to sing more properly It was Ruan, the photographer. It was his rather than his operatic thing, or the soft idea. I think it was suggested by the fact So, after discovering the UFO topic of the thing, y’know. So no one could tell the that we’d started to wear the black Men In Black, why didn’t you call the difference between our voices and then clothes, and we were surrounded by all album Men In Black? Dave would sing a song! One on every this snow. He took a load of shots album. We wanted to do that whole one outside… We didn’t know enough about the side of John’s musical ideas and my lyrics, phenomenon at that time. We’d only just and one with my musical ideas and his The one playing chess in the snow? been introduced to it. Jet was the only one lyrics, but it was always easier for me to who knew all about it. I wanted to get come up with lyrics, and he was always Yes. I remembered I’d just seen the film genned up on it, and John and Dave quicker to come up with the musical The Seventh Seal by Ingmar Bergman wanted to get genned up on it. We wanted starts. So it became more 60-40, or 65-35 where the guy plays chess with the devil, to get more immersed in it before we did or something. And I ended up singing a lot and if the devil wins, he takes the guys it. The things we were doing didn’t seem more of the songs, I think on the album. My God! soul. So he plays the devil on this beach right for that – that seemed to be for Something like 80-20, but the beautiful in this black and white film, and I thought something further down the line. It was idea of the black side and the white side Was that by design? that would look great in black and white. too much to consider then. didn’t actually work in the end, so it was He wanted to photograph it in black and rather good in the end that the limited No, there was none of that going on. white, so I said: Let’s have a chess set – so What was the magazine Jet was reading? edition was grey. We wanted originally to What was the B side of Get A Grip On we had the black and white thing again. have white vinyl on one side and black on Yourself then? So we got this chess set out, and we He’s probably still got it. He collects the other, and they said: You can’t do that. had loads of shots of me and John playing everything. It was a journal which he London Lady. chess – me and John used to play chess subscribed to, and he got it once every Who told you that? anyway, before we realised Dave was a two months, and it was a UFO magazine, And then what? junior chess champion! Thank god we and it was a worldwide thing. People got The record company. They said: You can’t didn’t play him! So John and I played a lot it from all over the world. I think it was do that. Why not? Well, blah blah blah Peaches’ B side was Go Buddy Go. of chess while he was taking these shots. It published in America, and I picked up a blah blah… We thought: Well, it’s dead Something Better Change… was a very long photo session in a field, couple of these things and I was easy, it’s just that it’s gonna cost a bit more and then we went inside and he got the absolutely amazed. You couldn’t believe money. Do one side in white vinyl and Straighten Out, yeah? white sheet and that’s the one we ended some of the stuff that was written in there. one in black and stick them together, but with. It was all very much a mystery. You they couldn’t see that. It would have been No More Heroes… ah. In The Shadows. I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed on couldn’t write better fiction from fact. great, and the cover ended up being that front cover shot, but if you look at almost black on one side and white on the Ah. Fell down there! Dave standing there with his bag on, and The idea of splitting the Hugh sung songs other with the picture. But they said: You if you look at his left hand, it’s absolutely and the JJ sung songs into different sides can have grey. So we ended up with grey. 5 Minutes and… immense. It doesn’t look real. It looks very – was that born from the alternating the We could never get what we wanted – odd. It doesn’t look like a keyboard Hugh/JJ track listings on Rattus and you can’t get the staff! Rok It To The Moon, yep. players hand – it looks like a butchers Heroes? hand or something. I don’t know, it’s Like the alternating your vocals and JJ’s Nice ‘n’ Sleazy and Shut Up… Walk On always weirded me out. No, I didn’t even realise that. The only vocals on the track listing for the first two By and Old Codger. So it held up for a lot Whenever I look at that photo, I thing I was aware of was that on the first albums – the singles did that too, didn’t of the time. The Black And White immediately look at Dave’s left hand and two albums, a lot of people couldn’t tell if they? photograph, whose idea was it to pose think: that is a very weird, strange looking

Page 25 The Burning Up Times Issue one hand. Call me sad, call me funny, but… But once we’d had a few beers with him, and he said: You don’t remember were short of songs, so we ended up It’s very odd, isn’t? him and relaxed with him, he was fine this, but I was that little spotty 14 year old having to do Have You Got Enough Time and very, very welcoming. Made us really that hung around Bearshanks. He was best in the studio because we didn’t have I tell you what’s even funnier? feel at home, so that was good. mates with Ruan’s son, I think. He used to enough. We’d recorded everything we’d hang out with him, so they were just in written at Bearshanks, and then Martin What’s that? Why were you so grumpy? the background all the time. So he said: Rushent aid: “Guys, that all adds up to 37 Yeah – that was me. Very funny. minutes, and it’s not enough for an The Mod shoes Dave’s wearing. Just at the beginning. We were all so close album.” So we said, Christ, what we to each other, y’know, with the managers, Around this time, there seemed to be gonna do? So we ended up doing Have Ha ha ha… and Alan Edwards, it was our family, and some unrest in The Stranglers camp. In You Got Enough Time, which was quite suddenly it was: Who is this person? Why Chris Twomey’s book, ‘The Men They Love funny it was called Have You Got Enough Tell me about Ruan O’Lochlainn. are we at their house? We were very To Hate’ it says JJ left the band after a Time because we didn’t have enough time distrustful of anyone that wasn’t in the stormy argument at Bearshanks, and it for the album! So with that in mind, I Ruan was a lovely, lovely man. He was family. But once we got to know him, he was later reported in the London Evening doubt if there was anything thrown away very, very kind and very, very interesting – was lovely, y’know. Standard that you confidently predicted because we wouldn’t have dared thrown a dope-smoking hippy – one of the best. the band would not last beyond 1978. anything away… In The Shadows was He was very welcoming to us. He was an Do you remember Billy Bragg staying up done separately, wasn’t it left over from old friend of Dai Davies. He put up with there? What me? Really? My god! Wow. Well the Heroes sessions? our strange characters and our behaviour wasn’t John doing a solo record at this and everything – we were a bit grumpy I don’t really remember him at the time, time? While we were recording Black And It was the B side of No More Heroes, when we first got there, being out of our but I’ve met him loads of times since then. White, he’d stick around after the session wasn’t it? So that was September 1977. surroundings. I remember once I was having a beer with finished and would then record his own stuff after it. I seem to remember that Yes, yes – so it was a lot earlier, wasn’t it? happening, which didn’t fill me with optimism for the band. You finish a session What else do you remember about with the band, and one of the band recording at TW at this time? members carries on to record his own album, that’s probably why I came out Well, George Melly and Lew Lewis coming with that statement in the Evening down to do What An Old Codger... Standard. It was a bit depressing, wouldn’t you say? But I don’t remember a big Lew was a bit of a wild man, wasn’t he? argument or anything with him. Maybe I was dissatisfied with other things, They both are. George Melly turned up y’know… tetchy… y’know, that could be with a tin, and he gave it to me because interpreted as having an argument. I’d said: Do you mind if we roll a joint. Then he said: (Hugh adopts a very good Were there any tracks that didn’t get George Melly mimic) “If you’re gonna roll included on Black And White? a joint, you might as well use some of that. It’s rather good.” He brought out this I don’t think so. I remember coming up tin, and inside was this huge fucking lump with Have You Got Enough Time [sic] of very, very strong hashish! So I thought, right at the dying moments of the sessions good ol’ George! So he was a bit of a wild because we didn’t have enough songs. I man too, well he was in those days. Lew mean, we were short of songs. Do you Lewis got very drunk and kept throwing know? Do you have any recollections? We up and he was last seen that day, being Notting Hill, 28/7/05 Pic: Gary Kent

Page 26 The Burning Up Times Issue one

put on a train to Southend at 2 o’clock in Why was a video made for Sweden – was the morning and left by one of the road it destined to be a single? crew with his body hanging out over the open window. He did get there, and he is Well it was in Sweden. People come up to still alive, apparently. Another wild me at my solo gigs with the Swedish evening was when Laura Logic turned up version for me to sign, so it must have to do the sax on Hey! (Rise Of The Robots). been released there. I wouldn’t say it stormed the charts, though! But Hanging Jim Drury recalled for The Burning Up Around was going to be a single off the Times that you played Threatened to him first album but it never was. Lots of things on guitar in your living room when you were going to be singles. Man Of The were writing Song By Song. You told him Earth off 10 was too. But the video of the chords were satanic. Sweden was only made because we had time left over in the studio. We did the Yes, that’s right. It’s the intervals. If you video for Nice ‘n’ Sleazy – which we start with the bottom E, then B flat, and weren’t very happy about – and we had then E again and then B flat. So it’s the time left over that day. So we improvised interval between E and B flat, and you can Sweden. repeat that on any position on the fret board. And it’s a very strange chord Why wasn’t the video for Nice ‘n’ Sleazy position on the neck of the guitar, and my ever shown? good friend Chris tells me that the interval is used on a lot of these Black Sabbath Well, it wasn’t very good. It had a lot of type satanic mass songs all use that. And I men in bowler hats sitting in rows in bent used it in Mothra as well. back chairs in front of a stage with a girl stripping and we were playing next to her. You wrote the last verse in Threatened, And the guys were all sitting there in their saying in Song By Song it was about bowler hats and umbrellas, and it’s really paranoia. Whereas when I asked JJ two dull and I don’t think it ever got used in weeks back, he said the song is about on the end. Someone’s got it. architecture. Who’s right? You did the video for Walk On By, didn’t What was the last verse? you?

Man killed by industry… Man killed by… Chris Gabrin directed that. He was the photographer on that first session for the …Falling tree… Sanity. Is that in sleeve of Get A Grip On Yourself (as seen Threatened? No, that’s Rise Of the Robots, on the Strangled home page). It’s a very isn’t it? Man killed by falling tree, man strong shot. The Walk On By video was killed by sanity… then John tacked on the my pastiche to Antonioni’s Blow-Up and bring me a piece of my mummy. Man we filmed it in the same park. killed by falling tree – I seem to remember taking that from a newspaper front page Maryon Park. headline, so I threw it in. It seemed to fit in at the time. Yes.

Page 27 The Burning Up Times Issue one

What are your memories of the Battersea Whether I would work with him again, I remember is that… we’re getting onto the “What the fuck’s that?” Park gig? dunno. But I bear him no malice. second edition here.. when it was And Alan said: “Sorry – wrong speed.” recorded, it wasn’t an ensemble recording And I said “No hang on, let’s have a I remember Johnny Rubbish performing in How do you rate Black And White in – it was in bits. So it didn’t have that live listen to that.” a dustbin, I think. The Edge played – a relation to Stranglers albums? energy, but when it was put all together band with Jon Moss in, Spizz Oil… I live, it would have had all that. So was it the same 2” tape for all three remember Peter Gabriel coming up to me Well, I know it’s one of the fans’ tracks? afterwards and thanking me profusely for favourites. The Raven is probably top, The link between 1978’s Black And White giving him the chance to play, and I with Black And White a close second. But album and 1981’s The Meninblack album No. The tape as put away. We did thought: Well, it wasn’t down to me, ha! I The Meninblack – ah, that for me is the was that Jet discovered the UFO topic of Sunspots and Martin was going: “It’s not remember the tank blasting off, a lot of best album. It’s fantastic. I heard it the that name while writing Black And White. quite the single, not sure about this…” so filming, and that’s the video they used for other day and it sounded fantastic. Another interesting link was that at the it was shelved. And when we did The Sleazy wasn’t it? end of 1978, you recorded Two Sunspots, Raven, the tape then came out again… If we were to publish a second edition of which was later included on The But that’s what a palimpsest is. It’s in the Martin Rushent seems to generate stick The Burning Up Times, do you think we Meninblack album, after it was slowed dictionary, and in fact some big American from the band, doesn’t he? should focus on… down and turned into Meninblack, off author wrote a book called The 1979’s The Raven! Palimpsest, didn’t he? What from producing Black And White? You’re thinking of doing The Meninblack, Anyway, maybe if you do a second He gets stick from the band in general, aren’t you? Yes – it’s a great album. It was the same version, the same tape. It edition, all this part can go in there, really, doesn’t he? He’d been brought in from the was a palimpsest. Yes, in the Middle Ages shouldn’t it? I think you’ll find The commercial side of things. And so songs I first heard The Meninblack six months when they used to create a brass plate in Meninblack will be much more interesting like In The Shadows and Meninblack, he prior to its official release. It was August commemoration of someone who died, to delve into than Black And White, I think, just saw them as mindless self-indulgence 1980. Jet walked into the SIS office with they used to make a wood cut, but in because there was a lot more happening… and experimentation which had no a cassette of The Meninblack to play to brass to sit on their tombs in churches. business being on a commercial record. his son, Anthony and myself. Like brass rubbing, you get a piece of That was why he’d been put onto us, to paper and lay it on top and you get a Hugh settled the bill as I put away my impose some sort of doctrination on us. What did you think of it? crayon and rub it and get an imprint of the mike. We stepped outside as the sun That was why we got rid of him in the cutting. Rather than taking the thing and crouched to the west, and Hugh sessions from The Raven. Alan Winstanley To be honest, neither Anthony or myself putting it in ink and on paper, you’re wanted to check with me that my car was doing all the knob-twiddling while liked it much then. In fact, at the end, we putting the paper on top of it and doing it was okay: the ticket ran out five minutes Martin was taking a lot of calls from all his were almost speechless when Jet asked us yourself, basically. beforehand. I reassured him it would be investments, saying: “Buy this – have you what we thought of it. All I could muster The word palimpsest comes from that fine, and we went our separate ways. Me sold Rio Tinto Zinc yet?” And all this sort was: “Not a lot.” Jet chuckled and said: world, as explained in Song By Song, what to the west, Hugh to the east. He really of stuff going on, and we thought, well – “Don’t worry – it will grow on you!” It you find there is that the piece of brass came across as a sweet guy who you should be in here working on our did, of course. But what I noticed in the with the figure of someone on it, if you appeared at peace with the world. album, or telling us some jokes or 80/81 gigs was that The Meninblack turn it over, you’ll find something else on At times, he even reminded me of a something. You shouldn’t be on your songs were a totally different story all the other side. But it’s called a palimpsest, college lecturer in his pub break, friendly phone, but it was happening an awful lot. together played live. it’s like veiled, it’s there but you don’t see it and amiable, but still keen to convey what unless you’re looking for it and I use this he knew. Out of the blue, while sitting in So you wouldn’t work with him again? What better or worse? word to describe Meninblack. We took the traffic just by The Elgin, the word 2” analogue tape of Sunspots with all the ‘palimpsest’ came to mind, bringing a Probably not, but he’s just worked on Miles better live – these songs suddenly stuff recorded on it, and we slowed it smile to my face. I knew that word would Hazel O’Connor’s new album, hasn’t he? came alive. down to half speed, by mistake. Alan be with me forever… and The Burning Up He hasn’t done a bad job, actually. It’s Winstanley put the tape on and pressed Times palimpsest could be well be one pretty good. The production’s great. Really? God! But what you’ve got to play, and we heard this thing and said: edition away! Thank you, Hugh! ❏

Page 28 The Burning Up Times Issue one

Battersea Park, London, September 16, 1978. It was more than just the strippers, Gary Kent discovered I was there! something else that day

OLDY was always late. Or was it was all about my first gig – my first my face, and as I blinked and looked up, I impassive to the girl’s saga, with his head me who was always early? Either Stranglers gig. And fucking Goldy had the spotted an un-phased, half-running, half- in his hands. He’d hacked off the black Gway, I’m here – and he’s not. “It tickets. Where is he? caste Goldy appear from the escalators grooves off his Peaches single and wore was the westbound platform at Bethnal Some furtive looking skinheads while the skinheads flattened the can into the label as a badge on his jacket. It Green, wasn’t it..?” I stood nervously to descended the escalators, kicking a Coke the tarmac. wasn’t a pretty sight, and neither was he attention, sentry-like under the wooden can while the one with the magic marker “Alright geez?” with a safety pin through his nose, eyeing clock, preparing for the journey south of scrawled on the platform posters. I felt “Yeah – got the tickets?” my Rattus badge. He knew how cool it the Thames. I checked the money Mum sick, and froze like a chameleon in case it “Yeah. Let’s go.” looked – he told me so. I think had given me, first the change, then the kicked off. Minutes ticked away as my Saturday September 16th, 1978 he wanted it. notes, which I folded carefully back into heart raced inside my grey C&A shirt. was indelibly etched into my Bang on midday, a man my pocket. I checked my watch, the clock Slumped against the wall, I quietly cerebellum forever when The with a key unleashed the and then the desolate Central Line pondered my new blue suede trainers, my Stranglers played Battersea. It gates allowing Goldy, me and platform. In six hours time, The Stranglers matching shiny satin-effect bomber jacket had been mooted to be a hundred others to secure our will play Battersea Park. and my old grey Marks & Sparks London’s big outdoor event of vantage point down the front. Like a lot of other spotty little fifteen corduroys. Soon the jacket would be the summer, but for fans like The dam had burst. year old kids from the East End, I had ditched by an old ripped school blazer, a us, it was also a gig that My first gig experience began caught the bug; and although I didn’t ripped black Stranglers T-shirt and black almost didn’t go ahead. In with a steady shower of tins and know it at the time, what with hormones monkey boots. Only the cords would response to the threat of violence and booing aimed at the head of and things such as puberty, acne and just survive, this time replete with graffiti – and disruption caused by Punk concerts, the comedian Johnny Rubbish, who played adolescence in general to fuck my mind the centre parting will be cut with a former Greater London Council had a truly tuneless version of Mull Of Kintyre, up, Punk and The Stranglers had got me Stanley and spiked with Vaseline. postured and spurned previous gig altered to Mud On My Tyre. His timing by the short and curlies – trapped, As the clatter of the tin can echoed applications for QPR’s ground at Loftus was awful, his jokes unfunny. More ensnared, totally enraptured. But this was about the concourse, my Rattus badge Road, Hyde Park and Ally Pally. The open- pleasure was derived from an expertly more an ascent from buying vinyl round was the only clue I gave off. A warm air gig at Battersea Park was granted aimed can than his act. Roach’s Records in Church Lane. Today breeze from the black tunnel blew dust in permission at the eleventh hour. “If you throw one more tin can, I’m In front of the padlocked gates, we sat gonna go off...” formed Rubbish’s epitaph cross-legged in the sun on the worn out and early bath. A shrilling kazoo marked grass as Stranglers badges and patches the arrival of the duo Spizz Oil who split were compared and discussed in the eardrums in two in the process. Erstwhile crowd. Surrounded by rips, tears and Clash member, Lu Edmonds brought out safety pins, I felt overdressed like a shop his new New Wavers, The Edge, who window mannequin. A girl opposite me played relentlessly in spite the restlessness had written on the side of her scuffed-up of The Stranglers’ crowd. The Skids’ set plimsoll: ‘Yeah – Take it Hugh!!!’ …as JJ was up tempo and blistering, and I knew shouted in Something Better Change. She then I’d be buying everything they didn’t see me staring at her for she was released. Ex-Genesis, former prog-rocker busy relaying to anyone who would listen Peter Gabriel worked the crowd well, that she had once met JJ backstage, and weaving about the stage singing his that she kissed him. A boy sat next to her, grown-up songs to the grown-ups in his

Page 29 The Burning Up Times Issue one white outfit and orange hard hat. to the scaffolding at the side where we knowing that we could have records Finally, The Stranglers ambled across thought there was some backstage activity. released and filed in Roach’s in the same the sun-soaked stage and took up their With fingers firmly gripped in the ring section as The Stranglers, and mostly… positions to rapturous applause. Talk in the fencing, we peered between press jackets because nobody else could think of a press that week had said the band had and security guards for a glimpse of this name. As my skills at holding down the planned to arrive with jet-propelled back- other world we weren’t allowed access to. beat improved, we split. This was mostly packs, but the training required would Beyond the mayhem of bodies, we could due to musical differences, and partly have been too time consuming. The see the strippers, with their clothes on, as because McCleish (“small c, big C”) opening keyboard signature of Grip the policemen addressed them and took couldn’t get to grips with the Peaches formed the clarion call for frenzy and down their particulars. Then, one by one, verse chords, so he was fired as we mayhem down at the front. The crowd the band swiftly departed in a cavalcade collectively called it a day. I said goodbye bobbed up and down, and I was parted of roaring Ford Cortinas and Granada to the drums, and dreams of standing in from Goldy in the melee. The sight of my Ghias. We watched in awe, spying for Jet were suddenly shelved, as were our heroes up there, playing live, sent tingles through the looking glass, as the motors chauffeur-driven limousines. up my spine. I watched JJ and Hugh up revved up and sped off to some fancy bar, We all left school the following year close for the first time in the flesh. The club or bordello. and vowed to stay in touch forever, and whole band were clad in black; Hugh As the rest of the crowd was being apart from Goldy, no one did. In 1980, I with his nodding oily quiff and JJ strutting cleared away, the stewards swept away the started helping out on Strangled magazine and leg-cocking, and both Jet and Dave debris remains of empty Coke cans and while Goldy helped with the with their shades on. Tracks from the first lemonade bottles. A shoe, a sock, a ripped merchandising. With a deal under his belt, three albums were churned out in a T-shirt, a screwed up poster…. A tampon. Goldy asked me to play keyboards for his frenetic whirlwind as Heathrow bound A used tampon. Urgh! With a gentle rock band around 1989, and an album’s charter flights hovered over our heads in nudge from a dusty blue suede trainer, I worth of material was laid down at the heat. flipped over the soiled, bloody tampon Advision, just off Oxford Street. Plush Hugh snarled and spat out the lyrics with horrified curiosity. While us two coffee making facilities were eagerly with venom while JJ, with Sparta in his eyes spotty fifteen year olds stared at the blood- shared with current chartsters Climie and then sans shirt, used his black sodden plug, pondering the events leading Fisher, Wet Wet Wet, Fuzzbox and Jimmy Precision like a weapon to deliver an up to its public abandonment, the appointed alter-ego – General Jah – on Somerville and gigs at The Astoria in endless stream of incessant bass twanging steward’s big broom came along and drums. Why shouldn’t a drummer have a Charing Cross Road and The Marquee menace. Their performance of Death and scooped it up along with the rest of the nom-de-plume, eh? followed in the balmy summer of 1990. Night and Blood was probably the most post-gig flotsam and jetsam. Thursday nights were eagerly whittled We’d cram all the amps in the back of a poignant, iconic Stranglers song on the day. Now having broken the gig cherry, I away down a very damp Allan-Gordons battered Ford Transit and blow away the A Sherman tank fired off a few times was keen to go to my second gig the Rehearsal Rooms in Midland Road, Leyton headliners as imaginary Ford Granada through the gig, but the biggest shock following month, and once more I went from eight until the electric went off. There Ghias whisked us back to the hotel. That occurred at the end when a troop of south of the river. This time, to see The was just one solitary strip light, but it gave all came to an end as the band was stocking-clad strippers took to the stage to Lurkers at Thames Poly, Woolwich, where out more heat than the dysfunctional one- ‘restructured’ that year. The truth was I tease and gyrate to an extended Nice ‘n’ a raucous fracas exploded when the bar heater. Over the ensuing months into couldn’t get hold of any speed before a Sleazy. I’d never seen a stripper before. National Front skins fought the British 1979, our set stretched to Grip, Peaches, gig at the Pegasus, and it got too late to Once the fishnets and thongs had Movement skins tooth and nail. But Go Buddy Go, Hanging Around, Nubiles, turn up. I knew I’d missed the gone, and Toiler On The Sea was now a memories of Battersea remained firm, and Something Better Change, Tank and Nice soundcheck, so I didn’t show up. Hence, I rudderless wreck in an ocean of we were so inspired, that Goldy and I ‘n’ Sleazy – once I’d managed to keep was liberated from my keyboard duties for analogous white noise, the party was, for became part of a school band with Craig hold of the two drumsticks, not to mention timekeeping. Goldy would never touch us fans, over. The crowd reluctantly Mack on vocals, Adrian (“small c, big C”) nailing down Jet’s off-beat drum tempo in drugs: he. was way too smart for all that – dispersed at the insistence of the stewards, McCleish on guitar, Sparky on keyboards, the latter. I named the band The Shovels, for he was always on time now, and I was but Goldy and myself made our way over Goldy on bass, and me, or my self- partly because it started with ‘S’ – left standing on the platform. ❏

Page 30 The Burning Up Times Issue one

More memories of the Black I was there, two! And White gigging days

New Bingley Hall, 30 May 1978 Lancaster e’d just bought some cheap the gig. After dropping us off, me and my University, lager, when this metallic blue- mate Gav sat on the grass drinking our Wgrey Ford Granada pulled up cheap lager in the sun in front of the 11 September 1978 beside us: “Wanna lift to the gig?” We did. former old agricultural hall. Bingley Hall We dived into the back and the car sped was big, seating 5,000 – it meant the band It was a case of third time lucky seeing off. I noticed these two guys in the front, were stepping up in status with the the “Guildford Four” play live: I’d dressed tight T-shirts and Man Utd tattoos, relatively small Black And White tour already missed a night club gig in my and wondered if we’d made a massive taking in bigger halls, such as the Brighton own town – before they’d signed a mistake. Centre just 10 days before. record deal – and they also played at a Were we about to take a beating in the Once inside, I grabbed a Tony Moon nearby village in the spring of 1978 middle of nowhere..? Strangled magazine as Steel Pulse took to during the Pubs And Clubs Tour. We sped off and suddenly we were the stage. The crowd jeered and started to So later that year, this 13 year old being dropped off right outside the stage heckle, and bottles flew at them from the made sure he got to see them at door! These guys are with the band! audience before they walked off. Next up, Lancaster Uni. And they were amazing! Realisation dawned years later – these an angry Jet Black appeared at the mic: They kicked off with Something Better were obviously Finchley Boys en route to “Steel Pulse are our friends, so fuck Change, and went into Grip, Nubiles, off!” Soon, the lights went down once Peaches and Hanging Around. At that again, and The Stranglers burst on with a point, an altercation erupted between fast and furious Burning Up Time. You just Hugh and the crowd; they seemed could not stand still, even if you wanted intent on showering the band with spit. to! We bobbed up and down pogoing At the intro to Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, Hugh with the mass – it was total bliss! I was 14 threw down his Telecaster and walked and this was my first gig ever! offstage! Ironically enough, it was JJ My favourite band were feet away. It who defused the situation, persuading was so hot, someone sprayed water from a Hugh to return after 10 minutes. Back fire extinguisher over the squashed, to the set list for Threatened, Tank, sweaty bodies. Heroes, Something Better Burning Up Time, London Lady and No Change, Tank… there were so many More Heroes. highlights as the white lights rained down A short break later, and the band on the stage for the Black And White: returned for a ceiling-raising version of Curfew, Do You Wanna? Death And Night 5 Minutes and Toiler On The Sea, the And Blood and Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, complete latter almost being aborted half-way in with a dancing stripper. a mass stage invasion where one of I’ve since seen the band play many Dave’s keyboards almost ended up in times but Bingley Hall on 30 May 1978 the audience! was definitely the best gig of my life! Gary Cook Carl Sanderson

Page 31 The Burning Up Times Issue one

attended a cheese and wine party. Suspicious, he interrogated BBC personnel Cocks go to college to discover that no-one had heard of any agreement to sell tickets to the general public. It soon became obvious that all The Stranglers committed TV suicide in the early winter of 1978 when they stormed off stage during a those queuing to get in were from the BBC recording. Dom Pilgrim looks back to that gig, and dreams of the bootleg that might have been university. On top of that, those fans who had obtained tickets had paid through the T IS notable that there are few quality of Golden Brown to break its resolve. And roof. The Stranglers had let some public British TV and audio recordings of the the radio friendliness of La Folie must non-ticket holders in, but these were IStranglers halcyon years of 1978 to have helped the band be invited back ear ejected by stewards. 1981. This dearth of quality material can in onto the airwaves in Britain (BBC Radio By the time they had stormed through some way be traced to the infamous Rock One In Concert, February 1982). Bring On Nubiles, and before the cameras Goes to College incident in October 1978, The late 70s and early 80s BBC series were to be turned on, Hugh decided to where the band stormed off stage after the Rock Goes To College featured bands make the band’s position on the audience second scheduled number of the night. playing on various campuses. It featured clear: “You all look like a lot of escargots. The producer of the show was Michael new wave acts and popular groups of the You should be boiled alive, the lot of ya.” Appleton, who went on to produce the time – bands such as AC/DC, Tom before the recording started. A quick “Shut After a pause he quizzed the crowd: BBC’s other influential and cool Old Grey Robinson Band, The Cars and the up!” from Hugh and into Wog…then: “Anyone from Bellfields estate here? Never Whistle Test. There is no doubt that the Boomtown Rats played in 1978. The next “This is fucking boring. You lot are a load ‘eard of it have you? Two people. Anyone band were denied crucial TV and radio years saw the Police, The Specials and of the most boring people I’ve ever seen in from Park Barn? Three people… Jesus exposure, as the only show to feature them Siouxsie and Banshees make successful my fucking life.” The disdain in Hugh’s Christ!” was Rockstage in mid-1980 MIB phase. appearances on one of the key live music voice is plain to hear on the soundboard Jet: “Anyone from Guildford Most other acts of similar popularity shows of the time. bootlegs doing the rounds. “Nube count’s University?” A huge cheer erupts. “Fuck had gigs on In Concert (Radio 1) or on It was essential viewing for anyone pretty low as well…” Off!” local radio stations. They had effectively into music at the time, especially for those The Stranglers at Surrey University, They raced trough Burning Up Time, gotten themselves banned by the BBC. It too young to be allowed out to see their Guildford, was set up by the BBC and Pete Drummond returned for more limp- appears to have taken the Titanic success heroes strutting their stuff. The Howard Marks, an independent plugger wristed intros and one of the angriest announcement in the press of their hired by the Stranglers management. versions of Hanging Around proved to be appearance on RGTC was manna for all The surprising ire on show was the last number of the night. Hugh: the fans of the Stranglers. sparked by a deal the group believed they “Guildford University never represented Unfortunately, the gig itself was rather had struck regarding the sale of tickets. Guildford. We hate playing to elitist short of Stranglers fans, and this was the They weren’t keen for the tickets to be audiences, so fuck off.” crux of the matter, and the catalyst for that available only to students. Wanting local Jet: “And for the record I think evening’s entertainment. fans to get a chance to see them (this Guildford University sucks.” Plugger Series host Pete Drummond’s insipid being the area where the band proper Howard Marks resigned later that night. warm up gag (“She was only the started out, and they were still banned JJ Burnel admits on these pages that it tobacconist’s daughter, but she was the from the main local venues) they asked may have done the band some harm: “I best shag in the shop.”) and inability to that half the tickets to be sold through suppose I have to regret the impact, the know where he was (“…is it Colchester local independent record shops. Howard perception people had of us.” we’re here this week?”) gave no warning Marks assured them that he had secured Years later the fans have one huge of what was to come. This was also the this arrangement with the BBC. regret, especially in light of the power of band’s last UK gig of the year. After the sound check on the day of the the performance…. no high-quality A caustic Ugly opened up the show. concert Hugh spotted an offer of free tickets mixing desk bootleg from an the Black The first of three “warm up numbers” to the concert for new students who And White era! ❏ Pete Drummond – funny or what?

Page 32 The Burning Up Times Issue one

Portrush – Chesters Arcadia Ballroom – 8th September 1978 NI in September of 1978, for their second them and they were also cool to the kids tour in a year, was incredibly exciting. just getting into music). That’s why Rattus Portrush, only six miles away, was inked sold so well – everybody liked it. in as one of the dates on the Pubs and There was no real scene where I lived. Rovers’ return Clubs Tour. I was ecstatic. This was limited to Belfast, though I was Donald MacKay gives a personal account of the men in black on I had been transformed into a fully ignorant of this at that time. I’d been to fledged fan of the band the previous only two or three gigs previously: their second ground-breaking tour of Northern Ireland November, when The Stranglers became Stranglers in 77, and Stiff Little Fingers in the first punk/new wave group to play my early 78 (after I heard their first Peel hen you’re a 17-year-old Showbands, who covered the latest hits. home town of Coleraine, as part of the No session, scarcely believing that there was schoolkid living in small-town We were starved of decent live music; More Heroes Tour. I was still a bit of a a decent punk band from NI – we were so WNorthern Ireland you rely on hardly any name bands crossed the water, heavy rock fan at that time (Alice Cooper, used to the idea that “pop stars” came radio and very limited TV coverage to hear with many maybe using The Troubles as The Who, Deep Purple and others I won’t from somewhere else and were kind of any new music. All we had were strangely an excuse to give NI a body swerve. So mention) and I hadn’t bought anything by god-like). popular Country and Western groups and news that The Stranglers were to return to them. That would change soon enough. Punk definitely gave us hope that WE After that first gig I could do something different, and you was hooked and didn’t need to be some sort of musical bought all the expert before you gave something a try. records they had This DIY mentality was punk’s greatest released. strength and inspiration. Punk was the The Stranglers unknown, the spark for thinking that were massively things could be done differently – time for popular at the action. I realised more than ever that I had time, and were to escape from the small-town mentality seen by us as that surrounded me. pioneers of the musical revolution The gig that was punk The Ulsterbus from Coleraine to Portrush /new wave. They seemed like a stretch limo that night. We were the band were special passengers; we were going to among this see the best band on the planet. A couple unlikely alliance of pals from down my street, and my older that had the brother, were the other VIP travellers. musicianship to We dared to have a couple of pints in garner respect from the Harbour Bar – this was an exciting the older kids, and enough start ‘cos I hadn’t started going to they also had the pubs. The tension was building – should instantly catchy we get there early? No-one knew what singles to attract time they would be on, so we left to make the younger music sure we didn’t miss anything. But my fans. They were the brother had met some pals and smugly ultimate cross-over declared they wouldn’t be on for ages. band (heavy (He arrived halfway through the set!) rockers could Once at the hall I bought a few admit to liking badges, including a large album cover one Belfast Ulster Hall 7/9/78 Pic: Alastair Graham

Page 33 The Burning Up Times Issue one

course, I wore mine longer than anyone It was hot and sweaty, the audience else! It felt for a while like we were all was young and enthusiastic, and the band part of one tribe. was firing on all cylinders with superb old And behold, my first ever sighting of a and new songs. The set was very direct Strangled magazine! Vol 1 number 6. I and incredibly powerful. This band was had never even heard of this publication, totally in control and masters of their craft. so was totally intrigued as to what it was. I The dark clothes had replaced the jeans bought it and stuffed it down my trousers and t-shirts from 77. Hugh wore a white t- for the gig. This crumpled copy became a shirt under his black jacket, with the bit and worn during the actual gig, but I motto “Support your local Hell’s Angel”. JJ later smoothed it out and began my love wore a leather jacket, with the famous affair with the hallowed publication. netting top underneath (per the 5 Minutes The venue was perfect: a seaside video). Jet and Dave were sombre in their ballroom, with balcony around the edge of colourless gear. Boy, did they look mean the medium sized room and no seats, and moody. They were here to work, not hooray! Capacity about 1500 so a nice size. have a laugh. There was very little chat After a short period of jostling for from Hugh – no jokes tonight. The position close to the stage, the support act intensity of the songs spoke for appeared. I had no clue who they were, themselves. and no announcement was made. They About three numbers in Hugh speaks just got on with it. I asked someone beside for the first time, “Anyone here from me who they were and the reply came: Coleraine?” Jeez, he is talking to ME! Huge “The Undertones”. roar goes up from the many that had been The amps were emblazoned in white the previous year. lettering: THE STRANGLERS – ALBION Then… Hugh shouts “Black and MANAGEMENT. During The Undertones set, white!!!” and the boys burst into Tank. It this reminded you who you were waiting was like standing in an aural wind-tunnel for, and heightened the anticipation. Yes, as the roar hits you. Totally mind-blowing, they were really here, and we would see and exciting all at once. them soon! The spitting that hadn’t seemed to The band appeared to a huge roar, and bother the Undertones continued, and they immediately launched into a triple eventually JJ had enough. During Hanging onslaught of well known numbers that Around he stopped playing and pointed to blew the place apart. The lighting was some jerk who he had identified as the stark; lots of white, not as colourful as the previous year, where the main colours The Setlist were green and red, per the pic on the Something Better Change, Wog, Go inside cover of No More Heroes. It was Buddy Go, Tank, Nice ’n’ Sleazy, fantastic to see them again in the flesh, Sweden, Hanging Around (restart), Belfast Ulster Hall 7/9/78 Pic: Alastair Graham and it such a good feeling to know all the Peaches (cut short), Toiler, Threatened, songs. JJ bounced around like he was Burning Up Time, Curfew, Do You with no writing – cool as fuck, and a pair adorn my school blazer lapels for many a doing an assault course, Hugh scythed at Wanna?/Death And Night And Blood, of BLACK AND, AND WHITE ones which made month afterwards. In fact, the whole fifth his strings, Jet pummelled the skins, and No More Heroes, Straighten Out, Down me snigger, ‘cos they were so clever. and sixth form seemed to be walking Dave’s arms were a blur, as he used every in the Sewer, 5 Minutes These badges were destined to proudly adverts for the band for a week or two. Of key available. Mesmerising!

Page 34 The Burning Up Times Issue one worst culprit, giving him some verbals off- phlegm-free gig and, if anything, the the pride of place went to Down in the uneasy about the “Hello little girl…” mike. I think Hugh also said a few choice natural anger of the band created an even Sewer. It was so good that night. During cartoon and asked, “What’s this?” I replied words about the situation. more intense atmosphere. JJ ripped into the finale the crowd all started clapping hastily, “It’s only a joke”. I’m not sure he The band restarted Hanging Around Toiler with incredible ferocity to vent his above its heads in time with the insistent was convinced, but put down the mag (much to my delight ‘cos I didn’t want to anger at the idiot minority, and the rhythm. The atmosphere and wandered off. I took his reaction to miss any of the songs) and things seemed majority responded with enthusiastic was nerve tingling, and my mag as evidence of the generation to settle down a bit as far as that support. No-one was going to mess with JJ I’m sure JJ and Hugh gap, so I felt good about being young unwelcome variety of audience now. were getting off on the and different to him. Strangled “participation” was concerned. The new songs were even more audience reaction. It had got me already! I soon However, the dickhead in the crowd impressive, probably ‘cos they meant is one of the subscribed and got got his dutch courage back, thinking he more to me, being new yet familiar. I just highlights of my the back issues was really tough hiding in the darkness of loved every minute of this stuff. gig-going (30p each!). the crowd. But half way through Peaches Sweden was absolutely superb. I still experiences. A Battersea Park JJ showed him who was toughest. I was remember JJ staring right at me (or so it totally brilliant was imminent, but standing about two rows from the front seemed) as he sang the “too much ti-ime” performance of that there was no way I close to JJ. Like a flash, he threw down his backing vocals. I yelled in song. could get to that one. bass and dived head long past my left unison, of course. Strange how And soon it was all over. The However, there was the shoulder into the crowd. Mega little snippets of gigs stick in post-gig euphoria followed. consolation that the surprised, I turned round to your mind. I always think of These early gigs are unsurpassable for band were going to find JJ a few feet away that vision when I hear that excitement and full-force power of a band record Rock Goes to on the ground song. on a mission to prove how good they College soon after, and I was so looking with the Toiler blew my mind, it were. Artistically and commercially forward to seeing this set on prime time culprit in a was just sublime! successful, The Stranglers could do no TV. Alas…. headlock. I Threatened was wrong. As good as it gets, really. A few weeks later I saw an advert in bet this guy cool, especially Looking back on it now, this was the Sounds (my music paper of choice) for a shat himself “…piece of my gig that really cemented my love for the local fanzine called Alternative Ulster. The when he saw JJ Mummy….” ‘cos I band. Although they later became more bit that caught my eye was that The coming for him! felt good about musically adventurous and sophisticated, Stranglers were featured, so I sent off for Hugh jumped knowing the the raw energy of this period of the band’s one. down into the words to shout development was truly unbeatable for me. When I opened the home-spun pages I crowd too, to make along with JJ, Things were never again quite as manic was delighted to find not only a review of sure his mate was OK. unlike the and thrilling as this! Just check out the the Portrush gig, but also some great pix of No fear, there was now majority in Rock Goes to College footage to get an the boys in action. [This article is a wide circle around the the crowd. idea of what I am talking about. This is reproduced here in Burning Up Times two combatants. JJ Curfew was pretty close to my gig. In contrast the from the very copy I bought way back dragged the guy away really impressive also, open-air footage from Battersea Park lacks then. And Alastair Graham’s fab pix from towards the nearby entrance the songs from the Black side the atmosphere of the indoor gigs of the Portrush and Belfast that have only and the bouncers then took seeming somehow more accessible in time. recently been discovered are published over. I expect the guy ended the live setting. throughout for the very first time]. the evening with a bruise or two The “oldies” were expertly executed Post-gig euphoria The Stranglers were definitely now – served him right. Hugh walked right past also and my particular fave from 77, No The last bus home had gone, so I had to “my band”. They were starting to me on his return to the stage and I patted More Heroes, was played perfectly, with phone my Dad to come and pick us up metamorphose into variants that no-one him on the back. That was when I first of course the classic keyboard sound in (very rock’n’roll). With my ears ringing, I could have predicted, and it was realised how tall he was. place. watched proudly as he perused my fascinating following their journey into Thankfully, after that we had a Every song was totally enjoyable, but Strangled magazine. He became a little the unknown, all the while producing

Page 35 The Burning Up Times Issue one

Alternative Ulster fanzine:

Belfast Ulster Hall 7/9/78 Pic: Alastair Graham intoxicating music. Certainly the live fan and he said “I liked the first two shows always retained my 100% interest albums, but Black And White is shite! for many a year to come. We all have our That’s not punk rock.” Well, exactly! I said favourite eras, and no doubt the “first “Who cares? It’s fucking brilliant!” This for time” has a major influence on how we me highlighted the difference between all perceive their exploits. Well my Stranglers fans and the “punks”. We second time was the best, and will live thought for ourselves and didn’t give a toss with me forever as the greatest gig ever. what the image makers said about what Cheers lads. we should and shouldn’t like. The following year I had an interesting I loved this band and I would defend conversation about Black And White with them against any idiotic statements from a guy I met during my early days at any quarter. This helped breed the loyalty university (I had escaped!). His local band of the fans, and I never met any punk fans was the Skids and he saw himself as a bit that were as loyal to the cause as us. We of a “punk”. I said I was a big Stranglers knew our band was the best. ❏

Page 36 The Burning Up Times Issue one

Page 37 The Burning Up Times Issue one

Main photo: Ulster Hall, Belfast Top left: Hugh in Belfast Top right: JJ at the Portrush soundcheck Bottom right: Dave at the Portrush soundcheck

All pics courtesy of Alastair Graham

Page 38 The Burning Up Times Issue one

Stranglers aficionados expose their brains, do lots of tapping, click on send and tell us what Black And White… Means To Me

Satan Jim Drury Fuck my new boots Damian Franklin was totally wide awake – how could I radio reception playing up? Uncle John My favourite moment of working on the Black And White got me hooked on the survive the next 24 hours? ended the bedtime session with: “Well – book [Song By Song] with Hugh was Stranglers. I even bought a pair of Monkey Anticipation was building. I happily there you have it.” actually doing Black And White when he Boots on the strength of seeing Hugh’s on went to bed and amazed my parents in the The Stranglers sounded different. Less picked up his guitar and started playing the the cover of Black And White. I then got process. Into bed, out with the radio and poppy, more sharper, more textural, more ‘satanic’ chords to Threatened, which is my myself a pair of Jam shoes like Dave’s a under the covers. The intro. Dum- da-dum, challenging, more pensive. Something had favourite song on the album. short while after. My older cousin lived in da dum, da-dum ... what a spine-tingling happened to them. They’d grown up. Finsbury Park, and he had a copy of Black sound...waiting for the spindly little guitar Grown wiser. And I was growing with And White with the White EP. He used to note that heralds the dour night time tones them. And what if Peelie had played the Tank Billy Bragg take me to see The Stranglers at the of Mr. Peel. He waffled on as he did, Black side? What would we have made of I remember Tank as being one of my Rainbow on many occasions. Having seen mentioning a few bands he had lined that in our pyjamas, eh? We’d have favourites off Black And White. Not only is them play live over a hundred times, for up…and it seemed an age until he again probably put it down to bad reception. it a great track, but it’s particularly poignant me, it’s the Black And White songs that said that the whole of Side One of the new Little did we know what waited for us on for me, as that is what I used to do in the come out best. Although there was one gig Stranglers album would be played…at May 12, 1978. British Army, drive tanks. Yeah – I’m gonna that proved to be the exception – Ally Pally. some point. I dipped into a sleep once or get it now on CD. I thought Toiler was ruined by John Ellis’ twice, and did my best to stay awake in my guitar work. A year on from that, I was cotton cocoon. Then suddenly – I awoke What a picture! Stephen Howard fortunate to catch Paul Roberts’ first UK with a start. I checked red numbers on my I got into The Stranglers when I heard No Yukio Chris Alderton date at The Old Trout in Windsor when he bedside clock: I’d missed the first 24 More Heroes. Pocket money was scant, My favourite song off the album is Death sung a superb version of Threatened. minutes of the show. But had I missed The and I used it to get singles from Revolver in And Night And Blood (Yukio) with JJ’s Stranglers? Surely not... time was passing Cheetham Hill, Manchester. One day I snarling voice… Dave’s heavy keys... and at into the night. “Oh shit! It’s now 11.25…” walked in and saw a brand new display gigs, the way crowd joined in – “Hey little SleaZzz… Mark Tall Now it’s 11.35. Less than half an hour advertising Black And White. I’ll never baby don’t you lean down low, your brain’s Every night at 10.02pm I tuned into John to go. The anticipation was killing me… But forget it. The display dominated the shop exposed and it’s starting to show your rotten Peel’s late night show on Radio One. In the then the opening chord, and the joy and window. But it wasn’t until a trip to thoughts, yuk!” It’s an unforgettable darkness of my room, I lay there with my the relief as Tank opened the segment. I Salford’s Woolies a few weeks later with experience being at a gig with everyone little radio right up to my ear, hoping my wanted to capture every note and sound my Dad, that the LP became mine. I rushed joining in with the words. Rather like a parents wouldn’t find out. One night in and I wished my ears could grow bigger. I home and put it straight onto the turntable. church service where all the congregation April 1978 I’d drifted off into a light sleep pressed the radio hard to my ear and my I couldn’t wait to tell my mates I had The sing “I Vow To Thee My Country” – in tune. when suddenly John announced in synapses went into overload, busily trying Stranglers new album. I only hope JJ found it therapeutic every tomorrow’s show he was going to play the to process all the information. And just like Black And White has that special place time he performed it and got whatever it whole of the first side of the forthcoming my very first Stranglers gig that very year, for me: my first album admittedly, but was off his chest. Think of all those hours of Stranglers LP, Black And White. I actually the whole thing went by in a blur. Haunting musically, it’s up there with Rattus and The Anger Management classes he’s saved leapt out of bed in my C&A jim-jams right memories of the beautiful Outside Tokyo Raven as amongst the best. I’m still blown himself. The song was very angry and there and then, shocked from slumber and portrayed an unexpected departure in away by Tank, just as I was then, whilst the menacing. It got the blood flowing and the with nowhere to go – I paced around my sound, and the mesmeric Toiler On The Sea intro to Toiler must rank as one of the heart beating. That’s what it did for me. It tiny room in the dark bumping into stuff. I – with it’s mantra- like finale fading into the greatest in rock history. But it is the Black lifted the roof. It was pure Stranglers. was so excited I had to catch my breath. I whoosh of the sea, or was it the South West side that captivates me then now, as it did

Page 39 The Burning Up Times Issue one back then. Curfew – dark and menacing rock, the centre of everything, the universe! very powerful image, and I perused this it’s firmly established in my mind as the but with a great pop chorus… the Dave.... well I dunno about Dave, he just stark, unusual shot along with the definitive Stranglers album! I stuck on Black threatening Do You Wanna? merging into looks mental! The mad professor, the challenging lyric sheet for many an hour as And White the first time I raided my parents Death And Night And Blood showing the genius, his crazy deformed hand! And this musical masterpiece revealed its drinks cabinet, aged 16, getting hammered bands great artistry... In the Shadows was Hugh – the odd one out, the only one not intricacies to me. The speakers struggled to with dubious spirits while listening pretty creepy, especially in the dark of the facing the camera, head hung down. He cope with the demands placed on them as awestruck at Dave’s complex keyboard night. However, Threatened stands out the looks not dissimilar to the Hanged Man the sounds drowned out all else in my arpeggios in Toiler On The Sea. After a most. Never has there been a more aptly card in a pack of Tarot. He also has the look world (well, my bedroom). This music was while I became dizzy and had to throw up! titled track. Musically, it’s suffocating and of a mime (a clown?) in his black gloves. godamm interesting and getting addictive, My favourite tracks off Black And White JJ’s vocal is, well, threatening: “Bring me a The martyr? A very brave move to not and I played the album all summer long. must surely be Toiler, Curfew and Sweden. piece of my mummy – she was quite close include the band name on the front too. The previous year there was no question in Years later – and to me it’s obvious that to me…” Enough Time never really did it my eyes (and ears) that The Stranglers were this album was a characteristic masterpiece for me but the rumours that the code at the a punk band. They were part of the scene in embodying much of what we now end was some dark satanic message made No troubles... Donald MacKay the music press and seemed to have no appreciate as typical Stranglers musical it fascinating listening but my main When Black And White came out none of problem with being labelled as such. But motifs. It is all here in abundance: the memory of this track is how my brother the record shops in Coleraine had copies Black And White was asking more scathing vocal approach, the rumbling rushed in thinking I had damaged the containing the White EP. This was because questions. They were certainly moving on bass, the manic keyboards, the record player in the slow fade out. Northern Ireland was excluded at the time and becoming something else, as they powerhouse pretentious-free drums, and An album of great music and memories from the Chart Return. I was highly pissed revealed their darker thoughts. the dark subject matters. Truly a classic. which were brought back on my trip to off at being treated as a second class citizen Bath last year to hear Norfolk Coast. JJ by the music biz! I got my White EP a few kindly showed me around Charlton Farm weeks later on a trip to Glasgow, making Stay in your homes Gary Kent Grey becomes… Barry Spooner and we popped into the merchandise office my second B&W album purchase – the First the adverts appeared, then Peelie’s Back to a time when I wasn’t 40 plus, and there in the corner, was a huge start of the multiple purchase trend for me! night-time teaser, then Friday May 12th, married, with kids and debts… It’s cardboard cut-out of Jet from the Black And I thought Tits was hilarious, with Hugh very 1978... I bunked off with a mate – and Nottingham, 1978. The second half the 4th White display. For a moment I felt I was cleverly taking the mickey out of the self- £3.75 – and raced round to Roach’s year. I’m 14. I’d heard a lot about punk. The back in Revolver... indulgent “serious” rock musicians of the Records in Church Lane to wait for the Stranglers were the ones in the press and on pre-punk era. shutter to go up. Back at my hi-fi, with the the radio, but they still hadn’t impressed The new Stranglers sound was different salient sleeve propped up on top, we spent me. Until 5 Minutes came on Top of the What a photograph! Al Wallis but not so radically different as to alienate the day blasting Leytonstone with the Pops! I have never seen a band look or It’s a classic album cover, it’s up there with fans like me. The White side was musically newest, freshest, tightest explosion of sound so menacing! Also never seen a Abbey Rd, Dark Side of the Moon and accessible and instantly enjoyable; the instruments ever – hanging on to each singer look so cool as JJ... This is a life many, many more. Talking of Abbey Rd – Black side was definitely very interesting word, we laid there awestruck. I can’t recall changing moment and I knew from that do you remember the myth surrounding but was going to take a bit more work to get ever having the same feeling for a piece of moment The Stranglers really are something that cover? Paul McCartney had allegedly into. A challenge! The lyrics (thankfully plastic wrapped in a bit of cardboard either special. That fact was proven when Kevin died and was replaced by a doppelganger! printed on the inner sleeve) were at times before or since that day. Magical Bennett played me Black And White on his Paul has bare feet, a symbol of a dead man. obscure, and deep. I was not used to monochromatic masterpiece. music centre a few months on. Although George in denim, the gravedigger. Lennon thinking too much about lyrics, ‘cos I listening to Toiler was on unforgettable in white, the preacher or the angel. Ringo hadn’t come across such unusual topics moment, it was tracks like Threatened and in black tails, the undertaker. It’s all before in rock music. The sounds were dark On the rocks Jamie Godwin Curfew that made the major impact. I could bollocks, we know, but hey! Black And and serious, the words were intriguing and I was 15 when I first heard Black And White hear it was JJ singing – this cool-as-fuck White’s cover is just as interesting, challenging. I wasn’t sure what it was all in 1993. To be honest, I thought the album French man, and I the fixation with JJ started considering the ultimate outcome of The about but I had to find out. The effort sounded empty at first and didn’t make right here: his looks, his style, his attitude, Stranglers Mk1. JJ the naughty child, the required was essential – and rewarding. much of an impression. But like most his voice and, of course, the sound of his imp, in almost a foetal position. Jet, the I thought the cover of the album was a Stranglers albums, it grew on me, and now bass guitar. I have never seen/heard/known

Page 40 The Burning Up Times Issue one of anyone like him. He is a truly awesome and an awesome video, what more could a intense and looking frighteningly unstable or Something Better Change. These days, in individual. An icon. fan ask for ? Some awesome gigs….. but during his solo; and then there was Burnel.. the era of MP3s etc., I still play a handful of At the end of the school holidays, I that came later! The new Burnel was totally in black. these tracks regularly. rushed round to my record shop and Black leather jacket, black Dr. Marten’s grabbed Walk On By, knowing I’d be going hammering out the intro beat, but now back to school a different person. Things Strangers in the night Mark Tall with tight black jeans, black string vest and Bangor and mash Mike were never be the same again. This was the 5 Minutes was a watershed. It was the first most importantly, the black Fender I was much too young to be listening to point that I really started to seriously listen release of a new year. 1978. It brought a Precision with cream neck. The first time nasty horrible groups like The Stranglers! to music and collect records. fuller sound and arguably the best single we had seen it. It was gorgeous. It sat so That’s why I didn’t buy Black And White in sleeve the band ever produced – clean, snug. It was as if it was connected. A toy. A 1978. But a seed was sown by my mate’s clear, modern, threatening and very black. weapon. A beast of sound. It moved across brother who was into the band. I remember Heavy rok Carl Sanderson For most of us, it was our second year with and back, across and back to the rhythm of seeing the advert for 5 Minutes in my It’s February 1978. The Stranglers haven’t the Stranglers. During the first we foraged JJ’s hips and to the beat of the song. It was sister’s Record Mirror, and she bought me released anything since No More Heroes, for NME articles, clippings, reviews and magnificent to watch. Black And White from Cob Records in Autumn last year. Then the full-page adverts most importantly visuals of the band. We sat in silence. The impact was Bangor. I remember listening to it with appear in the music press – 5 Minutes – wow! Visuals that seared through our eyes and made. The sinister button had been turned mixed emotions, but Threatened, Outside I picked it up on release day from my local into our memory. up a notch. We knew things had changed. Tokyo and Toiler were the stand-out tracks record shop, but – wait a minute – what’s It’s fair to say that Burnel and Cornwell There was no album, just a tease of by a long way. going on? A plain black sleeve with just the were the characters we most adored. They something smouldering to come. The band bands’ name and the title in a red LED were different – to each other and to the seemed older and wiser. More unstable. typeface, no logo on the front? And no rat?! Punk crews we were engaged by. We read More extreme. The lyrics shouted of rape, Eerie, USA Richard Kolkman As soon as I get home and give it a spin, of Cornwell’s bohemian intellectualism, his knives and revenge. We were scared. But I live in Indiana, USA – no one here has I soon realise why the sleeve is all in black: way with sarcasm and his student rag dress so excited. We all wanted more. Four ever heard of them. I was a Beatles snob 5 Minutes is the darkest, blackest, heaviest sense that covered his puny, boney body. months later we found out. 1978 was the who discovered The Stranglers’ Black And thing that the band has released so far. A real But it was Burnel who really caught our start of things going black. 5 Minutes was White LP in the discontinued bin on the appetiser of what is to follow on the black imagination and desire. An angry, cheeky, the turning point. And when The Collection cheap in early 1979. I was 16 at the time side of the next album… The kick drum intro smart, bouncy, lithe, lean, risk taking, motor video came out…which one did I go to and Stranglers were like nothing I’d ever sets the feel… Dave’s keys and Hugh’s lead bike riding French boy prone to sporadic first? 5 Minutes. It’s the best. heard. All other bands paled beside the riff… leading up to JJ Burnel’s bass run of all acts of violence and partial to a tight leather complexity, aggression, melody The bass runs. Martin Rushent’s production was jacket. He was the one to watch. Stranglers produced (and humour). I was almost perfect: heavy, hard and driven along And so came the video to 5 Minutes. As Nice ‘n’ Uneasy Eric Vonk hooked the minute I heard it. In 1997 I built at a murderous pace. God how I loved this a boy of thirteen, the excitement of this Black And White was the hardest record to the www.xulucomics.com/stranglers.html song! And then came Tiswas…. video being played on Top of the Pops was like at first. Although Tank, Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, site, I’d had almost 19 years of obsession Hugh and Jet are being interviewed electrifying – almost unbearable in it’s Outside Tokyo, Curfew, Threatened and behind me and an entire set of Strangled Saturday morning kids telly – the pair were sensoral asphyxiation. Death and Night and Blood were superb. magazines to work with. fairly unforthcoming as they threw sweeties The moody, subterranean, wire strewn In retrospect, it’s a very good album but a over their shoulders to the youths behind dungeon and luminescent light. TV’s bit “hit and miss” to be honest. They were them. They play the videos to 5 Minutes blinking and flickering all around. We had very much left of centre, drifting further Killed by sanity Dom Pilgrim and Rok It To The Moon. What a video! A chanced upon the Stranglers lair – their away from the pub rock/punk sound of the I first heard it in 1986. A guy at college had low budget classic, which has got to be my London hideaway. Jet quaalude-laden and first records and not being afraid to get a bit it and we played it in his room very loudly favourite clip ever. The band looking hard, leaden, standing as he pumped out the intellectual on the punters with harsh on a hi fi one crisp, cold blue-skied Friday mean and moody as they mime along to fierce insidious beat of the song; Greenfield future scenarios like Curfew or Japanese afternoon in November. Death and Night the playback in a rehearsal studio…the debuting his ability to provide glistening suicidal literature Death And Night And and Blood (which I knew from my first-ever look on Jet’s face as he pounds away is an arpeggios as he drank unknown European Blood which comes across a lot deeper purchase: Live X-Cert) and Threatened were absolute gem. So we got an awesome song beer; Cornwell in tight black pants, hungry, than, say, Peaches, Princess Of The Streets the songs that really twisted my head. ❏

Page 41 The Burning Up Times Issue one

Page 42