The Stranglers

This article is about a punk rock band. For the true crime podcast, see Stranglers (podcast).

The Stranglers
The Stranglers performing in Chicago in 2013
Background information
OriginGuildford, Surrey, England
Genres
DiscographyThe Stranglers discography
Years active1974 (1974)–present
Labels
Members
Past members
Websitethestranglers.co.uk

The Stranglers are an English rock band. Scoring 23 UK top 40 singles and 20 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are one of the longest-surviving bands to have originated in the UK punk scene.

Formed as the Guildford Stranglers in Guildford, Surrey, in early 1974,[4] they originally built a following within the mid-1970s pub rock scene. While their aggressive, no-compromise attitude had them identified by the media with the emerging UK punk rock scene that followed, their idiosyncratic approach rarely followed any single musical genre, and the group went on to explore a variety of musical styles, from new wave, art rock and gothic rock through the sophisti-pop of some of their 1980s output. They had major mainstream success with their 1982 single "Golden Brown". Their other hits include "No More Heroes", "Peaches", "Always the Sun", "Skin Deep" and "Big Thing Coming".

The Stranglers' early sound was driven by Jean-Jacques Burnel's melodic bass, but also gave prominence to Dave Greenfield's keyboards. Their early music was also characterised by the growling vocals and sometimes misanthropic lyrics of both Burnel and Hugh Cornwell.[5] Over time, their output gradually grew more refined and sophisticated. Summing up their contribution to popular music, critic Dave Thompson later wrote: "From bad-mannered yobs to purveyors of supreme pop delicacies, the group was responsible for music that may have been ugly and might have been crude – but it was never, ever boring."[6]

Greenfield died on 3 May 2020 after contracting COVID-19 while receiving treatment for a heart ailment.[7] The remaining band members completed a new album recorded with Greenfield, Dark Matters, and confirmed that they would proceed with their "Final Full UK Tour", initially announced in January 2020, in his honour.[8][9]

  1. ^ Cartwright, Garth (17 May 2020). "Dave Greenfield: Keyboardist Who Defined the Sound of the Stranglers". The Independent. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b Hughes, Rob (6 May 2020). "The Stranglers: A Guide to Their Best Album". Louder Sound. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Dark Matters". Stranglers Official Online Store. TM Stores. Retrieved 24 August 2021. Surviving Stranglers band members, JJ Burnel, Baz Warne and newest member Jim Macaulay completed Dark Matters remotely during lockdowns, making it their first album since 2012.
  4. ^ Buckley 1997, p. 23.
  5. ^ Hasted, Nick (6 November 2007), "The Stranglers, Roundhouse, London", The Independent
  6. ^ Thompson, Dave. "Biography" (DLL). The Stranglers. allmusic. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  7. ^ "Stranglers Official Site › David Paul Greenfield (29/3/49-3/5/20)". www.thestranglers.co.uk.
  8. ^ "Stranglers Official Site › UK tour autumn/winter 2020". www.thestranglers.co.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Stranglers Official Site › Full Final UK Tour And Album Update". www.thestranglers.co.uk.