A whirlwind of fresh air as The Stranglers shake up their set on an energising UK tour!
Now into their 51st touring year, The Stranglers have survived many of the very worst things that can happen to a band – acrimonious exits, retirement, and sudden death – yet they have always persevered. Their immense and impressive back catalogue stretches through the decades from their 1977 debut album ‘Rattus Norvegicus’ to 2021’s ‘Dark Matters’, yet it’s been a point of consternation for many fans that despite a wealth of material, they were hearing the same songs over and over again when the band played live.
Fortunately, The Stranglers agreed that ‘Something Better Change’, and promised to shake the set list up quite a bit for this Autumn UK tour! Editor-in-Chief Ruth and photographer Phil travelled to Leeds for the first show to see what surprises the band had in store..
Support on the ‘51’ tour are their old mates Buzzcocks, who have also weathered changes over the years. Fronted by sole remaining original member Steve Diggle, he is more than capably backed by Chris Remington on bass, Mani Perazzoli on guitar and Danny Farrant on drums. Starting with the iconic ‘What Do I get?’, the Buzzcocks ripped through their first numbers at lightning speed; ‘I Don’t Mind’, ‘Promises’ and the more recent ‘Senses Out Of Control’, from their first post-Pete Shelley and 10th studio album, ‘Sonics In The Soul‘. Several people were caught up in a massive queue outside the venue and missed the set – there seemed to be some issues with scanning electronic tickets.. I say bring back paper ones with a scannable code – makes entry faster, and paper CAN be recycled!
There are a few issues on stage too – Danny’s kit has problems, but the crew rush in to fix it, and the set continues. Allowing Steve Diggle the spotlight in ‘Why Can’t I Touch It’, Chris and Mani exude a calm coolness while playing those classic bass and guitar lines. The crowd join in heartily for ‘Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve)’ before the band end their set with a lengthy ‘Harmony In My Head’, during which Steve attacks his guitar with a pick during the extended solo!
Entering to Édith Piaf’s ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien’ (‘WaltzInBlack’ having been moved to the end of the show), on stride faithful drummer Jim Macaulay and keyboard whizzkid Toby Hounsham, followed by sole original member ‘barracuda’ bassist JJ Burnel, and long-term guitarist Baz Warne (who marks his quarter of a century as a Strangler this year). Opening with the crowd pleasing ‘Goodbye Toulouse’, which has us pogoing from the off, the stomping, snarling pair at the front of the stage and the dynamic duo at the back take us on a journey that is familiar yet different.. ‘Toulouse’ hasn’t been played live in over 4 years, so we’re off to a good start!
Following on with another sing-along, ‘Straighten Out’, which has intermittently made it onto the list across the decades, our first surprise inclusion of the evening is the rip-roaring ‘Was It You?’ from 1986 album ‘Dreamtime’ which hadn’t been played live since the band’s 2018 tour Down Under (appropriately).
After the popular ‘Skin Deep’, the next new addition was ‘15 Steps’ from the oft unfairly underrated 2012 album ‘Giants’, the last upon which band founder and drummer the late, great Jet Black played. The song was last played live on the 2020 Australian tour; the late keyboard maestro Dave Greenfield’s final appearances with the band before his untimely death from Covid, just over two months after his return. Baz is clearly relishing getting his teeth around this number again.
‘Tramp’ from 1981 album ‘La Folie’ hadn’t had a live airing by the band since 2014, although ex-singer and guitarist Hugh Cornwell has been regularly played it in his set for a while.. ‘Instead Of This’, the B side of The Stranglers’ popular 1990 single cover of ’96 Tears’, is a very rarely played number – last heard live in 2013! Its lower vocal register suits JJ’s mature voice, and personally it’s a song I’ve always loved. We’re a third of the way through, and 80% of the set is very different from recent shows – I’m delighted!
Although played fairly frequently before, ‘Thrown Away’ from ‘The Gospel According to the Meninblack’ makes a welcome return tonight, having been absent from the set for 9 years. The four-part vocal harmonies from the band are superb, and I love the “ooh oohs” sung by Jim! Next surprise addition is the marvellously poppy ‘Pin Up’, also from ‘La Folie’, which we’ve never heard Baz sing before as it was last performed 26 years ago when Paul Roberts was lead vocalist! The ever-changing backdrop deserves a special mention, as the lighting technicians used it to illustrate the set superbly, with a variety of moving projections and effects.
A guitar change for Baz, as ‘Mercury Rising’ (also from ‘Giants’) is our next surprise – it hadn’t been played live in 9 years. It’s good to hear this one again, and Mr Warne’s guitar solos are as sublime as his singing! ‘Dead Ringer’ from The Stranglers’ second album ‘No More Heroes’ was last played live in 2002, and infrequently before then, so it pleases the fans immensely to hear it tonight! Toby Hounsham makes the choppy, swirling keyboard solo look easy (it isn’t!) and he absolutely smashes the lead vocal – I stand in awe. Followed by ‘Breathe’, a beautiful song from ‘Dark Matters’ which was written partly in memory of Dave Greenfield, its placing after ‘Dead Ringer’, which was always sung by Dave, is poignant and I can see as I briefly meet JJ’s eyes that we are both thinking of his old colleague and friend.
Ending the main set with a trio of top tunes, ‘Something Better Change’, ‘Duchess’ (with the four band members as cartoon choirboys appearing on the backdrop during the chorus – that would be a great design for a T-shirt, hint hint!), and ‘Hanging Around’, the sweaty mosh pit sings along at the tops of their voices as we celebrate a most magnificent night of music. It’s not over yet; the quartet return for three more..
After a singalong ‘Always The Sun’, the encores contain one final surprise – ‘Mean To Me’ hasn’t been played since the 2011 Weekendinblack fan convention, and it’s rock‘n’roared out by Baz – and many of the audience. The Stranglers have obviously worked on this number and it’s an absolute stunner live – make sure you stick around to hear it! In a touching finale, The Stranglers go for the traditional ‘No More Heroes’, dedicating it to recently and unexpectedly deceased fan George Cowton, whose friendly face will be much missed at gigs. The mosh pit gives all it’s got, cheering the band both loudly and deservedly as they step to the front to take a well-earned bow.
Afterwards there’s overwhelmingly positive feedback from the fans down the pub (traditional post-Stranglers gig retreat!) and it’s clear that the band have achieved their objective – this new set is a whirlwind of fresh air! It fitted, and flowed perfectly from song to song, while we in the crowd stood like excited kids on Christmas Day waiting to see which surprise would be unwrapped next..
Catch The Stranglers ‘51’ UK Tour on the following dates:
Main Photo Credit / All photos unless otherwise indicated: PHIL THORNS
Videos: RUTH RAE except ‘Dead Ringer’ filmed by CHARLIE BROOKES
- Goodbye Toulouse
- Straighten Out
- Was It You?
- Skin Deep
- 15 Steps
- 5 Minutes
- Tramp
- Instead Of This
- Strange Little Girl
- Golden Brown
- Thrown Away
- Pin Up
- Peaches
- Mercury Rising
- White Stallion
- Dead Ringer
- Breathe
- Something Better Change
- Duchess
- Hanging Around
Encores:
- Always The Sun
- Mean To Me
- No More Heroes
Follow The Stranglers on Their Socials:
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