Few bands withstand the pressure of success, while even fewer are innovative enough to prolong it.
Revered UK rockers The Stranglers missed the memo on fading out, with their 50th anniversary tour a testament to their longevity.Bassist/ vocalist and original member, Jean-Jaques 'JJ' Burnel speaks on the band's memories of previous tours and shares some wisdom on the songwriting process.
"When we started out, we had no expectation that we would last longer than a year. It's been interesting to reflect on the span of time we've been together," he says.
"You can't cling on to the past, you must live in the present world, and I think if we have any function other than just to entertain, it's to reflect the world that we live in.
"Other artists and musicians might not see it the same way, but since we've never been great at writing love songs (laughs), we tend to write about our world, our prism."
As part of the UK punk rock movement in the '70s, the formative years of The Stranglers provided young, unruly audiences with the brash sound they craved. Australian fans were certainly no different.
"We've had some great times in Australia, especially when we were considered the 'devil's spawn'. That was way back then," Burnel notes, chuckling.
The band has metamorphosed through countless genres into the act they are today, and Burnel has watched audiences evolve alongside them. "There's been quite a shift in recent years," he states. "I think the older punks have been edged out to the back of the halls, and a whole new generation have taken over the moshpit.
"I think it's because there's never been a greater time to access music with all the different platforms out there, so I think the more inquisitive kids are looking back and seeing what's credible and what's not," he explains. "I think a lot of the time, they're a bit cynical about what is manufactured and made accessible to them."
With a diverse catalogue of music to drawn on, it provided The Stranglers with the opportunity to spread their wings overseas, the crowds from different nations each finding their own unique take on the band.
"I do know that British audiences are a bit more physical, as opposed to French audiences who sit back and listen, because it's art. I hope I'm not being too stereotypical," he jokes.
As the last remaining original member of the band, Burnel has thoughts on whether audiences have mellowed out over the decades, and what to expect from a 2025 Stranglers outfit. "Well. . . have they," asks Burnel, smiling.
"There's certainly much less violence which I'm grateful for, thank you very much," he exclaims. "I think a lot of people have an idea of what to expect when they see or listen to The Stranglers, so I think the respect is there and we're not just the devil's spawn coming to town anymore."
The devotion of audiences to keep up with the iconic band's ever evolving sound is not lost on JJ. "The Stranglers fans must have a broad mind because we've experimented with different styles and tried to see what is possible with our limited talents (laughs). I think you get an audience with a broader outlook as well."
- written by Robbie McLauchlan
The Stranglers 2025 Tour Dates
Wed 19 Mar - Enmore Theatre (Sydney)Thu 20 Mar - The Tivoli (Brisbane)
Sat 22 Mar - Forum Melbourne
Sun 23 Mar - The Gov (Adelaide)
Tue 25 Mar - Astor Theatre (Perth)
