The Stranglers are one of those band names people drop when they want to be cool, like The Pixies or The Velvet Underground. These are bands whose influence is enormous and whose commercial success never reached a point where they became ubiquitous and oversaturated. Bands like The Stranglers made great music that changed music.
Last month at the North by North East music conference in Toronto we played a show at The Hard Rock Café. It was a moderately attended affair but we rocked ourselves into a stupor and had a great show. After the show a rather dignified British gent came up to me and told me how great he thought the band was.
‘Fucking great band”, I believe it was. He then made a few suggestions and offered me the coolest of compliments “you remind me of Iggy when you’re not playing the guitar”, followed by a “I know what I’m talking about”.
Though I didn’t know who he was at the time there was certainly no disbelief on my part. I’ve talked to enough bar wankers to know when a guy is legit and this was clearly a voice of authority. He then went to talk to Derek, Kirt and Ryan and offered a fine string of compliments. Derek (the Wikipedia of music) immediately knew who he was; Hugh Cornwell the lead singer and main writer for The Stranglers. I’ve had some cool successes making music, and have had my share of enthusiastic reviews, but this compliment, from this rock star was by far the most genuine and important one I’ve ever had.
For a review of that show go here.
To check out one of the many cool Stranglers tunes go here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy9-epdDw9E&feature=related
The Stranglers song Golden Brown from the movie Snatch.
Also check out “A Multitude of Sins” Hugh Cornwell’s new book at www.hughcornwell.com
