JJ Burnel  - Interview 2005

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 Pt 2 - Punk Rock | Pt 3 - Journalists & Rock Against Racism | Pt4 - Hugh Cornwell | Pt5 -The Name & The New Album

I met up with JJ at the recording studio where he was working on some tracks for the next Stranglers album and producing demos for a punk band that he had taken a shine to. JJ was affable open and very good interviewing material. In fact too good as he expounded at length on the questions and time was running short. In the end I took the chance and let the interview proceed as a conversation and hopefully I would get some of the main questions in some way or another. We talked about the Stranglers now, Stranglers and punk and the ghost of Hugh and more.

JJ was also slightly subdued. The last year has been their busiest for some twenty odd years with the success of
Norfolk Coast.  JJ’s personal life also now sees him single and homeless for the past year. Coupled with that his Dojo (his karate class he teaches) is based in central London and the boy has had to travel a bit to fit it all in. When I asked if the pressure was on to deliver another batch of songs after the success of Norfolk Coast his answer was no. His categorical answer was he was in no rush. His aim was simply to release another album worthy of the Stranglers legacy. Quite simply there’s fire in the barracuda bassmans loins and indeed the rest of the band that makes the Stranglers far from finished.

In actual fact the album was due to be finished In November and a number of songs that were to have been on the album were scrapped as being not good enough for The Stranglers. The band is basically at the blank canvas stage and JJ realizes that Norfolk Coast has brought them back into contention. He may not admit it but the pressure is on. Jet Black is getting on (65 years old) and how much more touring can he take. With the momentum of Norfolk Coast, a major label and a huge stock of goodwill then the anticipation for the next album has never been higher. Not only that I suspect its personal as well, in that its proof that the Stranglers do not need Hugh. That said JJ is well aware of the Stranglers legacy and how the John Ellis years came close to destroying it and him acting as the quality control. As Sil their manager says its ready when its ready. They are in no rush.

Before getting down to the questions JJ made a cup of tea for us both (Earl gay as he called it for himself) and some biccies. I was also lucky enough to hear a mix of a new song
‘Something Outta Nothing’ they had roughly put down with the dreaded words ‘I’d like your opinion’. I needn’t have worried its top class and unexpected. Think the edgy black side of Black & White, the weirdness of Meninblack and then the song Norfolk Coast, a soupcon of Hawkwind and then some more. Got it?!

 Pt 2 - Punk Rock | Pt 3 - Journalists & Rock Against Racism | Pt4  Hugh Cornwell | Pt5 -The Name & The New Album | The Stranglers

 Official Stranglers site http://www.stranglers.net/

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