UNITED KINGDOM/FILE: Punk comes to the Proms as 'gobsmacked' Stranglers join line-up

Record ID: 899132

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM/FILE: Punk comes to the Proms as 'gobsmacked' Stranglers join line-up
  • Date: 25th April 2013
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (APRIL 23, 2013) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) JEAN-JACQUES BURNEL, STRANGLERS BASSIST, SAYING: "I think I can count on one hand the number of fights I have had with other members of the band - that's all of them together. I think that's about five fights or arguments or set-tos." (Reporter: "In forty years, that's no bad going is it?") "No it's pretty good. I think even successful marriages would find that difficult to come up with."
  • Embargoed: 11th May 2013 02:17
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA4H3OP6SSUWF9Z9EIFJMK6L15N
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Punk veterans The Stranglers thrive on taking risks, so joining the line-up of Britain's largest classical music festival while also working on a ballet was an easy decision.
    The Stranglers were last week named as the first punk group to take part in the BBC Proms in its 118 year history with plans to perform with the London Sinfonietta orchestra in the summer.
    Bassist Jean-Jacques Burnel, one of the founders of The Stranglers, said on Tuesday (April 23) he was "gobsmacked" but delighted when the BBC invited them to join one of 92 events at the eight-week showcase.
    "It has never been done before. I am still in adventure mode and anything that I haven't done is a box to be ticked," Burnel told Reuters in an interview in a pub by the River Thames.
    "I can't think of many more prestigious events in the world musical calendar."
    Burnel said The Stranglers had always sought out risks and new challenges since getting together in 1974, releasing their debut album "Rattus Norvegicus" in 1977.
    Since then they have notched up 17 albums and 23 hit singles, including "Golden Brown", "No More Heroes", and "Peaches".
    Over the decades the band has come and gone from the spotlight with a quiet period after original singer and guitarist Hugh Cornwell left in 1990 and a few line-up changes.
    The group now comprises of Burnel and two other long-standing members, keyboardist Dave Greenfield and drummer Jet Black who turns 75 this year and is often replaced by Jim Macaulay due to ill health. Guitarist Baz Warne joined in 2000.
    Burnel said he was starting to think The Stranglers had reached the end of the line a few years ago when the band enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, releasing their 17th album "Giant" last year and performing at a list of music festivals.
    They are just back from a successful UK tour and off to tour the United States before performing at the Proms this summer.
    Burnel, who is also working on a ballet based on the group's 1981 album "The Gospel According to the Meninblack", said they had mellowed over the years
    "We are not looking for punch-ups all the time. At one time we had an expression that truth is provocation so we would just wind people up to annoy them," said Burnel, who is walking with the aid of two crutches after a knee operation.
    The Stranglers are due to perform at the BBC Proms on August 12.
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