The Stranglers are one of the most enduring bands to have emerged from the UK punk scene. With their uncompromising attitude and idiosyncratic approach, they never followed any single musical style and explored a range of musical genres including rock, pop and new wave throughout their career. They enjoyed their greatest mainstream success in the 1908s with hits like 'Golden Brown', Peaches' and 'No More Heroes'. Often regarded as 'indestructible' The Stranglers continue to perform to crowds of devoted fans.
The Stranglers were formed in Guildford in 1974. Two years later they finalised their line up of Hugh Cornwell, Jean Jacques Burnel, Jet Black (Brian Duffy} and Dave Greenfield and started hitting the headlines following a tour supporting Patti Smith, leading to them being signed later in the year to United Artists Records. Controversial from the beginning, the band caused an uproar when Hugh Cornwell wore a reputedly obscene T-shirt at the Roundhouse, leading the gig to be clersancelled. They were derided by the media throughout their career but always commanded a loyal fanbase across which resulted in 23 UK Top 40 singles and 17 UK Top 40 albums.
Music critic, Dave Thompson once wrote of The Stranglers, "From bad-mannered yobs to purveyors of supreme pop delicacies, the group was responsible for music that may have been ugly and might have been crude – but it was never, ever boring."
Rockarchive's photos of The Stranglers can be seen below. These are currently available as limited edition fine art prints.
