Preview: The Stranglers
October 13, 2012
In March 2013, the band will undertake a UK tour, dubbed “Feel It Live”, which consists of 22 dates across the month. Kicking off North of the border, there is a four date Scottish mini tour which takes in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee. The itinerary then winds its way around England, including gigs at seldom visited places like Salisbury, Carlisle and Folkestone before its now customary finale in Manchester.
The tour includes a visit to their spiritual home in the capital, the Roundhouse, seen of many incredible gigs in the band’s history and there is also a gig in Guildford where the band formed 39 years before! Support comes from long term band allies The Godfathers.
Sadly, there is again disappointment for fans in Wales, Northern Ireland and Eire. The bandís management and agent tried desperately to secure gigs in these areas as part of the tour. However, the offers received from various promoters made gigs in these areas not financially viable. Apologies to fans in these countries.
Tickets go on sale from 9am Friday 12th October :
March
| Friday 1st | Edinburgh Picture House |
| Saturday 2nd | Glasgow Academy |
| Monday 4th | Aberdeen Garage |
| Tuesday 5th | Dundee Fat Sams |
| Thursday 7th | O2 Academy Liverpool |
| Friday 8th | Lincoln Engine Shed |
| Saturday 9th | O2 Academy Leeds |
| Monday 11th | Leamington Spa Assembly |
| Tuesday 12th | Guildford G Live |
| Thursday 14th | Brighton Dome |
| Friday 15th | London Roundhouse |
| Saturday 16th | O2 Academy Birmingham |
| Monday 18th | O2 Academy Oxford |
| Tuesday 19th | Nottingham Rock City |
| Thursday 21st | Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall |
| Friday 22nd | Cambridge Corn Exchange |
| Saturday 23rd | O2 Academy Bristol |
| Monday 25th | Norwich UEA |
| Tuesday 26th | Salisbury City Hall |
| Thursday 28th | Carlisle Sands Centre |
| Friday 29th | O2 Academy Newcastle |
| Saturday 30th | Manchester Academy |
In 1977 the Stranglers released their extraordinary debut album, Rattus Norvegicus and firmly established themselves as the worldís first progressive punk outlaws. Seminal long players like No More Heroes and Black and White followed before the band released probably the finest live album of that era, Live (X Cert). Later that year the Stranglers surprised and surpassed all expectations by releasing the gentler more evocative album The Raven and it is that albumís legacy thatís left its mark on latter-day Stranglers recordings.
During their career the Stranglers have garnered a total of 24 Top 40 singles over four decades as well as eighteen Top 40 albums, Hits include Peaches, No More Heroes, 5 Minutes, Duchess, Something Better Change, Always The Sun, Golden Brown, Strange Little Girl and Skin Deep amongst others. After re-signing to EMI in 2004, the Stranglers have released two Studio albums, Norfolk Coast and Suite XVI, both records confirming that the band have re-entered some kind of halcyon era. The albums were hailed as the best the band have recorded since the 1980s and yielded further hit singles Big Thing Coming and Spectre of Love.
The Stranglers first new album for six years, Giants was released in March 2012.The record was critically acclaimed and saw the band complete another hugely successful UK tour,quickly followed by 23 dates in Europe. During the Summer, the band played V Festivals,Hop Farm and Isle of Wight in the UK.They also played Germanyís major festival, Rock Im Ring & Rock Im Park and shows in Estonia,France,Belgium and Turkey.
The Stranglers are Jet Black (drums), JJ Burnel (bass and lead vocals), Dave Greenfield (keyboards) and Baz Warne (guitar and lead vocals).