JJ Burnel on the ever-evolving grip of The Stranglers
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03.02.2023

JJ Burnel on the ever-evolving grip of The Stranglers

The Stranglers
words by sidonie bird de la coeur

Founding member and bassist Jean-Jaques Burnel reminisces on a career evolving through his reputation as the “most irresponsible bloke on the block”.

“Bonsoir, ça va?” 

Currently living in the south of France, JJ Burnel is fluent in French and upon seeing my name on the little zoom window, assumed that I was too. I stammered through some VCE-approved introductory sentences before sheepishly admitting defeat and conducting the interview in English. (“I knew you weren’t actually French,” he joked, “your name is grammatically incorrect.”)

The last founding member of one of the UK’s longest-surviving bands, JJ Burnel’s career has seen The Stranglers release songs across every genre under the sun – from grungy punk to 80s sophisti-pop. While early Stranglers’ repertoire was driven by JJ Burnel’s distinctively melodic baselines – the signature, gritty bass sound on 1977’s Rattus Norvegicus and No More Heroes was somewhat of an accident.

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

“I just wanted to hear myself in shitty pubs in the early days … I couldn’t because the others were so fucking loud – you know, turning those amps up to 11. I didn’t want that to be just a dull thud.”

Intended to be a snapshot of their live show, both their first two albums were recorded in the same session, with both albums featuring characteristically distorted bass – the result of a busted amp. “They stripped my gear down and found that one of the speakers was completely torn apart.” 

“So that’s how it had that sound. I managed to keep it, more or less. It’s evolved a bit though.”

At the forefront of late 70s punk, The Stranglers developed a reputation on the road for being violent – an aspect that the media latched onto from the onset. As a band, they were infamous for inciting riots throughout their tours, as well as stunts to the tune of gaffer-taping French journalist Philippe Manoeuvre to the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. 

“He deserved it, he was a pain in the ass.”

“The only problem was that became a huge, influential reporter and was the editor of the biggest magazine in France. Funnily enough, we didn’t appear in it for about 20 years.”

“There have been lots of gigs where they said they would never have us again,” JJ Burnel reminisces on their early repute. “If they said that we’re never going to come here again – I was like oh, what a shame, [the show itself] was great.”

“We’ve had a few ‘ends of careers’ actually,” he laughs. “We’ve been banned from a few countries and been arrested in a few countries – Australia amongst them.”

“Which I now wear a badge of honour – everything’s so sterile and safe these days. People are too afraid of fucking up their careers. Bollocks to that.”

In true form, their first appearance Down Under was filled with as much controversy as their overseas escapades – as well as the expected media outrage. Their reputation had preceded them when they were interviewed on Mike Willesee’s show – an interview that the journalist decided to cut off early. 

“He then got a phone call from Molly Meldrum – live on air – saying, ‘I’ve just seen you interviewing The Strangers. Well, they’re not coming on Countdown now.’” 

Although the media disapproval may have gotten them banned from New Zealand, it only served to bolster sales in Australia: “overnight – the tour sold out. You can’t pay for that these days.”

Having emerged as a band in the late 70s on the wave of punk rock, The Stranglers were known for their experimentation across a large variety of musical styles, including art rock, gothic rock, pop and new wave.

With his time in a producing role for bands such as ARB, Taxi Girl, Lizard and more, JJ Burnel refined his ear for diverse musicality: “I used to love producing because it gave me a chance to learn new stuff in the studio.”

“It’s like osmosis. You pick stuff up and you bring it to life. I would learn a new way of singing, a new way of recording the drums, a lick here, a lick there, a new sound or keyboard.”

It’s this evolution that is at the core of The Stranglers’ ethos: “it would be pathetic if me, now, at my age was trying to be my 24-year-old self, or – I won’t mention any names – men with very long hair in Lycra who are still trying to be Metal Gods with their beer bellies.”

“I think we all, as people evolve and we as artists should evolve.”

“If you have success and then you suddenly want to replicate that ad nauseam because the sirens of success have completely seduced you – then that’s the tail wagging the dog. It’s not what The Stranglers are about, really.”

“Make your own mistakes – humility is probably the most important thing to learn. It’s as simple as that. Your success is not based on you. It’s based on a hell of a lot of networks and help.”

“Sometimes you evolve and you fall flat on your face. And other times you try something new and it works. That’s what it should be about.”

Holding a seventh-degree black belt in Karate, JJ Burnel specialises in Shidokan – a style of that encompasses Karate, kickboxing and grappling. Growing up as the son of French parents amongst the xenophobia of a post-war UK, his love for fighting was ignited from an early age as a form of protection. 

“Back in those days – they weren’t many immigrants or, you know, different ethnicities. So being French was the next best reason for people to gang up on me.” 

“I remember a time at school when two guys who were two years older than me – back from lunch break one day – just started attacking me.”

“Fortunately for me, the teacher they were tackling me in front of was the rugby master. He took one of the guys by the scruff of the neck and said – ‘you two guys, in the school gym, at 4:00 with gloves.’ So, he gave us gloves and I fucking massacred the bloke and suddenly I realised that fighting – that’s the way to keep my ass safe.”

After enrolling in Taekwondo at university, he developed a passion for martial arts. After 40 years of training, he currently sports the title of Shihan JJ Burnel and he has been the current branch chief for Shidokan Great Britain since 1991. He often makes the trip back to London from his home in the south of France to teach. 

“Suddenly, it gives you responsibility. And when you’ve been the most irresponsible bloke on the block – suddenly you have a responsibility for other people and their lives. You can’t be an asshole forever.”

The Stranglers will play Northcote Theatre on April 19. Grab your tickets by heading here.