Thetownend.com

The Stranglers are a British institution they’ve been around since 1974, before most of you were born probably, or when you were a snotty nosed kid. We’ve all grown up listening to their songs, you might not be a massive fan of their work but I bet you’re familiar with their hits.

On 22nd February The Stranglers are releasing their first single of the new decade “Retro Rockets”. It will be available as a download single. The sound is unmistakably that of The Stranglers. You may not be a massive fan but these guys are an institution and wouldn’t it be cool to get them back in the charts?

More details can be found on the following Facebook site, which has gained over 1000 followers in only a few days:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=257470684426&ref=ts

For a sample of 'Retro Rockets' go here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn5EZtIZVLU&

I'd always wondered where you got the inspiration for your username from.

Has Jet Black changed his name yet? He must be 70 at least by now isn't he?

The Stranglers were my faves while growing up in the age of punk....the under rated Nice,N Sleazy being one of my favourite records of all time...Peaches has probably the best intro to any record ever made....Peaches is a Great record.
As always theres always a gripe about greatness and mine is that they got abit high and mighty and didnt like to play there old stuff at gigs when releasing new material...that being said its hard to imagine that i baught the first record of theres over thirty years ago....What an old bugger i am!....

Nice N Sleazy and Peaches were my faves of theirs, even though i was a Pistols boy. So cant agree with the intro, that has always been Pretty Vacant for me.

Yep great intro..i remember hearing abortion for the first time,it blew me away and still does.

Golden Brown was a fantastic tune. Never  have quite understood what the fuck it was about though, which probably means that it was drug related.

Yep it was. forgot that one, very good also.

I remember reading somewhere they lifted the basic riff from an Abba tune, not quite sure i believe it though.

Walk on Bye.....brilliant keyboard that goes on forever.

Still got all those on vinyl that i bought when they came out, walk on by is a white one, must be worth 30 or 40p by now!

Got some coloured vynil someware...Skids...with the brilliant Albert Tatlock on the b side!
Also saw X Ray Specs...blew me away,supporting The Jam

Jeez i forgot that Albert Tatlock song, i'm off upstairs to find the single now.

@ Bangkok Red: Seemed apt with NMH being, for me, the greatest song ever and at the time of my registering I was longing for the heroes of the Swindon Town of the 80s to return to the mediocre team that I still loved.

@Suttonred: Jet Black is 71 and still going strong. He has been in poor health over the last couple of years and has had his drum teck stand in from time to time.

@leefer: Totally agree. but they've gone the other way now! They play 75% greatest hits these days supplemented for 25% new stuff and stuff for the hardcore fan. A UK tour is about to get underway. See the Youtube link for details. I'll be at Brizzle and maybe Oxford in early March. Rather than an 'old bugger)' surely you are an 'Old Codger' (look on Youtube if you dont get my meaning

@Bangkok Red again: Golden Brown is typical of many lyrics written by Hugh Cornwell. The title and subject matter had a double meaning. It was about his girlfriend of the time and her golden brown skin, but at the same time was about the feeling that you apparently get when taking heroin.

Hope I can count on you guys (and hopefully others) joining the Facebook group and following the instructions (which will be posted soon) and downloading the new single.

While Elvis Costello stole the keyboards off of 'Dancing Queen' and overlayed it onto 'Olivers Army'

I have all of the Stranglers albums on vinyl, NMH. Plus I saw them at Hammersmith Odeon when they were sharp.

Please can you post the links to the forthcoming live stuff on here, as I don't do Facebook?

Salient points:
New download single 'Retro Rockets' out 22 February
New compilation album (including 2 x new tracks) 'Decades Apart' out in March
Decades Apart tour Feb-March

Full details here:

http://www.stranglers.net/

@Bangkok Red again: Golden Brown is typical of many lyrics written by Hugh Cornwell. The title and subject matter had a double meaning. It was about his girlfriend of the time and her golden brown skin, but at the same time was about the feeling that you apparently get when taking heroin.Hope I can count on you guys (and hopefully others) joining the Facebook group and following the instructions (which will be posted soon) and downloading the new single.

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Its most def about heroin  :nod: think the stuff about his girlfriend is bolox

Saw them a couple of times back in the day - is hugh cornwall with them again? otherwise it would be a bit like going to see a Smith's reunion gig without Morrissey.........

Cornwell is still not with the band. They are a four piece with Baz Warne joining the original 3. The face that JJ Burnel and Dave Greenfield sang 50% of the songs means that Cornwell's departure isnt quite like The Smiths without Morrissey. Its not the same as with him, but its still a bloody good night! As for the girlfriend bit - It is true. The bit that Burnel says about it being about toast is however bollocks!

We are now at the four day mark.

Just to get you in the mood, here is a video of the band rehearsing Retro Rockets:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4S8j5Ykpuc

Do they still tour?

Yes. See here for details of the Decade's Apart tour which starts next week:

http://www.stranglers.net/Home.html

Another new song from the forthcoming Decade's Apart album:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0dshj9eViQ

I might have some of that!!

link not working.

denied.

Which link ? strnglers.net ? Try it again. Works for me

If anyone is having problems with the link try this instead:

http://www.sundownspecials.co.uk/Stranglers/

With Polly Styrene?  :)

Correct.

I've just dialled in Rattus Norvegicus  :)

OK guys, the time has finally arrived! The Stranglers Retro Rockets has arrived! There are over 2000 hardcore fans signed up to purchase this track at least once, but some of us will be buying 3 times - Once from each of the following sites:

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/retro-rockets-single/id353375403

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Retro-Rockets/dp/B0035V73DS/

http://www.hmvdigital.com/artist/the-stranglers/retro-rockets

Please, please, please, join us in giving The Stranglers the opportunity to get the recognition they deserve by getting a hit in their 5th consecutive decade.

Thanks

I think if they deserve it, the record will be good and people will buy it, if it's shit they won't.

Totally agree with you. But people can only decide if its good if they can hear it. They won't be able to hear it yet because its not on any radio playlists. Its not on any playlists because the band arent owned by a big corporation who will push it like there is no tomorrow. This is why a number of us have taken it into our own hands to try to get a minor hit. 2000+ of us downloading 3 times might get us into the lower reaches of the chart, which will then result in it being played on the radio. If its played on the radio then others might like it or not.

Hope that makes sense?