BreadBin Posted September 12 Share Posted September 12 One of my first favourite bands - I still have the family copy of Black and White which I played to death, and a good chunk of my first paypacket was spent on Rattus. I'm sure I heard JJB say that he thought they were quite prog in an interview a while ago, I can definitely see it 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted September 13 Share Posted September 13 I think there’s definitely a hefty prog element to them. Dont forget the ‘Gospel According To…’ was a concept album. 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted September 13 Author Share Posted September 13 Imagine Jon Anderson on Stranglers vocals........ 🤔 Or Hugh Cornwell in Yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prowla Posted September 13 Share Posted September 13 The organ gives their sound a sixties (pre-prog) feel. Some of the "punk" thing was just different hairdos and the band members sneering a bit rather than a big revolution reinventing music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted September 13 Author Share Posted September 13 14 minutes ago, prowla said: The organ gives their sound a sixties (pre-prog) feel. Some of the "punk" thing was just different hairdos and the band members sneering a bit rather than a big revolution reinventing music. Ha ha, love it, Stranglers actually pre-prog 👍 Totally agree re the punk thing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted September 13 Share Posted September 13 11 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said: I still have the programme. For me the highlights were Ten Years After, Twelfth Night, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Sabbath*. I remember Sabbath, that was funny, I particularly liked their smoke on the water! Actually I say I remember none of it, I actually remember quite a lot, but maybe the music specifically wasn't important. I remember leaving without a girlfriend and getting back with one. I remember watching a guy a few tents away from us watching his bike go up in flames, then him spending the entire weekend rewiring it. I remember spending the last few hours in reading at the new Thames Valley police office, waiting to identify our stuff that was nicked from our tent and I remember the heat and parched land. But the bands, yes I saw quite a few of them, but I was never really one for listening to bands! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted September 13 Share Posted September 13 2 hours ago, Woodinblack said: I remember Sabbath, that was funny, I particularly liked their smoke on the water! Actually I say I remember none of it, I actually remember quite a lot, but maybe the music specifically wasn't important. I remember leaving without a girlfriend and getting back with one. I remember watching a guy a few tents away from us watching his bike go up in flames, then him spending the entire weekend rewiring it. I remember spending the last few hours in reading at the new Thames Valley police office, waiting to identify our stuff that was nicked from our tent and I remember the heat and parched land. But the bands, yes I saw quite a few of them, but I was never really one for listening to bands! I have somehow a knack for being at gigs that end up on live albums. My total is massively inflated because the BBC recorded Reading that year, and eight of them have appeared as albums (as far as I can tell): Stevie Ray Vaughan (part of his first UK tour, there was a real sense of expectation about his 'Hendrix' covers). Big Country Thin Lizzy (final UK performance, I saw them in Gloucester at the previous one too, the only times I saw them). Man Ten Years After Twelfth Night (and a DVD) Marillion (who were very good despite being dissed as a Genesis cover band at the time). Strangelrs (apaprently only on You Tube) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted September 13 Share Posted September 13 11 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said: Marillion (who were very good despite being dissed as a Genesis cover band at the time). I had gone down to see them at portsmouth guildhall in 83, my friends had said 'oh they are a bit like genesis', and I liked genesis so it sounded fine. They were nothing like genesis but I really enjoyed the gig, and still love script for a jesters tear. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted September 13 Share Posted September 13 Don't get the prog comparison at all. I guess they were relatively progressive compared to the Ramones but their misanthropic attitude, tendency to get into punch-ups plus the aggressive nature of their early recordings were far removed from prog as most people understand it. Not sure you'd have seen strippers on stage with Yes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted September 13 Share Posted September 13 26 minutes ago, Barking Spiders said: Don't get the prog comparison at all. I guess they were relatively progressive compared to the Ramones but their misanthropic attitude, tendency to get into punch-ups plus the aggressive nature of their early recordings were far removed from prog as most people understand it. Not sure you'd have seen strippers on stage with Yes! they had keyboards, some long songs and odd arrangements, I can see why people thought they had prog rock influence's, but the lyrics were very punk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted September 13 Share Posted September 13 JJB on prog https://www.loudersound.com/features/jj-burnel-stranglers-caravan "There are songs we’ve done over the years that could be seen as prog – and I wouldn’t deny it" 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grooverjr Posted September 13 Share Posted September 13 As someone who only found BC in 2023, I missed this the first time around so have just spent a lovely half hour reading through this thread. Along with Ozrics, my two most favourite long term bands. I have never stopped listening to them since I was in my early teens, whatever else I have been listening to, which has been very varied. Saw them when I was 4 at the famous Battersea Park gig and then my mate's brother in law got us into them seriously when we were 12 or 13. Saw thm twice in the tour to support 10 (overlooked album for me - Never To Look Back and Too Many Teardrops are great) and JJ was immense. I was a total JJ fanboy and he was why I started playing bass and why I only played with a pick for years. For me, Black and White to Feline is one of the most consistently creative periods of any band. Even Gospel has its moments and if you've read the Song by Song book there's a lot more to hear. Fully agree with the comments about Hugh's guitar work. Lots of humour in the lyrics as well, and you can actually hear what they are, which is nice. Over the years I've come to appreciate the way the songs are quite basic structurally but the way Hugh, JJ and Dave work around that basic structure and the note choice is endlessly fascinating. I get that people would not say they're prog but I suppose the point is that they were always more adventurous and broader in just about every way than the punk they were labelled as. Never bothered me what they were labelled as, they're just a great band who tried stuff. Didn't alway work, but then Prince made some dross as well! IMO it only ever worked with the original 4 of them. Post Hugh even my JJ love can't make me like it and Hugh's solo stuff is similarly lacking. That's my Friday night sorted - backwards from La Folie and see where I get to! 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 16 hours ago, PaulWarning said: they had keyboards, some long songs and odd arrangements, I can see why people thought they had prog rock influence's, but the lyrics were very punk Yes, such hardcore punk lyrics... Bonsoir Ton véhicule n'a pas l'air d'avoir de passager Peux-tu, veux-tu me recevoir Sans trop te déranger Mes bottes ne feront pas trop d'échos dans ton couloir Pas de bruit avec mes adieux Pas pour nous les moments perdus En attendant un incertain au revoir Parce que j'ai la folie Oui j'ai la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie Il était une fois un étudiant Qui voulait fort, comme en littérature Sa copine, elle était si douce Qu'il pouvait presque, en la mangeant Rejeter tous les vices Repousser tous les mals Détruire toutes beautés Qui par ailleurs, n'avait jamais été ses complices Parce qu'il avait la folie Il avait la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie Et si parfois l'on fait des confessions À qui les raconter Même le bon Dieu nous a laisse tomber Un autre endroit, une autre vie Eh oui, c'est une autre histoire Mais à qui tout raconter Chez les ombres de la nuit Au petit matin, au petit gris Combien de crimes ont été commis Contre les mensonges et soi disant les lois du cœur Combien sont là à cause de la folie Parce qu'ils ont la folie Ils ont la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie La folie La folie La folie La folie La folie 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 Proper punk this.. I had a woman ship I took her overseas She left her hull unlocked I had to find a dock I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea We didn't use cruel words To navigate cruel seas The wind was biting hard At times I had to scream I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea And when we reached the land We went aground on the rocks Became a wreck in the sand Became a home for a flock We ventured overland Fought with the aliens The young ones used their hands Pointed the way to a flock A flock of seagulls! A flock of seagulls! Then we retraced our steps Rebuilt the woman ship I took her back up north I lost her in the fog I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler I was a toiler I was a toiler On the sea On the sea I was a toiler I was a toiler On the sea I was a toiler A toiler A toiler 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velarian Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 3 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said: Yes, such hardcore punk lyrics... Bonsoir Ton véhicule n'a pas l'air d'avoir de passager Peux-tu, veux-tu me recevoir Sans trop te déranger Mes bottes ne feront pas trop d'échos dans ton couloir Pas de bruit avec mes adieux Pas pour nous les moments perdus En attendant un incertain au revoir Parce que j'ai la folie Oui j'ai la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie Il était une fois un étudiant Qui voulait fort, comme en littérature Sa copine, elle était si douce Qu'il pouvait presque, en la mangeant Rejeter tous les vices Repousser tous les mals Détruire toutes beautés Qui par ailleurs, n'avait jamais été ses complices Parce qu'il avait la folie Il avait la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie Et si parfois l'on fait des confessions À qui les raconter Même le bon Dieu nous a laisse tomber Un autre endroit, une autre vie Eh oui, c'est une autre histoire Mais à qui tout raconter Chez les ombres de la nuit Au petit matin, au petit gris Combien de crimes ont été commis Contre les mensonges et soi disant les lois du cœur Combien sont là à cause de la folie Parce qu'ils ont la folie Ils ont la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie Oui c'est la folie La folie La folie La folie La folie La folie This track was inspired by the true story of Issei Sagawa, a Japanese lust murderer, cannibal, and necrophiliac known for the killing of Renée Hartevelt in Paris in 1981. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Issei_Sagawa#:~:text=Issei Sagawa (佐川 一政,Hartevelt in Paris in 1981. The La Folie album is about different aspects of "The Madness of Love" and conceptually, each of the songs on the album was intended to explore a different kind of "love" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grooverjr Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 5 hours ago, BreadBin said: Proper punk this.. I had a woman ship I took her overseas She left her hull unlocked I had to find a dock I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea We didn't use cruel words To navigate cruel seas The wind was biting hard At times I had to scream I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea And when we reached the land We went aground on the rocks Became a wreck in the sand Became a home for a flock We ventured overland Fought with the aliens The young ones used their hands Pointed the way to a flock A flock of seagulls! A flock of seagulls! Then we retraced our steps Rebuilt the woman ship I took her back up north I lost her in the fog I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler on the sea I was a toiler I was a toiler I was a toiler On the sea On the sea I was a toiler I was a toiler On the sea I was a toiler A toiler A toiler One of my favourite Stranglers tunes. My daughter thought it was "a toilet seat" when she was about 5! I'm not sure if the story that A Flock of Seagulls got their name from this song is true, but it would be a very weird name to come up with otherwise. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 4 hours ago, Velarian said: This track was inspired by the true story of Issei Sagawa, a Japanese lust murderer, cannibal, and necrophiliac known for the killing of Renée Hartevelt in Paris in 1981. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Issei_Sagawa#:~:text=Issei Sagawa (佐川 一政,Hartevelt in Paris in 1981. The La Folie album is about different aspects of "The Madness of Love" and conceptually, each of the songs on the album was intended to explore a different kind of "love" I saw the tour 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 2 hours ago, Grooverjr said: I'm not sure if the story that A Flock of Seagulls got their name from this song is true, but it would be a very weird name to come up with otherwise. I don't know, someone may have been wondering what a group of Eric Cantona supporters would be called. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 14 minutes ago, tauzero said: I don't know, someone may have been wondering what a group of Eric Cantona supporters would be called. A Tin of Sardines..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 The Kung Fu Kickers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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