We Will Get Stranglehold On New Hits

Apr 20 2008 Billy Sloan

PUNK legends The Stranglers have chalked up 42 hit singles and carved a place in rock history.

But that isn't enough for bassist J.J. Burnel.

After three decades of success he reckons the best is yet to come.

He said: "I've still got a big chip on my shoulder - we still have something to prove.

"We've been written off so many times, it would be so easy to get world-weary and jaded.

"But I've still got the outlook of a teenager even though I'm a middle-aged geezer."

The Stranglers are touring again - including making their T in the Park debut on July 12.

Most musicians lock themselves in a studio to prepare but J.J. - a sixth dan karate black belt - spent two months halfway up a volcano in Japan honing his martial arts skills. "I get in shape kicking the s*** out of other people," he joked.

Stranglers' hits have featured on countless movie soundtracks and TV shows.

J.J. said: "One of the best examples is Waltz In Black - which I wrote in four minutes - which was used in the BBC TV series Wonderful World.

"I was knocked out when Peaches featured in the movie Sexy Beast with Ben Kingsley.

"The success of Golden Brown in 1982 was great too because we'd been written off.

"It became an Ivor Novello award-winner.

"It's always satisfying to stick your fingers up to people, isn't it?"

The Stranglers play Inverness's Ironworks on October 30, Dundee's Fat Sam's (31) and Glasgow's Carling Academy November 1.

Tickets, £23, go on sale next Friday.