Hugh Cornwell on BBC Breakfast 120912

Hugh Cornwell appearing on BBC Breakfast with Bill Turnbull and Suzanna Reid on 12th September 2012 telling about his new album and tour.

[@markdoughty8780]

Even though it was 12 years ago, it's always good to hear from Hugh - thanks for uploading.

[@milosit]

I saw him in LA last year and chatted with him after the show. He is the nicest bloke you could imagine. I brought some albums to sign and he made sure they were all signed. Also, saw the Stranglers in Long Beach this summer. After the show, I met the band at a quiet restaurant. Talked with JJ for 10 mins or so. Very nice chap also.

[@livefreeordie7209]

bradford lad as you do.

[@lemsip207]

I met them at Plymouth Poly and they were off their heads but Hugh wanted to talk about religion and how we were all gods. JJB asked me if I liked rugby and he also asked other fans. Then one fan asked for an autograph and because he had a big lovebite on his neck JJB grabbed my pen and drew a circle around it.

[@joncox6251]

I met them in the 70s when they were on tour and I was15 or 16. Splendid unassuming quality musicians with no axe to grind and happy to talk to anyone. In a period in which everyone including the Press lumped New Wave together with Punk as being aggressive spitting aresholes these guys were something quite different and took pains to say so. Grand stuff...

[@pierrelalonde3705]

Hugh has a great voice and accomplished musician, nice to see him doing well

[@mr.magister5531]

It's good to see Hugh in such high spirits and i am glad he is still doing it. He has definitely changed his tune about playing Stranglers tunes in his set, in his early solo days he would tell people who yelled out for Stranglers songs to "go and see the fucking Stranglers" Nowadays he realises that his former band mates are still going strong and it's a good idea to play them again. His ego was severely dented by the fact that the Stranglers continued on reasonably successfully without him.

[@jonesy2111]

I met him in '82 at a gig in Salt Lake, he was nice enough to give me an interview that I got published in college paper and it was an awesome gig...Hugh is still knockin 'em dead

[@jonesy2111]

NO... I kind of wish I would've stayed into that but Communications was my minor... I'm just a struggling artist

[@annuvynarawn392]

I like Hugh and his performances and also the Stranglers then and now. I don't care about which is best or worse or whatever. One band became two. Fine. More please.

[@trevorastley1727]

I once stopped him on his folding bicycle in london and asked him for directions to the nearest tube station. Very helpful, as he rode off I realised it was Hugh. Silly Me.

[@nigeltorner3758]

Thank yo Tricky Rf for putting this here xx

[@williamtaylor874]

great voice !

[@patwheeler4940]

have always loved their earlier stuff

[@beefheart1410]

I love Hugh Cornwell. I'm not particularly keen on his solo work (other than "Nosferatu" which is one of my all time favourite albums; massively overlooked and incredibly original) but, then again, I can't be doing with post Cornwell Stranglers either. For me, between, 1978 and 1982, the Stranglers were startlingly original and unique and, for my money, one of the best ever bands. I was obsessed with them back in the day and still love their music now.

[@TheChicken10ism]

Totally 100% agree with you Beefy.

[@sallybilzon3507]

Me too; me and the old man won't see The Stranglers without Hugh. We just realised that it's nearly 6 years since we saw this tour (Rescue Rooms Nottingham). The husband read his novel, Window on the World, but wasn't impressed. However, that's not to dismiss our great love of the man!

[@FentonRhoades]

_Pish!_ - Wolf, Wired and Guilty - as complete albums - all rock. They're good. Really. The good is directly proportional to the amount of hair Cornwell retains. The more he has, the better the album. So, post-hair. yes. Kind of mostly miss able and increasingly wearing thin. But still game. Compared to Post-Cornwell Stanglers - its a better ratio. Out of everything they've done - In The Night, Norfolk Coast and Suit XVI lumped together form one actually very descent double album. And that's it. Giants? Frankly, listening to it - you envy the people on the cover. You sit there looking at the cover thinking "Bastards... You lucky, _lucky_ bastards." I gave up listening to The Stranglers, not after Giants, but during. Google that album cover. The Stranglers - Giants. You owe yourself that gag.

[@ripplesnose6265]

Yip

[@ripplesnose6265]

.

[@TheLatchford]

saw the stranglers on thursday 7th of march 2013,First time since 79,fell down the stairs,testosterone affect again lol 50 years of age falling down the stairs at at a STRANGERS CONCERT,MY KIDS LOVE ME LOL

[@amyjohns0n814]

I'm 14 years old and to me, The Stranglers are the best! Hugh Cornwell is God!!

[@shinec7957]

i was 14 when the song came out,,hhahha

[@christopherfarrington9270]

well done not many 14 year olds have great taste in music.

[@maxmordon7295]

Being over your 20's now, do you still listen to them? I hope so...

[@Mr.Monta77]

I remember attending a Stranglers concert in 78 or 79 in Camden Town and had a panic attack. Very bad time.

[@treasurehunteruk9718]

Hugh has now decided to become an author. He was on the BBC station yesterday, promoting his latest book.

[@kentborges5114]

HUGH has recorded many amazing songs...VERY ELITE ARTIST.

[@jamiepf4381]

Mate, go buddy go was the first British punk/new wave record ever performed on TOTP, they brought punk to so many people, to say they were never punk is deluded

[@sirjellybeans1st19]

Obviously You're not that familiar with The Band saying that they were never Punk but were caught along with the Punk movement by the Punk Audience. As for Go Buddy Go being a 'Punk song' it's obvious that you are one that's deluded

[@jonathancarter1826]

The Stranglers and Joy Division we’re surrounded by the Punk movement but we’re going in a totally different direction as soon as they picked up their instruments.

[@sirandrelefaedelinoge]

We're, or were...?

[@richardgoffin-lecar5001]

Why be so negative about him? Hugh is a businessman - if you are a musician, of ANY kind, you have to be a businessman. If you aren't, you will get massively ripped off, or worse, won't get off the ground at all. What's wrong with asking fans for money to finance the band? He needs the money to make the music. What is he supposed to do - busk for pennies in the street? Get real, everyone, and give the man credit for being enterprising - and enjoy the music.

[@BiffScooter1]

Right on, man!

[@carlbrowitt6221]

But the moneys no good, just get a grip on yourself...

[@simonjamesyoung1990]

Oh Yeah Fund me is everywhere now For all kinds of Tripe and Shite This was Pledge Music for Cult Bands and Hero's who no longer have a Major label contract like the 70's, 80's, Even 90's. This is absolutely valid these days For some artist there is no other way This is also slightly before Streaming was such big news And the Internet changed totally how the music business was run anyway. Pledge music is actually the very best way to support the artist you love while getting a more personal experience. Especially these days where most people do not want to pay for the privilege of obtaining beautiful music to enhance their dull lives

[@simonjamesyoung1990]

​@@carlbrowitt6221Love it

[@ThefightingCelt]

I saw The Stranglers play The Apollo in Glasgow in the late 70s . It was absolutely mental . During the set , some fans managed to jump on the high stage , pursued by big burly bouncers .- at which point , Jean Jacques Burnel put down his bass guitar and aimed a roundhouse kick at the head of one of them . The hired thug in the suit and bow tie keeled over like a felled tree , spark out . The other bouncers then set upon Burnel as pandemonium ensued . I have never seen anything like it before or since . Eventually , it calmed down and the concert continued . Apparently the bouncers waited for Burnel to emerge from the dressing room after the gig ended , but he managed to evade them .

[@wildphil64]

Always big and hard with their mates. Good one, John.

[@neckercube1257]

Hope it was Billy Sloane!😎

[@gman6378]

The Stranglers started out as punks. Certainly their first 3 albums are considered punk, granted, they had a unique sound...primarily the keyboards. Their music subsequent those 3 albums could be considered New Wave, Art Rock, Acid Rock, Pop Rock ...they're mostly remembered as Punks,however

[@robertkramer7625]

Burnel's thundering bass was primarily punk based.

[@theobjectivethinker64]

Before they signed they were very much punk, 1975/76 influencing the likes of the Pistols and the Clash with there aggressive stance and approach, however they had a prog keyboard player (though ironically was onboard with the punk ethos but just didn't look it). However with fights and arguments between the aforementioned bands and jealousy for opening for Patti Smith and the Ramones they began to drift into there own universe and a new wave.

[@stuartmack8769]

The Gospel According to the. MenIn Black is an all time favourite of mine... love the gateold sleeve with the 'Last Supper artwork inside 👍👍👍👍🆒🕶️🕶️🏴🏴🏴🏴

[@mickgeraghty3121]

I love the stranglers, but the day hugh left they were just the music without the voice.

[@lemsip207]

I agree. Hugh was the best ever singer but he wasn't as good at first.

[@Ty10Tom]

How true

[@arthurjacksparrow5733]

What a load of old bollocks. Burnel & Greenfield were the Stranglers sound, no doubt about that cloth ears me old mate

[@mickgeraghty3121]

Without the voice a band is nothing, RIP dave

[@NoLefTurnUnStoned.]

@@arthurjacksparrow5733 Hugh’s guitar was an integral part of that sound.

[@blomeister1]

yes, it's near Devon.. as for Hugh Cornwell.. ;)

[@chrisbowers85]

This THE sound!........this is the 'Sound' of the suburbs!

[@dave1secondago]

the best singer ever

[@eagleinblack]

Don't get me wrong I loved Hugh with The Stranglers but towards the end of his stay in the band they went to mellow and lost that "Stranglers" sound. They have that back now are knocking out music that is far better than the last couple of albums they did with Hugh

[@bagiee1]

No band can play like it was in their Top Days. This has always been the case. And in every decade is the same. Its not only the music, and how good they write it...its the magic of the era, that is changing by time. Every artist does his/her magic at their first Pieces of their Work.... after that particular time passes...they just repeat themselves, or produce something else which doesnt have the same magic inside. Many bands can play very good even after many decades...and still be together and all.....but the magic of an era is gone from that style...and has moved on to something else.

[@chrisrobelou7899]

Always The Sun is sublime!

[@irishelk3]

Its quite sad how its turned out for the Stranglers. They were a unique band back in the day, really doing their own thing and the bass and keyboards and lyrics and speaking French and dressing in black and writing lots of great songs. Then the whole argument over Hugh not being informed over Hans Warmlings death. The first guy that replaced Hugh was appalling. Baz is okay, but its gone very macho now, they were Hughs songs and they still are. Imagine the Stones going on without Mick Jagger and some bloke from the pub singing his songs?, its just not the same.

[@FentonRhoades]

That's like blaming Yoko for the Beatles breaking up. Sometimes middle aged men just get sick of the back teeth hanging around (hanging around) each other day in, day out. They just do. It gets no more involved, you just get sick of the sight of each other. That's what happens. What's mad is why JJ didn't take over as lead singer. He should have.

[@wildphil64]

@Leo Morriss We will never know the truth, I'm afraid.

[@ghmusic8116]

@@FentonRhoades Burnel had more or less given up singing lead Vox before Hugh quit down to just one or 2 tracks per album in the 80s.

[@FentonRhoades]

@@ghmusic8116 JJ just got more into doing his own solo and commercial work, it wasn't that he gave up singing he just got fed up butting heads creatively with Cornwell. So he did his own thing and kind of coasted a bit, but it isn't true he didn't pitch in. A good chunk of 10 is JJ and a lot of it's still the most distinctive. Where I live , In This Place and Never To Look Back are all JJ and really stand out. His Solo album, Un Jour Parfait is a classic and, as the new line-up with Paul Roberts fronting proved - once they got past the transition of Into The Night, Burnell became increasingly more active in both writing and singing. He could, credibly, have fronted the band after Cornwell left and really should have, he just didn't want to be lumbered with the pressure I don't think.

[@keithwills6769]

Feckin legend!!.

[@Rugmunchersauce3]

I love The Stranglers, especially Hugh era. I like Hugh without thé others too.😎

[@lewis72]

I think you're right. I've seen them twice at the UEA and although they were excellent by an absolute measure, they weren't the same as with Hugh.

[@nicedog1]

Seems like a really nice bloke. I always imagined he would be a bit scary from his stage image.

[@geoffjoffy]

I'm not gay but Hugh is so massively attractive.

[@MarkLsixtyseven]

But you didnt notice Suzanna Reid. Dude WTF.

[@easytigeruk123456789]

I wish Susanna reid was my girl friend, my god she got shape

[@beefheart1410]

On a further note; I really liked "La Folie" and "Feline", thought "Aural Sculpture" was ok but thought "Dreamtime" was a little weak and "10" pointless. Accordingly, and, despite the fact that I don't enjoy his post Stranglers era solo work, I think it was the right idea for him to have left the Stranglers in 1990. I think (for my taste) there had been diminishing returns from the band from "La Folie" onwards and that this process actually sped up from "Aural Sculpture" onwards. However, and I doubt this will ever happen, but, I'd love for Cornwell to "re-join" the Stranglers for, at least, a few gigs, tour or what ever. I'd definitely be queuing for tickets for that gig!

[@Captain_Rhodes]

hugh has written a few very good songs in the solo years. would have been great stranglers tracks

[@scottdavis0801]

The reason he talks about it is because they were such a fantastic band, and he's still making money off of the royalties. Of course, this was 6/7 yrs. ago.

[@1990-t1j]

I like Cabaret Rouge!

[@Lloyd1885]

Thats the first time ive heard him chatting...comes across as a nice bloke.

[@animaction65]

I saw him solo once and he didn't play any guitar if I recall. He did do peaches...

[@livefreeordie7209]

2:50 nice and sleazy

[@lacuaimabritanica]

Top bloke. JJ too❤

[@drachir5]

Hi sirvidia, it's fixed now, hope you're happy. It was a typo - I spelt it right in my tags. No drama, eh? And yes, I am a fan.

[@davekpcv]

I've seen Hugh as a solo artist and in The Stranglers. Is it just me or does he look like Sir Alan Sugar in that video??

[@susella646]

Now you mention it, a bit. But more like Sugar's very much better looking younger brother, I'd say.

[@ferrarottiano]

great

[@cliffdweller]

How nice of Robert Palmer to loan his girls out to Hugh!

[@sirandrelefaedelinoge]

Those "girls" are all in in their sixties now...

[@animalrevenge1058]

André Linoge so is Hugh, even older

[@dannyhart3982]

I love Hugh cornwell he's legend, and I Love The Stranglers but Jesus Christ what was the budget on that music video? 15 pounds lol 😂

[@roybarnes-thewildlifeman1855]

Fuck, he’s a nice bloke!

[@linfieldf.c.supporter2405]

Hugh Has Written Great Songs In His Solo Career, they would have been brilliant Stranglers Records If he had stayed.

[@alanshaw7780]

great interview

[@number8mikee]

Bank manager said "No" then.

[@NOWtheband]

Yes.

[@soapydee]

What a guy!

[@treasurehunteruk9718]

The video looks like something from The Avengers, with John Steed in his business suit, with straight face and umbrella. Awful!

[@howardeyeno7436]

some people just can't accept the the party ended 20 years ago !!!😀

[@PAULLONDEN]

*howard Eyeno* _____ ...it sure is "30 years" by now.....? But then , can imagine some former successful "rockstars" loathe to go into hibernation....It's all plain honest business....as long as there are souls idiotic enough to pay inflated ticket prices to watch a hasbeen....who can blame him...? You'd probably do the same.......

[@PAULLONDEN]

Stranglers are shite without Hugh....and vice versa.........

[@JakobusVdL]

First half of your comment is right..... ;-)

[@marcogme]

With my mind she runs. Sorted the puzzle.

[@lemsip207]

The Stranglers without Hugh Cornwell isn't the same as he is a much better singer than JJB and his replacement. I saw Hugh Cornwell in the Acoustic Tent at Glastonbury Festival in 2009 and he played Stranglers songs and sounded more like the Stranglers than the Stranglers do now. He had a female bassist.

[@mycheezyhelm]

This is the bloke who once sang at his fans "Leave me Alone", now here he is crawling for our cash. "Did someone say wanker?". They were spot on

[@denisvasselin7691]

hugh cornwell en plus d’être doué est vraiment très très sexy ! c'est quand il veut

[@daviddavidson2111]

Never seen the totem and taboo video before, very sexy arrangement of ladies in black. Nice one. Good luck Hugh, hope you are well.

[@broadly122]

I SAY AGAIN huba huba!

[@tomjenkinson8958]

Steve Davis

[@andyallom4357]

Loved the Stranglers...but they were always outshone by the support bands I saw them with. Lucky me I suppose.

[@christopherfarrington9270]

haha outshone by support bands don't make me fuckin laugh you fuckin clown.

[@animaction65]

Bloody bbc breakfast presenters what do they know about old punk rock...?

[@jackjones8363]

Somebody tell me why they can't get back together?? They were so good. Nice (city) back in early 80s - fantastic memory... Hugh, clearly short of a bob or two - original line up if only for one tour would be beautiful...

[@Pureevilhotsauce]

Cos HC and the rest of the stranglers despise each other. Would you go on holiday with your ex mrs as a famous brother in rock once said...

[@RockAndRollMassacre]

8.55? it'll only be housewives watching by then

[@JacobBite]

The Stranglers are great, Hugh was good, and has a good voice, but he wasted his talent by leaving the band in 1990, thinking he was what held it together. If only he knew how wrong he was.

[@terrythekittie]

I think he may be regretting it, yes the '10' album was a big disappointment but enough reason to leave the band?

[@ghmusic8116]

Waaaay More to that Story ..Hugh was effectively Isolated By Burnel in particular How can you work with a Bully? He was right to leave they were Creatively Dead from 86 onwards and what Drivel theyve produced ever since his Departure...It took 3 Replacements to Replace 1 Hugh Cornwell Sums it up really.They still dont sound Remotely Like the Stranglers Music i grew up with.

[@ballygeale1]

whos your one

[@stewright539]

Hugh never got over the remaining three band members continuing without him, it was a blow to his ego.Worse still, they played shows and tours which attracted much bigger audiences than his whilst they performed songs he'd written.Ouch.

[@Pureevilhotsauce]

Roger Waters relates...

[@robertmelia3780]

Ledge. 💜

[@gevansmd1]

The song halfway through this video is terrible. Just toneless and repetitive.

[@craiggorman9392]

Bring Hugh back to the Stranglers as then the band would be complete again.

[@FentonRhoades]

And then, what - we can stick them on a shelf and look at them? Assuming we can remember too. I'm sorry, but they've all been taken out of their respective boxes and played with. Hard. So very, very hard. There's no inherent value in owning the compete collection. Just let them be free.

[@MrKmanthie]

LOL...in that new video clip of Hugh's they showed at around the 3:15 mark, Hugh, with his dark, pin-striped suit & his "elder statesman" look makes him resemble an MP, dancing around on a set, with those "Addicted to Love" wannabe girls! In other words, kind of incongruous.

[@carlbrowitt6221]

The original maninblack

[@arthurjacksparrow5733]

That was johnny cash you fuckwit 🤡🤡🤡

[@jamiepf4381]

Okay, but this is where genre is irrevelant for punk is not all about the "music". The adverts, the clash, the sex pistols, slaughter and the dogs, the uk subs, the buzzcocks. All these bands are "punk" bands and they had completely different sounds. How can you say the song "boredom" by the buzzcocks sounded anything like "white man in hammersmith palias" by the clash. They are still punk bands and so are the stanglers

[@richardparker1901]

Diamond geezer.

[@mickmcgowan7756]

Stranglers are shit without hugh

[@CrankCase08]

One punkish record does not make a punk band.

[@animaction65]

Alan sugar looks like Scrooge...no longer looks like Alan sugar

[@チャールズ-u4y]

?????

[@jamiepf4381]

You never mentioned any of the bands i mentioned (obviously aside from the stanglers) Seriously, why are you trying to label punk, it's not about that, with your attitude bands like blink 182 and greenday would be punk. Punk is about the attitude, the way of life, not what chord sequence you use... I mentioned all the early punk bands to prove that they were all punk and yet sounded completely different, there was no formula, good day mate but sorry you are wrong

[@robertmckenzie9803]

No stranglers without hue

[@CrankCase08]

Silly cow. The Stranglers were not Punk, they were New Wave.

[@leeoslayer3190]

Hugh left a dead horse that's still limping .......

[@TaxingIsThieving]

He's doing better than Bill

[@neilpavett3413]

Without Hugh Cornwell the Stranglers are a pointless exercise - so many bands try to keep going despite losing the best member; although that that was Dave Greenfield so I am not sure what my point is ...

[@merseybeast76]

Always admired Hugh until he spat his dummy out with the rest of the lads for carrying on with the band. And now that video!! An old man dancing with a bunch of scantily clad young women - like Steed of the New Avengers . . embarrasing

[@FentonRhoades]

Yeah - I bet he probably calls spoons, spoons too. And WH Smiths - a book shop. That Hugh Cornwell and his..._nouns_.

[@jameswarhol442]

Totally disagree. Totem and Taboo is a great song and the vid is great fun.

[@CrankCase08]

I never even mentioned anything by The Buzzcocks or The Clash. Incidentally, the Clash were never punk either; they resorted to coloured chords and styles that were more akin to orthodox rock-reggae, which is why they became a bunch of sanctimonious left-wing boring old farts.

[@CrankCase08]

The Stranglers were never punks, and neither are their first three albums anywhere near 'punk'. New Wave was closer to the mainstream, and that's where they were.

[@ruthsixtysix1690]

Hugh wrote tons of great songs, was a decent singer and guitarist - but I am quite shocked how old he is/looks. Even his manners, aguments and laughs are like those of a grandfather (what he probably is). Dreadful to age!

[@petermaccabe8921]

Ruth Sixtysix sadly thats what drug abuse does for you.

[@PAULLONDEN]

*Ruth Sixtysix* __ Most men might wish they looked like that at 63....At least he's not overweight and looks kinda lean.....He looks like a middle aged man... what's wrong with that....? He never was a teen idol to start with... Aging is an artform.....

[@lauranewberry6520]

What a stupid silly comment do you expect him to look the same as he did 30 years ago? He looks really fit and well for his age.