MEGGA Stranglers LIVE Battersea Park 1978 - BASS ACE Jean-Jacques Burnel - Rattus Norvegicus

[@robinholmescnx]

The Stranglers still are the best. Even though JJ is the only original. The new keyboard players is terrific. It's not that they were better then, it's that the time was better. I wish I could rewind my life. I'd run the 70s over and over.

[@idpfilm]

Well said so very true

[@Sirlarrythecat]

They were far better then and the keyboard player is not a patch on the Maestro Dave Greenfield.

[@imogenimeson664]

In some ways the '70s were better,(if you were a kid)...but women could not go into pubs by themselves to buy a drink. No mobile phones of course, the nearest public phone box would be vandalised so God help one if you were in trouble,just died I guess.The only thing I really,really wished i'd been old enough to visit back then was the big BIBA store in Kensington High Street,London.

[@fredgervin9930]

Late 70’s and the early 80’s, the music, so diverse, so many great bands pumping out original music. Can we go back and visit to see live gigs of those we missed. Never got to see The Stranglers. I wish.

[@robinholmescnx]

@@imogenimeson664 Women most definitely could go into a pub and buy a drink. I don't know where you were living. I was born in 1955. Maybe back then women in the North weren't even allowed in pubs but by 1970 it was totally different.

[@edwardtruman4981]

JJ Burnel, one the best bassists ever.

[@alantaylor8916]

He made that bass GROWL.. Hanging around must be the greatest Bass intro

[@leezeppelin48]

For one of the best bands ever!😎

[@StrawberrySunday212]

well, he is a classically trained guitarist.

[@didgmannl]

indeed....

[@thewomble1509]

Notice the Chromatic run from Hey Joe in the inst brk of Go Johnny Go?

[@Bass-ne6dl]

The sound of that bass is absolutely amazing

[@cliveedwards2958]

The JJ bass sound is what first grabbed me in 77..when he cleaned the sound up in bout 1980 I moved off ..but those first 4 albums are still my all time fave rock albums..unbeatable!!!

[@BannorHaruchai]

The green bass that got stolen.

[@rmzxr4395]

JJB,Fender Precision and Rotosound roundwounds. The perfect combination.

[@ColonelBuckshot]

Absolutely, the main reason I moved from guitar to bass back then

[@FromaTwistedMind]

And a big fat plectrum played hard near the bridge! ​@@rmzxr4395

[@leezeppelin48]

and R.I.P Dave Greenfield, one of the most under-rated musicians ever. I fuckin love The Stranglers. Always have, always will.😎

[@DamianKeyes]

JJ always had the greatest Bass sound I have ever heard. Legend!

[@SKYSAW59]

JJ... and Mick Karn, of course!

[@stephenbennett1643]

​@@SKYSAW59My bass heroes, along with Colin Moulding, XTC a great all round player!

[@skriptico]

they say your tone reflects your personality. so true with JJ

[@LarzGustafsson]

True!

[@jonathansmith9879]

I was there! Trying to spot me in the crowd to the right of the stage. It was a fantastic day. Went with my best mates from school

[@mr-it4bb]

That bass is just insane

[@nickphillips7319]

Precision playing at its brutal best. 🎸

most underrated uk rock act ever, they are gold .

[@jaywood5831]

EXTREMELY underrated

[@tonycronin7570]

seen Them 17 times everytime searched by the Filth one Time busted with an oz of Kenyan Bush the pig saaid putback in ya pocket its soft were lookin fer pointy things ?

[@marcosruiz1709]

underrated?

[@stephenwivverP]

Something that needs a place in history, this should never be lost and should be seen and heard until the end of all time. Have you gotta enough time?

[@blooter6360]

❤❤❤100%

[@davidkelly4250]

The most underrated band ever. One of my favorites. Saw them in Philadelphia in the early 1980's.

[@Lenak2266]

Agree ! People never mention the strangers it's always, The Clash or sex pistols . Both are great ! Stranlers are definitely my favourite ! 💜🎸🌹

[@stevecann8948]

I was there 15 years of age and I am still there fucking awesome

[@LassieLohan]

J. J.... one of the greatrest Bassplayers ever!

[@LassieLohan]

greatest... sorry...

[@williamjohnbedford5776]

The Stranglers Smashed it, always the best Band, always on point, gutted when Hugh left, even more so when Dave Greenfield and Jet Black Passed, REST PEACEFULLY LADS, FOREVER MISSED, NEVER FORGOTTEN. KEEP ROCKING JJ.🇮🇲👍🇮🇲

[@learningpianoat61]

1978... I was 18. What a time to be alive.

[@idpfilm]

Well Said Fella ! - Remeber these great days - The days of the RD250's / RD350LC's / The GT750 Kettle / GS850G - The Pubs with all the Rock Groups in and The Stranglers - Everything was just so spot on - Even the Girlfriend could not get hold of you - as we all had to find a Phone Box and make a call ! Things were Just Simple ........ and the Music was AWESOME !

[@lesliehayton2929]

Don’t forget the Xs 650 , a wanna be bonneville , I wanted a bonnie but couldn’t afford one !

[@superktmduke]

I had a crappy xs 250, should've got RD 250 or X7@@lesliehayton2929

[@ChosenHandle117]

I was 21 then..... was at Brunel Uni, stamping wrists at their gig there.... then in the mosh pit, avoiding JJB swinging his bass around. Got the B+W album with 33rpm single with Walk On By on it... still have those. Never had a (motor)bike, many mates did.... only lost one at the time, lost another last year. If I'd had one, wouldn't be here now! What days!

[@jrnash5329]

Hell yeah , & they will never be here again , what made it so special was the mind set we all had that we knew something that conservative society couldn't grasp HA & it was a pulse & a heavy bass

[@egoslave7772]

Holy crap. That bass. best bass sound I have ever heard. These guys were a thousand leagues above the musical skills of the punk acts at the time. I can see why they were slotted into the punk camp but they are something different, they stand alone, I Cant imagine they would have been challenged by playing most genres. They are like a punk version of the Doors.

[@michaelwolf6424]

The irony of your treatise. . ."That bass sound is the best I've ever heard. They sound like the punk version of the Doors" is . . .the Doors didn't HAVE a bass player. Keyboardist Ray Manzarek played a Fender Rhodes bass atop his keyboard. So good, that most people can't tell the difference. Similarly, so did Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals who played his Hammond B 3 organ bass notes with his feet. I do agree. JJ Burnel was (and still is) one helluva bass player. His runs help power the sound of the Stranglers. I'm so sorry I missed seeing them live.

[@idpfilm]

Well said -

[@egoslave7772]

@@michaelwolf6424 He must have the treble turned high, to give the raspy sound. Similar to players like Chris squire , John Entwistle and even Lemmy. Defo the driving force behind the sound.

[@inkupup]

I have always compared the Stranglers to the Doors, but IMHO they are better than the Doors.

[@inkupup]

I saw them live in Cincinnati in 83, Hugh Cornwell was hilarious...one quote: "How many of you out there have ever suffered from premature ejaculations?" The crowd: yeah.. Hugh: "Really?!...tell me....what's it like?!" Second quote from Hugh: "In my home time we make apple jack...it gives you hallucinations..."

[@Bricameron]

The Stranglers at that time absolutely shat upon the Pistols and The Clash.

[@alexbrown-ks1hq]

fuking dog toyed al they wee spitting pricks all-over the place great time to grow up still the best

[@mondozilla69]

I'm an absolute Stranglers fan and have seen them about 200 times. In fact, I'm seeing Hugh tomorrow. But sorry, in 1977 the Pistols and the Clash and Damned had it. Go Buddy Go. Sheesh. The Stranglers evolved from pub rock brilliantly with Black and White and The Raven.

[@crapple009]

Musically-speaking, yes-they were quite more technical. Song-wise though, they were on par with The Clash (and the Jam). I can't fault any of those three, musically The Pistols were good in what they did but with them, it wasn't just about music.

[@justinebourke-ih9zh]

Yep

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

While do you feel the need to compare them? They were all different, the Pistols were finished at this time.

[@allanclarke2326]

Can't believe that's a live recording-absolutey brilliant

[@bobbillnolan7644]

The core of all great bands, super tight, bass and drums, completely locked and entwined, the stranglers HAD THIS….

[@adrianbrowne7962]

If this isn't one of the " Greatest Live Sets Ever " Then frankly I dont know what is ? Absolutely brilliant!!!! From Adrian Browne 1965

[@adrianbrowne7962]

Thanks 4 your feedback I'm glad you agree!! From Adrian Browne 1965

[@adrianbrowne7962]

Thanks for your feedback re my post, Glad you agree! Take care!! From Adrian Browne 1965

[@adrianbrowne7962]

Thanks so much 4 Your Support Re My Post !!! From Adrian Browne 1965

[@stephenbennett1643]

Wot a great gig this was ! Im sure this was when they had the strippers on stage for Nice'n Sleazey...and made the front page of "The News of The World " Remember it well ! Great stuff 😂

[@LarzGustafsson]

Agreed.

[@andrewjones9994]

The bass is such a great sound

[@jacktar9567]

so great to see & hear this - i loved the Pistols, Clash, Damned, Buzzcocks etc ... but the Stranglers had something totally different about them.... i will love them forever ❤

[@dman3822]

Legendary bassist

[@TomTremayne]

In the early days, a rumour circulated amongst Cambridge punks that someone had seen Jean-Jacques Burnel in the big Tesco's at Bar Hill. It was new then, one of the first out-of-town superstores, & a few of us took to doing our shopping there to see if we could spot him, alas no one else did. Funny the things you do when you're young & besotted with popular culture.

[@wightangel]

J J Burnell is so very underrated. He really needs more recognition for his playing.

[@lynnnleistinger8226]

This an old one. Jet Black looks really young. Well they all do of course I got into them at 14 ..I just turned 60 still love them.

[@Darren-v9w]

57 still love the Stranger s

[@birdmansclambake]

This guy is an ace on bass. Wow. What a tone. Precision with a pick.

[@abdelkrimbenabdallah5135]

Thank you guys....Stranglers Fan for ever and ever ...

[@LarryShootsPhotos-uv8cr]

This is one of the greatest things on the Internet!

[@cliveedwards2958]

Now this is what I'm taking about..kids learn from this!!!

[@paolozak3014]

that was pure boiling spitfire lava ...what a band

[@georgebamforth7372]

One of the best bands ever.

[@dfraserml11]

Fantastic Bass line from the king of the Bass guitar JJ BURNEL

[@idpfilm]

DUNCAN FRASER - Well said - he made his Bass come alive with attitude the sound on this old clip sounds great when linked to a hi-fi or sound system ! Best wishes Fella to you and your family in this troubled times we all find our selves in.

[@TonySoffer]

There is no bass player in the same league as JJ Brunel

[@stephenbennett1643]

@@TonySoffer In that field you're right tho Bruce Foxton, was very decent aswell . There are different players for different styles ! Entwistle, Jack Bruce, J Paul Jones, rock , Mick Karn, frettless , Bernard Edwards ,( fuck could he play), Mark king ,all kings of the bass ! JJ is the guy that inspired me to learn bass, it was his sound for me.

[@stephenbennett1643]

Most certainly king of the plectrum. Mick karn king of fretless👍

[@ianstarodub6647]

ARGH ARGH ARGH ARGH ! Then it erupted- Was there then, would love to go back. Stunningly brilliant

[@constantinosxenos5567]

sensational...especially the black and white songs..remember buying the album back in the day...what a joy!!!!and im a metal guy....

[@patthehorse]

Four great musicians. What you hear on your vinyl, you got live.

[@brettpalfrey4665]

I was there!! I keep looking for an 18 year old version of myself in the audience...maybe I shouldn't...Good times...

[@emmanueljf7059]

Merci merci pour cette édition du plus grand bassiste punk rock de tous les temps; JJ on t'aime comme ça !

[@CMDR_Verm]

Saw them in Nottingham the year after this. Absolutely inspiring. And still to this day there are at it. Long may they continue.

[@adriansymcox1641]

jj brilliant bass players

[@Darren-v9w]

They were the best

[@paulnesbitt1698]

The stranglers at their brilliant best. I knew a lad who was present at this gig and he said they were truly awesome. I first seen the stranglers live in 79 and the last time in 2022 with probably over a 100 times in between. I had the privilege of meeting j.j on 2 occasions and hugh on a couple of occasions. I also spoke briefly to baz outside the 02 in birmingham as he was entering the venue at a side door with dave Greenfield. I seen a few bands from the punk / new wave era but for me the stranglers were way above all of them.

[@barryclements8395]

Oh how I wish I had a time machine so I could go back and see them in their very early days. My first gig was 1979 at the Rainbow, Finsbury for The Raven tour. Been a fan for over 40 years.

[@idpfilm]

Barry Clements - well said I am sure the Fella's will read comments at some stage - we agree a great band - Rewrote everything we knew in 80's & 90's like the Yamaha RD350LC did when it arrived & hit British roads in 1981 x

[@barryclements8395]

@@idpfilm I was a Suzuki X7 man myself. The day it was delivered brand new from the bike shop, I stripped it down and repainted the tank, side panels and tail-piece black, adding prismatic reflective pin-striping. I didn’t want the standard red, blue or white that Suzuki offered.

[@idpfilm]

@@barryclements8395 - TOP MAN Fella, I remember my best mate who had a Suzuki X7 in red. Hell when you had it delivered you must have been in Heaven ! - I bet you remember that day very well. The Suzuki X7 and Yamaha's RD400's / RD350LC's made the 80's what they were - Along with bands like The Stranglers & Human League - remember there first video in the pubs with that Egg Yellow Rover 3500 - Just pure magic years. Look after your self Fella - Best wishes from us all

[@imogenimeson664]

I didn't want the 70s to end...little did we know what a total bag of doggy doo doos the 80s would be.

[@tonybolonixx]

@barryclements8395 Me too ! The Rainbow 79 ! My first ever gig ..I was blown away ..so exciting. A great night but not for Hugh though .. that was the night he got nicked and then banged up ! Cheers !

[@irenef.4920]

Burnel ❤

[@angelicupstart1977]

I saw it then and I see it now. Pure class.

[@Alexbrasilcom]

thanks for uploading this, PURE GOLD

[@MsAlien911]

Im here on Jet Blacks birthday 2022. Still love the mighty Stranglers after all these years.

[@eileenfoulkes6280]

Magic!

[@barackmycat9448]

Bass player is awesome. He never slows down. Rock it.....

[@davehunter6920]

greatest band of all time...no point in disagreeiing

[@jasoncolley4102]

JJ looks like a proper rock star ⭐️ and got the talent to go with it 🤘

[@JHatLpool]

They all look like proper rock stars !

[@Rockstardust69]

JJ Burnel incredible Bass

[@TobcioccLeyton]

I was only 8 but my eldest brother tried to go, he didnt have enough money for a Red Bus Rover ticket from Beckenham. Sad but true. The Stranglers are so under appreciated.

[@JHatLpool]

Magnificent. Absolutely magnificent.

[@Jhensy2012]

I saw the Stranglers in '82 (83?) at the Left Bank, a tiny club in suburban Mt. Vernon outside NYC. The LATEST a band ever went on in all my hundreds of concerts. I swear they didn't go onstage till 2:30 am. We were there at 9:00! We were literally leaning on the stage, but all I remember is Hugh wearing a black fedora and talking about U.S. Sec. of State Alexander Haig. It was the Reagan administration era.

[@Halseysoundz]

I was at this gig, fantastic

[@harleygaz]

seen them in 78 when i was 19 on the No more heros tour

[@deeder2000]

The bass this bloke did is so original and aggressive, perhaps a link with his martial arts background! It cannot be imitated. None at the time could better this in the punk genre. He plays his bass like a lead giving it the credence it deserves - why should the bass just be something to fit in with the drums - No - it needs to be on its own as well and this bloke certainly did that! Respect!

[@johnanthonyp]

The best and thanks

[@markendicott6874]

JJ was an absolute monster sonically and the Strangler's edge over most of their contemporaries.

[@Shallow_Mal]

17 in '78 sadly never got to see them live. Rattus Norvegicus was their pinnacle IMHO & it slowly got more mellow thereafter 😕 Absolutely amazing band 🇬🇧👍

[@rrrring5686]

o so good bass

[@メローイエロー-w6x]

Hanging Around

[@peterglynn5181]

No one storming the stage here , JJ a big unit.

[@brettmeikle]

I've seen the Meninblack in all their lineups since 1981 - all over Britain, around 18 gigs, never a dud. If I must pick a standout then it was the early tour in 1987, maybe March, at the Barrowlands in Glasgow. I was about to set out for the adventure of lifetime, crewing a tall ship from Osaka to Darwin. This show set me out there with a surge of adrenalin and a ringing in my young ears that followed me across the wide ocean. Nothing else compares - RIP Dave.

[@idpfilm]

Top write up brett m - well said thanks for writing in - I am sure they will appreciate this

[@aidanbrennan6587]

I was at that gig Brett in the Barrowlands 1987.the Stranglers were so good we went again the very next night and they were excellent.me and my brother and 4 friends met up with the band in Glasgow's Holiday Inn.we sat with JJ Burnel and had a few drinks and a good laugh.one of the best night's of my life.JJ is a real sound bloke was really down to earth.we all left Belfast and jumped on boat to Scotland for a Celtic match and to see the Stranglers.that was the best weekend of my life.so many happy memories.a big thank you to Dave Greenfield that night in the Holiday Inn.i went to the bar to get a few drinks and bar staff would not serve me because I was not a resident of the hotel.i got talking to Dave and his lovely wife Pam and I told him I could not get a drink and he said me, "you can use mine"Dave was really nice and pleasant.i wish I could go back in time. RIP Dave.we all miss you!A true legend on the keyboard's.😁😍

[@jeffreythomas4283]

Brilliant 👏

[@remenarpavlovic1479]

THhe best pure punk-rock 😊

[@7777srd]

Fantastic, one really can't praise this band enough.

[@nevetsgnil1962]

Awesome footage awesome set awesome bass

[@nogakunik8482]

The stranglers is in my top 5 best bands ever.one of my youth hero's. love them in my hurt

[@flatfox70]

Oh fuck I'm a 53 year old lifelong Stranglers fan and only just seen this! Obvs seen the classic clips from this gig but there's more footage ??🤯I just dunno what to say ...my life is complete and gonna watch this a million times. Then try and explain to my sons why this is so important 😂😂😂😂

[@TheGwimWeaper]

Effing awesome!

[@maddog8621]

They were era defining. For loads of eras. Black and White album was a fantastic shock to the system. I don't want to get over that shock

[@lucapasseroni6371]

Nice ' sleazy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@azilionzoman6721]

For me The Stranglers were like the Beatles of the New wave scene.

[@philwragg9756]

Punk scene!!

[@michaelharris5370]

The Stranglers , all time just like the Beatles👍🇦🇺

[@stephenbennett1643]

Punk but much better than the Beatles.

[@LouLou-tl1gv]

what an insult to the stranglers

[@ClintWestwood-m1l]

Saw them once they were backing acdc and the who at Wembley i think it was 1979 great day🎉

[@B0rnles13]

I saw them a good few times, they always used to play at a little venue in Dunfermline called the Kinema, and they would keep the crowd waiting ages before they came on or have some poet on before them, fights would break out sometimes, but they were brilliant.

[@tablettetactile7108]

Magnifique archives avec Jean-Jacques Burnel qui nous éclabousse de sa classe. La french touch avant tout le monde... Punk classieux !

[@vivalavi]

WTF French touch :D He was born in england and doensn't speak french without accent anymore...

[@martinadarcy781]

Always gives you extra pep on your step even after many decades ❤️

[@jasoncolley4102]

Plus the Bass Lines

[@aidanbrennan6587]

What a bass player JJ is.one of the best there is.met him a few times and a real nice bloke.😉

[@mikewest1542]

THE STRANGLERS AT THEIR PEAK !

[@melmccall4850]

Brilliant , x

[@daviddoble5956]

Awesome.....

[@idpfilm]

Thanks 🤗 - these guys are passionate

[@randybiro9295]

Whenever I hear JJ playing I want to go buy a set of rotosounds. Such an individual tone. Perfectly tasteful for this. And the playing, wow. Busy in just right non condescending way.

[@antonioeasypiano]

😊 The Stranglers FOREVER!!!

[@Lenak2266]

Amazing ! 💖

[@philwragg9756]

nobody, nobody has a bass sound like jj,!!!

[@londonphotographer]

The Battersea heart beats! Look at the Glers, on Fire ❤ Not only were they the Best, they were the Best. 1978. Imagine.

[@davidwatson3035]

45 years ago. Fuck me.

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

What year 76 then?

[@1599maybole]

I saw them just a month or two later. My first big gig. Oh my

[@erykrothaar]

No i super koncert!!! The Stranglers to jest to!!! Punk's&Oi! Dolny Śląsk (Poland)

[@michaelbailey8729]

Lead Bass. Blown away with it at the time. More recently discovered that JJ was a classically trained guitarist. Figures. Shame they cant do a reunion. I'd go for old times sake.

[@theart8039]

JJ Burnell is an epic bassist. I sat next to him in a restaurant in Paris once

[@theart8039]

I sat next to him in a restaurant in Notting Hill once lol

[@daz.6112]

Thanks for this. I can hear Jet's drumming!

[@LarzGustafsson]

There are also songs from the "Black & White" album here. Magnificent album!

[@infeedel7706]

These recordings were used on Live Xcert me thinks. Stranglers at their best. I took a pissed walk through Battersea park after a bender in the 90s on my way home to Queenstown rd which required me jumping a fence on the way in, I'd been a Stranglers fan since 1980 and it seemed like a good way to pay homage. Thanks for posting this

[@PaulHunter-ih1ye]

I was 17 in 78 what a fantastic time to be alive - pistols, ruts, uk subs, buzzcocks and the REST! I feel sorry for the kids today spoonfed nothing but the CRAP that is dance music in all its forms - they haven't a clue about real music. How i wish they had invented time travel, i would be back at Battersea like a shot. R.I.P Dave and Jet.❤

[@philipgolding3672]

JJB looks like a pumped version of Sid Vicious Cracking Bass and RIP Dave the Raven' keyboards whiz kid!! Brillant!

[@richardearl3795]

Saw them at kk Wolverhampton last week..still brill 😮😎

[@D-osOrg]

what a truly magnificent post ! many thanks

[@fatClyde]

They had the talent and the attitude ! Greatest punk band ever and one of the greatest of any genre. Was this the gig where they had all the naked girls on stage for Nice'n'Sleazy ? It's on dailymotion for anyone interested ;)

[@FBEGNEZ]

I think so. Battersea Park in 1978

[@jayveebloggs9057]

yes battersea

[@simonwatts929]

😂yes & you'll never see a nipple in the Daily Express either !