First Time Hearing THE STRANGLERS! Bass Teacher REACTS to "Nice 'N' Sleazy"

[@jonchilds1637]

For me, there is probably no better example of JJ’s sound than the intro to ‘Hanging Around’! A fine demonstration of that gloriously filthy tone we love so much!

[@EdMcF1]

Yes, the bass barges in saying 'This is MY song!'.

[@VedranCro]

Man I love that song, bass kicks in like a bulldozer!

[@deadbydayinblack]

I do like the air on the g string that is " No more heroes"

[@herryhubert2706]

Sure thing, together with Goodbye Toulouse, which has the most agressive bass strokes

[@ascoyne]

Or maybe "outside tokyo" which is immense.

[@alex-E7WHU]

You really need to listen to their version of "walk on by". Its absolutely mustard.

[@allsorts9909]

Indeed. Such a brilliant cover

[@feline1973]

Yeah JJ's bass on Walk on By is absolutely sick 😂

[@kentwood9821]

But for the ultimate thunder bass picking-hand-workout there can be only one and that is Tank!

[@feline1973]

@@kentwood9821 pretty much everything on Black & White is classic JJ, apart from In the Shadows where he does a rare excursion into fuzz

[@chris-w4n9w]

Best cover ever

[@simonbarber2098]

Everyone check out Down in the Sewer...off LP Rattus Norvegicus. A total masterpiece...maybe 1st ever punk-prog track

[@shugd3]

I was 14 when the stranglers closed their 1978 concert at the Glasgow Apollo with down in the sewer, we pogo'd nonstop for the whole song, came out on a pure high and drenched in sweat, brilliant, I'll never forget it

[@simonbarber2098]

@@shugd3 nice 1 pal. I was a Johnny come lately mid 80s. I was only 8 mind you in 77.

[@Quadrant14]

@simonbarber2098 yes indeed, a MIGHTY ALBUM, that savageness of the vocals and the brutish Bass/Drums, and those sleazy keyboards.

[@simonbarber2098]

@@Quadrant14 ta pal

[@bruzrkgro-malog2953]

Just discovered that album last week, really loving it!

[@keiranbradley3238]

You have to check out their version of "Walk on By" from the Black and White sessions!.

[@gluteusmaximus1657]

Wasn't that on an bonus single that was with the first pressing?

[@davidhoran9634]

Why… it’s a weak song in a rich musical catalog……! It’s only a dumb cover…..💩

[@Tim091]

@@davidhoran9634 It showcases JJ's bass better than any other Strangler's song IMO, plus is a killer cover of one of the all tine great songs.

[@dreams99]

@@davidhoran9634 It's a great interpretation of a classic song, completely changes the tone of the original while conveying a strong authentic emotion.

[@Chrisamusic1]

JJ doesn't play Rics. It's an EQ'd p-bass.

[@paulshephard1907]

At the time of recording it was a 76 Precision played through a Hiwatt 200 head into a Marshall 4x12" and/or a Hiwatt 4x15". He used a 63 Precision (the DIY painted green on Olympic white) on the previous two albums, but with the same amp/cab stuff. Yes, a heavy plectrum played at that time between the bridge and pickup (plays more towards the pickup and over it nowadays).

[@mightyV444]

And one of the speakers had a rip in it, according to legend 😊 I love his tone on their early recordings! 😍

[@donnix1192]

@@mightyV444His tone is just straight up legendary

[@hbriem]

I play bass in Iceland's oldest punk band. We were fortunate to warm up for the Stranglers a couple of times and I was very interested in JJ's bass tone of course. One key feature that his bass tech told me, he insists on fresh strings for every gig!

[@jonnygranvillemusic4762]

Wasn’t he a Marshall head user?

[@hbriem]

@@jonnygranvillemusic4762 He's used all sorts over the years. Ashdown when he came here to play and I think still.

[@garethde-witt6433]

I’m constantly amazed by how much good music from the UK is ignored by Americans and then suddenly discovered

[@alangurneysmall3052]

You guys have a lot of great local music so easy miss

[@drewhunter8558]

I was listening since '76!

[@chaddaly3309]

Right….. Americans just don’t get/understand UK rock music. Sorry bruv, this may be the stupidest comment I’ve seen today. The UK music scene holds a much bigger influence over American music than classic American music does. Dork.

[@simonbarber2098]

@@chaddaly3309 not sure you are right there all the early UK rock and blues bands in the late 50s early 60s were influenced by the likes of Howling Wolf and Muddy Waters. The Stranglers were influenced by the magnificent Devo and Doors. And I am just scratching the surface...Ramones and New York Dolls brought punk to the UK, maybe even MC5. The influence of the US in music is huge.

[@bruzrkgro-malog2953]

UK rock bands have and will always be the best!

[@donnix1192]

This is my favorite bass line to play!!! JJ is a legend and damn that tone is insane

[@Subculture]

Might be worth having a listen to The Ruts. Couple of suggestions, Babylon's Burning or Dope For Guns.

[@robpaige2376]

Dope For Guns, definitely.

[@buckmelanoma758]

Yes!!!!!

[@ericandriechack1726]

With Anxiety...Babylon is burning

[@baabaabaa-El]

Jah War, Sus, Something that I said.... Brilliant band!!

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

When Th Ruts did not play as themselves they were Laurel Aitkens backing band!

[@muzzy1978]

JJ is an awesome bassist. His tone softened on later albums but those early Stranglers records had a huge, dirty bass sound and it was always high in the mix. Check out 'Goodbye Toulouse' from the first album. It makes my hand fall off! The first three albums 'Rattus Norvegicus' 'No More Heroes' and 'Black And White' are full of brilliant bass lines. By all means, though, check out the albums that came after because even though the bass was reduced as time went on, Burnel still came up with excellent lines.

[@garyhendrie4001]

The best albums in my opinion

[@muzzy1978]

@@garyhendrie4001 Those first 3 albums occupy a special place in the hearts of all Stranglers fans and with good reason. The fact that they were released within 18 months of each other is pretty staggering and testament to the bands brilliance. I love them all but I can happily listen to the later albums with equal pleasure and 'The Gospel According To The Meninblack' is actually my personal favourite. Post Cornwell, I don't really bother much with, although 'Norfolk Coast' is worth a listen.

[@garyhendrie4001]

@@muzzy1978 i absolutely agree with what your saying and also love the men in black album too. They are all great albums but i love the rawness of those first three. So many great songs to pick from its hard to pick favourites

[@ghostofpanama622]

One of the tonal issues was that JJ was playing through blown speakers in the early days. Later on - there was more money.

[@muzzy1978]

@@garyhendrie4001 Agreed. A band that can effortlessly change styles is always a hallmark of greatness. Think of The Beatles, Talk Talk or Roxy Music for a few other examples. Play their first album and then their last one and the change is dramatic but the music is still fantastic. I feel that The Stranglers don't get enough credit and probably never will. I sometimes wonder if it's because of their confrontational attitude in the early days. They hacked off quite a few people back then and I think the stigma still dogs them to this day.

[@ericandriechack1726]

Peaches is an iconic stranglers song too

[@rrrvvvv999]

Fantastic bass

[@boojiboy2275]

Yeah but it's the lyrics that make that song "Walking on the beaches looking at the peaches." Genius! 😂

[@barryclements8395]

‘Genetix’ from The Raven album is a superb example of JJs skill on the bass.

[@keithripley739]

I totally agree with you on that, it's my go to track when I need that next level JJ bass fix.

[@DanHintz]

exactly what i said above. that ending section is staggering.

[@DabbaRanx]

When you consider this was 1978 - its kinda crazy just how ahead of its time their sound was

[@martinbeagley4481]

Also consider how many ground breaking albums came out from bands back in the day in such a significantly short period of time. None of this waiting for ten years for Tool to bring out a new album 🤣 massive creativity compacted into three or four years!

[@motionoutoftime]

Great reaction and analysis! Very excited to see you check out more from the Meninblack. Fun fact: The Stranglers almost singlehandedly kicked off punk rock in Iceland on the tour for Black and White in 1978. Another fun fact: the 80's band, Flock of Seagulls, took their name from a line in the song "Toiler on the Sea", which is also on the Black and White album. Final fun fact: Black and White features a scorching cover of Dionne Warwick's "Walk on By" that has amazing dueling keyboard and guitar solos. Which makes sense -- The Stranglers were a hardworking pub rock band before they got swept up in the punk rock explosion in the late 70's. They sort of looked punk, but otherwise didn't fit the mold, since they were older and much more proficient musicians than the punk bands they played with. They could just jam and improvise for hours and keep crowds entertained while doing it. As a massive fan of this band, I heartily recommend checking out the song "Nuclear Device" from The Stranglers 1979 album, The Raven, and also "Goodbye Toulouse" from their 1977 debut, Rattus Norvegicus -- some very busy bass on that one! But if you want to listen to the "definitive" Stranglers track, it's gotta be "(Get A) Grip [on Yourself]", which is also on Rattus Norvegicus. Maybe one of the best songs ever written.

[@mightyV444]

I also recommended said cover version of 'Walk On By' to Mark 😊

[@daccrowell4776]

Sadly, my copy of "Black and White" doesn't have the "Walk On By" cover...but then, it IS the original A&M "black and white vinyl" pressing (which is more like a swirly gray color, tbh). Otherwise, over here we didn't get a complete "The Raven". Instead, it got diced up and tracks were replaced with some B-sides and solo tracks. I've heard both, and while it's nice to have the "extra content", the label should've left that album alone. But that was a thing back then; a few years later, Epic did a similar hatchet-job with Japan's last few studio releases. Dumb. Very dumb.

[@mightyV444]

@@daccrowell4776 - Wasn't 'Walk On By' included in 'Black And White' as an extra 45? As opposed to being on the actual LP, I mean.

[@daccrowell4776]

@@mightyV444 If it was, that might well be why I don't have it. My copy is tagged as a promo copy on the sleeve and label, and enclosures like that often don't make into promo copies. Damn shame, because I've heard that version and it really could've been a helluva springboard for them in the US. But one cannot truly divine the sort of madness involved in the reason and rhyme of major labels. Or you could just chalk it up to hookers and blow! 😆

[@deanmartin9199]

​@@mightyV444The Black And White album in the UK was on black vinyl and included a white vinyl 7" of Walk On By

[@Gravel-Idle]

Yes, yes, yes. Bought this on 7 inch single vinyl when it was released and played it in constant rotation along with other Stranglers records

[@theobjectivethinker64]

Peter Hook was a huge fan of the Stranglers and was a major influence for Joy Division and U2.

[@jonstclair3290]

Check out Norman Watt Roy's playing with the Blockheads

[@petehurd5301]

'hit me with your rhythm stick'

[@patrickfitzgerald409]

Top quality Bassist who also played on the Magnificent 7 by The Clash - amazing groove!

[@KMc-cw3qt]

Blackmail Man.

[@theobjectivethinker64]

The bass is awesome on the Album Black and White all the way though, Listen to Toiler, Tank, Sweden etc. The bass is even more gritty on Rattus Norvegicus the first album.

[@HT-io1eg]

Rattus and B&W, thinking person’s punk. Raw, but musicians who understand composition and have way out there subjects

[@keiranbradley3238]

"Do ya wanna" "Death and Night and Blood" are tremendous bass extravaganzas, in fact all of Black and White is. Dave Greenfield was the sky, JJ was the earth.

[@KMc-cw3qt]

@@keiranbradley3238 Well said.

[@tomdelrio446]

Fender Precision Bass with RotoSound roundwound strings played with a plectrum very close to the bridge, through Hiwatt all-valve amplification. Some say slashed speaker cones...

[@feline1973]

JJ originally had a 4x10 guitar speaker cabinet that all the speakers had ripped on. Classic example of penniless musicians finding a unique sound due to circumstance

[@DanHintz]

yes, JJ has said part of that early blown-out bass sound was a torn speaker cone that they never had fixed because it sounded so great.

[@ninthcouncil]

Punk/new wave, with its hatred of show-off guitar playing, encouraged that "lead bass" style where the bass does more of the melodic heavy lifting than usual. Burnel is an iconic bass player in that context, and together with Dave Greenfield's (RIP) distinctive keyboards, defined the Stranglers sound. Stranglers were not a standard punk act, rather a gritty rock band who surfed a sympathetic wave, and JJ's sound is very different to Peter Hook, who you've also looked at, but they both come out of that milieu. Another interesting figure is Barry Adamson, who began in the same era as the bass player for Magazine ("A Song From Under The Floorboards" has a glorious bassline) and moved on to compose "soundtracks for imaginary movies" (and some real ones, including working with David Lynch).

[@chrisb4729]

Stranglers members were quite a bit older than members of punk bands of the time (particularly drummer Jet Black who died a couple years ago at age 84) so didn't really fit in with the scene although they were classified as "punk" for lack of any better classification and for the shows they played. Barry Adamson also was in Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds for a few albums.

[@johnp8131]

@@chrisb4729 Agreed, Dave lived in my village, his wife Pam still does and we used to occasionally have a chat over a pint in our local. He said to me, (I'm paraphrasing) that they were really a rock 'n' roll band that managed to slot in at the right time with that new wave.

[@brianrankin4550]

The stranglers considered themselves a pub rock band, because of their roots playing pubs and honing their skills.

[@HT-io1eg]

One of my favourite albums, fantastic!! Saw them live twice. The Men in Black 😊

[@peternewbury828]

JJ gave me his pick recently. Seen the band countless times since 78 and will do again this Saturday in Nimes. 😊

[@bassimprovjams3772]

What a super cool song!! The bassline isn’t difficult it it’s so tasteful and sits in the mix so much that makes the bass the main point of the song, great call on the Ric callout!

[@stoatystoat174]

Love the Goodbye Toulouse bass, it's just simple repeats of patern up/down scales. Almost like a training excercise but great fun

[@mattjohn4731]

Stranglers fans often enjoy the Damned, particularly their 1982 album Strawberries. Both are rock bands with one (ish) foot in the punk sound

[@SuperOhdannyboy]

Who doesn't like The Damned?

[@mightyV444]

mattjohn4731 - The Damned also have many great bass lines in their repertoire, played by a bunch of different bassists over the years, too 😊

[@kramer6564]

Your right. Some lovely bass on MGE by Algy Ward same on Strawberries and Paul Gray.

[@mattjohn4731]

@@mightyV444 definitely. Life Goes On, Love Song, Billy Bad Breaks, Under The Wheels, etc

[@mattjohn4731]

@@kramer6564 Yes and of course Paul has re-joined them! The current lineup is all elders: Sensible, Vanian, Scabies(!!), Gray, Oxymoron 🤘💥🎸🎤🥁🎹

[@livianegidius9772]

JJ is among else classicaly trained guitarist.And highest karate master in UK 8 o9 dan, so showsome respect. i grew up with Stranglers music one of the most talented and best band till today. Keyboards , late mr Dave Greenfield, drums Jett Black for your info.

[@Rugmunchersauce3]

Also sadly gone now too. R.I.P Dave and Jet, long live JJ, Hugh and Baz (and the 2 youngsters who do a very good job of filling Dave and Jets shoes too).

[@icouldbewrongicouldberight]

Hugh : "...John has a speaker cabinet about the size of a door. With about 16 ten inch speakers in it, which are a bit small to be taking bass. They all blew one after the other. So he ended up with a huge cabinet with blown speakers, and the sound got dirtier and dirtier, and became a feature of the band. That's why it's mixed so high on the record. Martin Rushent (Producer) said that people liked the sound of the bass." 😻

[@kevv117]

I hope you do more stranglers always with great bass. He uses a fender precision.

[@PhilAndrews-m8l]

JJ Burnel is one of a select group of bassists who I find entertaining on their own. The only bassist that I have heard sounding like him is Alejandra Villarreal. She is also highly entertaining.

[@mikeme4456]

I used to play theese songs during those years here in Romania with my punky band… they have incredible songs.! And the sound of that Bass: read somewhere that they had a problem with the bass speaker, they were damaged, and THAT added specific character to the sound. They discovered that after the first or second album, and then tried to keep that unique sound.

[@paulgibson3433]

To answer your question, it’s a P bass with the treble up, Rotosound round wound strings, and played with a heavy pick near the bridge

[@mattdavis9371]

Simply put, JJ is the best bassist of all time.

[@mikeeacrett9681]

Definitely recommend you listen to New Model Army's "No Rest". Stuart Morrow was very influenced by JJ's bass. Also if you want to do another Stranglers song, their cover of Walk on By is amazing. Great bass lines.

[@mightyV444]

I agree! 😃👍 It has to be the proper _full_ version of 'Walk On By' though, not the Single edit! 😉 New Model Army are another great 'bass band' indeed! 😃 They've had several different bassists over the years who'd all played interesting stuff 😊 But I shouldn't use the Past Tense as they are actually still going! 😅

[@pauldouglas9464]

Stuart Morrow was a great bassist, totally unique style.

[@ewrlon]

Another Stuart Morrow fan here. Maybe check out The Price.

[@Beaufortlawrence]

Along the lines of a hot water music sound, the Canadian group The Flatliners is a bit of a sleeper. “Hang my head” has some excellent composition and interesting chords, with sneaky good bass work!

[@Bonsaipop]

Polar bear club is right there with them I think, wild band all around

[@johncollins5552]

Norman Watt Roy bassist with Ian Dury and the Blockheads is the only one who could top this Stranglers bassist of that era , Hit Me With Your Ryhthm Stick is the hit song.

[@KMc-cw3qt]

Blackmail Man is a clinic in bass playing

[@craigpacker2693]

This is one of the first songs I learned to play. JJ Burnell played either a P-bass or a J-bass with a brass nut.. It was green sunburst and looked as wild as it sounds.

[@JamesNeeson-r2q]

JJ plays a fender precision with the treble turned up to 12 giving that amazing distorted tone.

[@amoxtlacuilol]

The centrality of the bass is why they're still so good live with only JJ remaining. But watching this reminded me of the joy of seeing them all together when I was about 15.

[@alextinu8841]

Yes sir! If you keep it this way, you'll get a bachelor degree in punk bass! ❤ Cheers!

[@LowEndUniversity]

That's the plan! 😇

[@simoncardie9371]

JJ Burnel put new strings on every time he played. That and a Fender Precision stuck through a Hiwat amp got him his growling sound. He was also a classical guitarist originally, not a bass player. Just brilliant. Take a listen to Genetix.

[@hpodell]

Always loved the way JJ almost avoided the root and danced around it. Favourite bass player doesn't get near enough love.

[@Froyo__]

Good morning, Mark! Excellent song choice!

[@marcharley6465]

This is one of my favourite punk basslines and I was really happy when I eventually learned to play it. JJ Burnel played Spanish acoustic guitar before joining The Stranglers as their bassist.

[@Sirlarrythecat]

JJ used Jazz strings on his bass and he was a classically trained guitarist and absolutely brilliant bassist.

[@jamieflaherty7922]

Goodbye Toulouse is a must, the bass is immense. By far my favourite track followed closely by Walk on by.

[@robmarchant1496]

JJB plays a P-bass through a 50 watt Hiwatt head and a 412 guitar cabinet with blown speakers.

[@savaisakovic3857]

This bass line is legendary. I like your reaction and analysis.

[@LowEndUniversity]

Thank you!

[@Blue_3rd]

If you enjoyed this song, check out a couple more with really nice bass lines: ‘Hanging Around’ and ‘No More Heroes’. Cheers!

[@MikePhillips-pl6ov]

New/beginner bass player since 2020. One of my favourite basslines. Just seen your channel and subscribed 👍

[@robinlarge1630]

All these great bands from my youth! The stranglers, brilliant live, saw them at reading rock festival 1987. Was just really fierce!!!!

[@ian_jenkins]

The beginning of "No more heroes" is epic, you will love it.

[@jerrycrowe62]

"outside Tokyo" from the black and white album has a nice sounding drop D tuning on the bass line.

[@robertogreen]

You should DEFINITELY, as Matt says, look at Strawberries by the damned. Or machine gun etiquette, but I’d start with wait for the blackout and gun fury (of riot forces)

[@B0K1T0]

Seen 'em live twice, great band! I'd say "Golden Brown" is their most well-known song (and maybe somewhat overplayed on Dutch / European (boomer) radio) but I still like that one a lot :) Along with No more heroes ♥

[@neilbeigie4045]

You need to check out the Jesus Lizard. David Wm Sims is the boss bass man of late 80s-90s alt music. Listen to the album Goat, no bad track to pick from from a bass perspective…try Nub or Mouth Breather, the opener Along Comes Dudley is a great example of how the bass can set the mood (ominous in this case) with even a simple groove

[@motionoutoftime]

As a huge fan of The Jesus Lizard, I could not agree more. I think there are also some great songs on Liar and Down that feature really innovative bass lines. I'm thinking deeper cuts like "Whirl" or "Perk" from Liar, and "50¢", "American BB" or "Din" from Down.

[@SebPaez]

Great suggestion! “Monkey Trick” would be my recommendation

[@kosmikcharlie6637]

J.J is the reason i picked up the bass.

[@rickbrust7928]

Got a Low End update, was all excited for AVAIL! And once again, no. You gotta do it bro! Over the James is a perfect melodic hardcore record! CHEERS

[@johnsenior2566]

I really enjoyed you enjoying JJ and the boys. Check out how he moves around the stage sometime, very cool.

[@philshine3388]

Apparently JJ’s bass sound came from him having a tear in his amp speaker. The sound became the stranglers trademark so they replicated it for the first 3 or 4 albums

[@greggvanvranken6482]

For the first three Stranglers albums (and this song comes off the third), Burnel was playing a Fender Precision bass through a Hiwatt 100 valve head and a Marshall 4x12 cabinet (supposedly with torn speaker cones but that's probably a myth). He used Rotosound Swing Bass strings, always used a plectrum and tended to play hard right over the pickup.

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

The bassline is mostly minor scale with few non-scale notes, if any. The fast descending line from the intro is B minor pentatonic. I don't know all that many albums by that band ut this one I do know. The LP came with a 7" with a great version of Walk On By.. Great album all the way.

[@paulburton5150]

For another great Stranglers bass driven song you must listen to Peaches. Although you might want to listen to that before broadcasting, the lyrics are a little spicy 🙂

[@Tabazan]

Have a listen to Peaches

[@MDMARAMPAGEUK]

Love peaches.

[@jamessmart3159]

The bass is just filthy on that one. Love it!

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

Peaches bass is borrowed from heavy reggae stuff JJ heard around London at the time…. really obvious once you know….

[@neil1958-s5k]

Try Goodbye Toulouse, the hardest thing by a distance on Rattus - it's the speed and stretching and quick shifts that makes it so.

[@Greg-om2hb]

I bought this album, on black-and-white vinyl, in 1980.

[@laupstad]

Even as a passionate bassist I'm sure you can count on less than 10 fingers how many bands use the bass as the main riff. The Stranglers do that quite a bit on their early stuff!

[@trajer1535]

Jeff Rosenstock - Festival Song... He is a king among the DIY punk/indie scene and this song has a good bassline too. Definitely a must-add to your punk renaissance!

[@bruceleeman]

Jeff is our punk rock renaissance man. The guy does it all.

[@gerardmccavana4905]

Love JJ's playing, tone and growl. Him and Bruce Foxton of The Jam probably thee two most influential bass players from the punk/new wave era(one from Guildford...one from Woking...just a stone's throw away from eachother)

[@LessAiredvanU]

Another Brit New Wave band that featured a melodic bass player was The Associates. Michael Dempsey was in The Cure for the first album, was kicked out and joined The Associates - Party Fears Too is the track to hear slap and pull technique to a New Wave backdrop. Even better is the voice.

[@gpwhughes]

Saw these live in Brockwell park just up the road randomly 20 years ago. Sooo good live! Great vid. If you keep going on a Brit vintage kick - check out Ian Dury and the Blockheads. "Hit me with your rhythm stick" will stand out but the back catalogue is thick.

[@mikebears1850]

I first saw them live in 1978 at a pub in London. He played a Black P bass with a mirror scratch plate. JJ was the reason I picked up the bass. I played the roundhouse London with Lorraine Jordan in 2015 when the Stranglers were in the main auditorium, I got to meet him after their sound check, nice geezer. I've never seen him play a Rick bass, always a P style originally a Fender then a different make but still a P style. His tone always cut through the mix and made the bass a feature instrument in their sound.

[@breakout-akaintensifiedcha5311]

JJ is the definitive bassist for me - combination of tone & technique & bass leading songs. But, and I know I’m not the first to mention him, Norman Watt-Roy is a pure techno genius. Lots of examples, but ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’ is outstanding. Would love to see your face listening to that - although maybe it wouldn’t be the first time

[@wightangel]

J J Burnell. Best bass player ever. Not many bands then or now, used the bas in the same way as other bands use guitar.

[@kurtpenman252]

J J played through a guitar amp and played a pick next to the bridge, correct me if im wrong :)

[@marcdewolf7334]

On this album he played a 1975 Fender p bass, roundwound strings, played with a Gibson heavy plectrum. Producer Martin Rushent had perfected his sound in the studio.

[@davebarrett2355]

Great choice! It was a p-bass at this point, and yes a plectrum (I still have one somewhere from a gig in 1980)

[@ascoyne]

Saw JJ on his "Euroman" tour in 1979, triumph bonneville on stage. Awesome.

[@stephenbingham5935]

Love JJ Burnell and his bass work. The Stranglers were the best.

[@barryclements8395]

Steve, I think you mean ARE the best. 😉

[@stephenbingham5935]

@@barryclements8395 You are correct. Apologies.

[@kevindean9613]

He used a P bass with a Hiwatt amp , the secret to his sound was that he had a ripped speaker cone . If you'd like to hear some technical stuff from the bassist listen to a track called Genetix from the Raven LP .

[@alanaitken5727]

He moved on from the HiWatt after the first 2 albums. Ashly pre amp and Trace Elliot on future works

[@kevindean9613]

@@alanaitken5727 And Ashdown ,but live He just DIs the rig is just for show .

[@sausagembape677]

Walk on By, Peaches, Hanging around, Bass front and center, but back in the 70s all the musicians were out front at a Stranglers gig...

[@terrythekittieful]

JJ's bass playing is the early highlight of the song until you get to Dave Greenfield's menacing keyboard flourishes midway and then it's up to another level. What a master he was. This and his playing on Baroque Bordello (the next album), from menacing to sensual beauty. My all time fave keyboardist,..R.I.P. Dave.

[@mikegraham4255]

One of my favorite stranglers songs and basslines is Duchess from the Raven.

[@johnjonesToffeeman]

This was played on a Fender p bass JJs Bassology pre 1979 Fender P 79-83 Yamaha BB2000 83-85 Steinberg headless 85-present shukter signature

[@williampaquet6573]

Nor Punk or New Wave; this is pure classic Post Punk. JJ's bass playing was my humber one influence, followed by Entwhistle and Squire.

[@-drakrats-]

Post Punk in 1978 from a band that existed before punk...interesting perspective.

[@shugd3]

I have drank in nice'n'sleazy in Glasgow and was lucky enough to see the stranglers 3 times between 1978 (I was 14) and 1983 at the famous Glasgow Apollo

[@vernongoodey5096]

16 when this came out 63 years old now, think of all the years I’ve enjoyed this song. Oh if your interested the 1st verse is about their first trip to the USA. 2nd verse is about a Hells Angle gang ( possibly their security in the early years ).

[@kevind7150]

The Strangler never stopped try to produce stuff totally different. Waltz in black, is another bizarre but brilliant piece of work.

[@paulodingle2142]

One of the most underrated bands of all time

[@sidsuspicious]

Precision bass with a 4x12 cab that had a ripped speaker for that outrageous tone he gets. On an unrelated note, know the bar in Glasgow, Nice 'N' Sleazy well, played downstairs many times & been thrown out a few too... I'm no angel.

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

I had to repair said neck after a nasty leak in the somStranglers backline store cupboard. His No1 bass got messed up from the leak

[@Rugmunchersauce3]

I like your profile name! 😄👍

[@GlenBoyle-w7v]

Good old fender p bass played with a pick so raw and blunt.

[@mikeswarbrick128]

JJ and Freeman are the pinnacle of punk bass

[@mightyV444]

By the way, Mark: I spotted you in a humorous clip about band load-ins a few days ago, on IG! 😀 And another great band from the UK with nice bass-playing are Big Country! 'Where The Rose Is Sown', 'Wonderland', 'Angle Park', 'Fields Of Fire', etc. 😊

[@porcihno]

Martin Rushent, who produced this album and Martin Hannett, Joy Division's producer, were true visionaries. Those guys could hear the future crystal clear.

[@NoxiousRob]

JJ never played a Rickenbacker bass, it was a Fender in the early days of The Stranglers. He never even thought of himself as a bassist, he played Spanish guitar before being enlisted to the band to play bass, which probably explains some of his more intricate playing compared to other UK punk bands at that time. I recommend reacting to the track Genetix, from The Raven album, to me it is one of JJ's greatest bass performances, in particular the outro section. From your intro to this video I gather you've already checked out Peter Hook of Joy Division and New Order. If you haven't already reviewed it, there is a great version of the New Order track Perfect Kiss performed by Peter Hook and The Light during lockdown which is available on KZbin. I still regard this as one of Hooky's best ever bass performances.

[@BayouMaccabee]

Never heard anyone use the adjective "teethy" before, but I like it because it is an apt description of this bass tone...nice!

[@tschieding]

Thanks for the "reaction". Very good analysis of the technical aspects of the song. But I think you kind of miss the main thing about the bass part which is that it IS nice and sleazy--a perfect fit to the theme of the song. The Stranglers are one of my favorite bands.

[@jonmatthews4254]

JJ is the best bassist for me, pioneering sound, technique, skill and innovation, much copied but never equalled. Peter Hook one of many who took their inspiration from the Master. Favourite track, Down In The Sewer.

[@handshifterAl]

On the Stranglers first two albums, JJ played a 1963 vintage US Fender Precision, which certainly had a unique sound, with a rosewood fretboard, torty pickguard, and a DIY green aerosol 'sunburst' over the original age-darkened '63 white. But JJ (7th Dan karate Shihan) would often punch the guitar's body for a percussive chord sound (still does!), and unfortunately smashed the bass to pieces at a gig in Amsterdam, and it never sounded the same after being repaired. For the third album, Black & White (with the track Nice 'N' Sleazy) to replace the '63, JJ bought a early-mid 1970s black US Precision bass, which had a black pickguard, a maple fretboard, and big 'TV' Fender logo on the neckstock. Incidentally, the Nice 'N' Sleazy lyrics are about some time The Stranglers spent with a chapter of Dutch Hell's Angels (JJ had been a member in the UK), and was their only attempt at a reggae-style song.

[@deanpritchard8499]

They occasionally used to cut slots in the cab diaphragms too

[@georgekarrys8700]

Love JJ but really here for the reaction to the insane keyboard solo

[@LowEndUniversity]

I got me. 😬

[@Dave062YT]

You picked ther best ever track !they were 100% in the punk scene here in Britain in th late 70s but like a few others they were a bit older than most &proper musicians playing pubs and clubs before punk and had their own unique sound