The Stranglers - Great value for money, all the hits

****

Southend gets a 'Greatest Hits' set!!!

The Stranglers **** Punk legends and infamous scoundrels The Stranglers headlined a totally SOLD OUT!!! Cliffs Pavillion, which is situated by the seafront in Southend. Sadly they are without drummer and founding member Jet Black. who recently left the band. You would not believe that he is now seventy nine years old. It only seems like yesterday, that we first saw them on Top of the Pops.

If you are a Stranglers fan you can't go wrong with tonight's set because it is a classic one, full of the bands greatest hits. And if that was not enough they have an awesome stage show, which is boosted by cool video screens. A lot of us still remember when Hugh Cornwell was still in the band singing, but personally I don't think they miss him.

Because all the band members do a great job, swapping over on vocals. That Jean-Jacques Burnel, Dave Greenfield and Baz Warne, I saw Hugh solo performance a few years ago at the Cornbury festival and it was quite simply awful. So I really don't think they are missing him, they really pulled out all the stops at tonight's show.

Songs like 'Nuclear Device (The Wizard of Aus)' which featured Bruce and Shelia flashing on the screens, was simply awesome. The fans screamed out for this, and the anthemic and memorable tracks 'Peaches' and 'Golden Brown'. The latter having a glitter ball bring haunting atmospheric in orange and yellow to the stage.

Another great moment is when they play a cover of the classic Gay antherm 'Walk on By' by Dionne Warwick, Which is simply great. I have always personally liked this track, so it is a stand out ocurance for me in tonight's set. Other great tracks in tonight's set are 'Always the Sun, Something better Change' and 'Hanging Around' which their is a massive mosh pit for,,, and a lot of Punk pogo'ing.

The band spend the whole set taking the mick out of everyone in the seating at the back, saying they are sipping champagne and are too posh for Punk. The moment everyone has been waiting for comes in the encore, when they play 'No more Heroes' to an exstatic crowd... that have obviously been waiting for this song all night. 

I really enjoyed The Stranglers at the Cliffs Pavillion in Southend, it's nice to see a band years after their formation... still going so strong and I would love to go to see them again. I know the band say 'No more Heroes', but I am sure The Stranglers are heroes to a lot of people and musicians... great stuff.

The Stranglers - Set List
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Waltzinblack
Curfew 
(Get a) Grip (On Yourself) 
15 Steps 
Bear Cage 
Nuclear Devise (The Wizard of Aus) 
Norfolk Cpast 
Peaches 
Relentless 
Don't bring Harry 
Golden Brown 
Always the Sun 
Walk on By (Dionne Warwick Cover) 
Water 
Something better Change 
Duchess 
Time was once on my Side
Just like nothing on Earth
Hanging Around 
Freedom is Insane
I feel like a Wog 
London Lady 
Tank 
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Nice and Sleazy
No more Heroes

Review and Photo's by Andrew Wild

Check Out! a classic Top of the Pops live performance Video for 'No more Heroes' Below...