The Burning Up Times - Strangled.co.uk

Burning Up Times Issue 3
The Jet Black interview
Not too many publications can boast the above
strap line – but mercifully, we can. As The
Stranglers prepared for a triumphant return to
the Roundhouse 30 years on, Jet took time out
from rehearsals at Charlton Farm to talk to us
about the early years. Gary Kent had the tape
recorder at the ready.
Hacks...
How do you view the Jon Savage ‘version
of history’ that seems to permeate much
of the popular media at the moment,
where the Stranglers barely get a
mention? And does it matter?
Well, we’re still here, so maybe it doesn’t
matter. But a lot of people have noticed his
version of history and know that it’s bullshit.
Was the bad relationship with the media
a deliberate publicity ploy?
On our behalf, or his?
Yours.
No. We just took it as it came. We found a
lot of people just loathed us and so we kind
of responded with loathing from our side.
Where did this emanate from originally.
Was there one specifi c incident?
Well I think the Jon Savage thing, yes.
According to JJ, it emanates from him
thumping him, or trying to thump him
some years ago for slagging him off in
the press or something. I mean, I only
have second hand information about that
incident. I certainly wasn’t there when it
happened, or wherever it happened. But JJ
swears blind he’s never forgiven him for it
and that’s his version of the story. I mean,
why the rest of the band had to be dragged
into it, I don’t know.
Did you have a healthy relationship with
any journalists at the time?
There were one or two who took us for
what we were – a band that was trying
to make a career in music – and we gave
them due respect. But a lot of people came
along to talk to us with a massive chip on
their shoulder because of preconceived
notions about what we were, infl uenced,
very often, by other sectors of the industry.
What writers became public enemy No 1?
Specifi cally for us?
Yes, who were these writers with
misguided preconceptions?
To be absolutely truthful, I don’t actually
remember, I think Julie Burchill was. But I
mean, I don’t have a direct recollection…
you’re asking me to recall something 30
years old and my memory about details of
30 years ago is a bit foggy now, you know
what I mean? If I was to wade through the
massive tomes of press cuttings that we
have, then I’d probably give an answer to
you. But I haven’t got three weeks to do
that.
Do you remember the Dingwalls fracas,
in the car park?
Yes, that was kinda memorable, yeah.
Was that incident pivotal in ostracizing
The Stranglers from the Punk fraternity
– because you clearly were part of it,
weren’t you?
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