THE STRANGLERS + BUZZCOCKS – BRIGHTON DOME 29.10.25
Well what do you know, a couple of former punk rock acts are still pulling in the punters enough to totally sell out Brighton Dome Concert Hall. This evening’s bash features The Stranglers and Buzzcocks, both of which have a solitary founding member from back in day in their ranks. To be brutally honest, because of this fact, I wasn’t really expecting much………..How wrong I was!
Buzzcocks was the very first concert I attended and that was 17,157 days ago, which equates to almost 47 years! It took place at Brighton’s Top Rank Suite and there was a full-on riot (see cutting at the foot of this review).
These days the band comprises founder member Steve Diggle on lead vocals and guitar (from 1976 onwards), Danny Farrant on drums (since 2006), Chris Remington on bass (since 2008) and Mani Perazzoli on guitars and backing vocals (since 2019). The band, as you would expect, is very much centred around Diggle since the untimely passing of Pete Shelley on 6th December 2018. I wasn’t sure if the band would carry on, but Diggle still had plenty of gas left in his tank and their tenth studio album titled ‘Sonics In The Soul’ arrived in 2022. There’s 14 more brand new tunes on the horizon as well (see below).
This evening the quartet performed a selective 45 minute set which ran from 7:43pm until 8:28pm and in that time they offloaded 11 career spanning songs. The venue lighting went out and Richard Strauss’ ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra, op. 30’ blasted out of the speakers – a tune best known as being used in ‘2001 A Space Odyssey’. Farrant kicks off with a long drumming intro which immediately grabs the punter’s attention. Bassist Remington then takes to the stage with his Fender in tow, swiftly followed by guitarist Perazzoli with his Gibson Les Paul, and then eventually Diggle takes centre stage, and much to my surprise he immediately pulls out a harmonica and gives it a go. I can’t ever recall seeing him do this before. The tune in question is ‘What Do I Get?’ from 1979’s ‘Singles Going Steady’ LP and Diggle then trades in his mouth organ for his Fender guitar. Before we know it, they’ve segued straight into ‘I Don’t Mind’ from 1978’s ‘Another Music In A Different Kitchen’ LP. After which Diggle greets the crowd “So lovely to be in Brighton” and they immediately dive into ‘Promises’ from ‘Singles Going Steady’. Talk about a trio of hard-hitting early singles or what!
The quartet now dive into the fairly recent cut ‘Senses Out Of Control’ which is found on 2022’s ‘Sonics In The Soul’ album, for which Diggle summons his inner-most Shelley vocal style for this rockin’ tune. Things remain rocky with the arrival of ‘Sick City Sometimes’ from 2003’s self-titled ‘Buzzcocks’ album. After this we get a real treat with the arrival of quite possibly the most under-rated Buzzcocks tune, this being the B-Side of their ‘Everybody’s Happy Nowadays’ single, namely ‘Why Can’t I Touch It?’ which is also on their ‘Singles Going Steady’ album. If you ever want to introduce a person into Buzzcocks, then ‘Everybody’s Happy Nowadays’, ‘Why Can’t I Touch It?’ and their ‘Singles Going Steady’ record seriously can’t be faulted! Tonight’s version of ‘Why Can’t I Touch It?’ is thankfully a long version and I’m lapping it up.
The beat increases again with the arrival of a long version of ‘Destination Zero’ from 2020’s ‘Gotta Get Better’ single. Then the lads offload fan favourite ‘Orgasm Addict’ from ‘Singles Going Steady’ which goes down a storm. The less immediate ‘Manchester Rain’ from the ‘Sonics In The Soul’ album comes next and the more I hear it, the better it becomes. The penultimate tune, is arguably Buzzcocks most widely recognised composition, this being the ‘Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve)’ from 1978’s epic ‘Love Bites’ album, suffice to say that this one was extremely well received. Diggle then points out that tonight’s performance is a short set (as they are the special guests) and he adds that they will be back! 50th Anniversary Tour? Well count me in matey-boy! They leave us with an extended riffage laden version of ‘Harmony in My Head’ from ‘Singles Going Steady’, and the crowd very much enjoyed this, arguably even more than when it was originally released, as in our local Buzzcocks circle, it wasn’t lauded as a masterpiece, but like many fine wines it has aged well with time.
It has been a tight set and Diggle seems so positive all the time, with his forever pointing at the crowd and nodding. It’s a strum of the Fender followed by a point as in to state “There you go take that”. Obviously I would have preferred a whole set of 1976 to 1979 hits, but the newer material certainly holds their own. With a “Thank you so much Brighton, we love you…” their set came to an end and they were rewarded with a house full of cheers and applause.
The new Buzzcocks album ‘Attitude Adjustment’ will be released 30th January 2026. It contains 14 new tracks on CD and vinyl and the artwork was created by long term Buzzcocks graphic artist (and bloody decent fellow) Malcolm Garrett. There’s a limited edition signed postcard edition from Cherry Red while stocks last. Pre-order HERE.
Buzzcocks:
Steve Diggle – lead vocals, guitars, harmonica
Danny Farrant – drums
Chris Remington – bass
Mani Perazzoli – guitars, backing vocals
Buzzcocks setlist:
(Intro tape: ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra, op. 30’ (2001 A Space Odyssey) (Richard Strauss)
‘What Do I Get?’ (from 1979 ‘Singles Going Steady’ album)
‘I Don’t Mind’ (from 1978 ‘Another Music In A Different Kitchen’ album)
‘Promises’ (from 1979 ‘Singles Going Steady’ album)
‘Senses Out Of Control’ (from 2022 ‘Sonics In The Soul’ album)
‘Sick City Sometimes’ (from 2003 ‘Buzzcocks’ album)
‘Why Can’t I Touch It?’ (from 1979 ‘Singles Going Steady’ album)
‘Destination Zero’ (from 2020 ‘Gotta Get Better’ single)
‘Orgasm Addict’ (from 1979 ‘Singles Going Steady’ album)
‘Manchester Rain’ (from 2022 ‘Sonics In The Soul’ album)
‘Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve)’ (from 1978 ‘Love Bites’ album)
‘Harmony in My Head’ (from 1979 ‘Singles Going Steady’ album)
Formed in Guildford in 1974, The Stranglers started out as regulars on the London pub-rock circuit. With an uncompromising attitude and energetic live shows, they soon became associated with the burgeoning punk movement. Older and more musically accomplished than many of their contemporaries, their sound continued to evolve over 18 studio albums and a string of chart hits including ‘Peaches’, ‘No More Heroes’ and ‘Golden Brown’. There have been lineup changes over the years, but the band remains one of the longest-lasting and best-loved acts to come out of the UK punk scene.
Like Buzzcocks, The Stranglers have also sadly lost founder and early band-members. Swedish born Hans Wärmling was their original keyboardist when the band were touring as ‘Guildford Stranglers’, he sadly died in a boating accident near Gothenburg in 1995. Dave Greenfield replaced Hans and joined the band in 1975, (within a year of its formation), and played with them for 45 years until his death on 3rd May 2020, aged 71. He had been diagnosed with COVID-19 infection during the pandemic. The third Strangler that has passed away is Jet Black who was a founding member and their drummer. He died from respiratory problems at his home in Wales on 6th December 2022, at the age of 84. The remaining founder members are vocalist-guitarist Hugh Cornwell who served his time in the band from 1974 to 1990, and remaining stalwart Jean-Jacques Burnel who has been their bassist since 1974.
The Stranglers have played live in Brighton on many occasions down the years, with (I believe) the first being on 3rd January 1976 at the Alhambra, the site of which is now occupied by the Leonardo Royal Hotel. Other Brighton venues they have played in include Sallis Benney Theatre, The Buccaneer, Top Rank Suite and the Brighton Centre. They have also performed at Brighton Dome on nine previous occasions prior to this evening, with the first being back in 1993. The current lineup of the band is bassist Jean-Jacques Burnel (1974–present), “new singer/guitarist” Baz Warne (2000–present) – who let’s face it will always be the new singer to us oldies, just like The Undertones Paul McLoone (1999–present) and Queen’s Adam Lambert (2011–present) – and cementing the Stranglers lineup are Jim Macaulay on drums (2012–present) and keyboardist Toby Hounsham (2021–present).
We are in their company for 91 minutes, from 9:01pm until 10:32pm and during that period they roll off an impressive 23 tracks. This was achieved by the quartet very much getting down to business and thankfully Warne spared us his Sunderland hard nut vs Southern Softies friendly banter routine. Their backing tape booms across the venue, this being ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien’ by Édith Piaf. There’s the “Stranglers” word as a backdrop right across the rear of the stage as well as seven relatively smallish varying sized LED panels, which are hung in front of the backdrop. Hounsham and Macaulay are located on raised platforms and below them there are also two long strip LED panels. Warne’s cordless guitar of choice to begin with is a Fender Telecaster, but he does call on a couple of others, one of which being an acoustic. Burnel proudly calls his cordless ‘JJ Burnel Signature bass’ by Shuker into play (more on them HERE), Hounsham has rack of a trio of keyboards on the go, and Macaulay is behind the drumkit, which also features Roland electronic drumpads, and he has use of shakers as well. Lead vocal duties mainly fall to the “new bloke”, but Burnel has his fair share this evening, with both Hounsham and Macaulay offering backing vocals, and Hounsham even gets to take the lead on one of the tunes.
Although I obviously would love a Stranglers set to be littered with all of my faves, including the hits, it is this evening rather reassuring that the band have decided to have a real deep dive into their back catalogue and have certainly been looking beyond the obvious, and as a result, they have successfully managed to freshen things up. In fact, so much so that I’m actually hearing a number of their songs for the very first time, as I had stopped buying the records around 1981.
They get us oldies on board from the off with a couple of cuts from 1977, these being ‘Goodbye Toulouse’ from their ‘Rattus Norvegicus’ album and the more immediate ‘Straighten Out’ single. I must state that Warne’s later observation that the room isn’t full of “old bald blokes” is indeed correct, and more than I can recall, they have the next two generations of humans in situ this evening, who are equally enjoying themselves. The LED panels display a moving version of their 1986 ‘Dreamtime’ album cover as the perform ‘Was It You?’ from it, with Burnel on lead vocals. After which Warne addresses us for the first time “A very good evening Brighton. It’s a pleasure to be back here, did you miss us?”. They then sink their teeth into the rather wonderful sole choice cut from 1984’s ‘Aural Sculpture’ album, this being ‘Skin Deep’ with its notable bass guitar twangs – singalong now “(Ooh-ooh-ooh) better watch out for the skin deep; (Better watch out) watch out for the skin deep”.
‘15 Steps’ from 2012’s ‘Giants’ album was up next and this is only the second time they have ever played the song in Brighton, the first being on 28th March 2017, but I wasn’t at that gig, so this evening it’s my debut encounter. Well I never…..Imagine John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John’s ‘You’re The One That I Want’ done in a cowboy western style with added sci-fi keys and voila! It was back to normal for me with the performance of their 1978 ‘5 Minutes’ single with Burnel on gritty vocals and the keys and drums combination working rather well. Up until this point this being the choice cut of the set. This reminded me of another ‘5 Minutes’ by Mainframe, a 1980’s UK synth-pop duo which consisted of Murray Munro and John Molloy. ‘Tramp’ from 1981’s ‘La Folie’ album was selection seven and it’s unmistakably a Stranglers composition, after which we had ‘Instead Of This’ which is found on the 2001 CD reissue of their 1990 ‘10’ album. This had a slower chunky bass melodic cha cha style beat along with Burnel back on lead vocals. I haven’t heard this tune before and they haven’t ever played it live in Brighton either, and I rather enjoyed it.
The melodic material followed with the arrival of their 1982 ‘Strange Little Girl’ single and the unmistakable keys of ‘Golden Brown’ from 1981’s ‘La Folie’ album. Both of which were lapped up by the fans. Burnel takes lead vocals for their 1980’s pop keys and drums combo ‘Thrown Away’ from 1981’s ‘The Gospel According To The Meninblack’ album. Things stayed really poppy with the arrival of ‘Pin Up’ from 1981’s ‘La Folie’ album which hasn’t been played live this century and certainly never in Brighton before. I was really thrown by this one as it could almost be a Eurodance tune in the vein of the similar sounding ‘Funky Town’ by Lipps Inc. The LED panels were showing a whole host of pin ups during this tune, and out of nowhere this track became my fave song thus far! Burnel’s bass riffage signalled the start of ‘Peaches’ from 1977’s ‘Rattus Norvegicus’ album, a tune which still after all this time brings smirks on the faces of both singers.
‘Mercury Rising’ from 2012’s ‘Giants’ album is now back in the set after almost a decade away and hasn’t been played live in Brighton since 14th March 2013. This starts with a guitar strum from Warne followed by some Roland drum pad action, and eventually the decent keyboard riff adds to the sound. ‘White Stallion’ from 2021’s ‘Dark Matters’ album is the band’s next choice and this sees Burnel back on lead vocals with Warne swapping for another guitar and it’s a dance style rock tune that partially reminded me of ‘Call Me’ by Blondie, and the drums were great in this as well. This song is truly suitable to be played at Wembley Stadium and an astonishing set highlight for me. There’s a similar bass riff to ‘Peaches’ on ‘Dead Ringer’ from 1977’s ‘No More Heroes’ album, which astonishingly is this evening getting its Brighton debut, but not its Sussex one, as it was played on Hasting Pier on 29th October 1977.
‘Breathe’ is another tune receiving its Brighton debut, but this one’s from 2021’s ‘Dark Matters’ album. This commences with Warne grabbing an acoustic guitar and giving it a strum which is then set on a loop, and then he switches back to his Fender electric almost immediately. It’s essentially a sedate number with Macaulay on shakers, but it does have its explosive sections when required. There’s a guitar strum for the next song and then it explodes as does the punters at the front, the tune sees Burnel on lead vocals and it’s ‘Something Better Change’ from 1977’s ‘No More Heroes’ album. There’s a crash of the drums and the quartet are away again with ‘Duchess’ from 1979 ‘The Raven’ album. For this, one of the LED panels says the word “Stranglers” and another says “51”, which is the amount of time the band have been going. They signed off the main part of the set with ‘Hanging Around’ from 1977’s ‘Rattus Norvegicus’ album.
The guys leave the stage and the auditorium is full of baying souls, and not before too long they return with the keys and then drums kicking off ‘Always The Sun’ from 1986 ‘Dreamtime’ album. Many, including myself, are singing along “Always, always (always the sun)”. Their penultimate selection is ‘Mean To Me’ which is an obscure tune found on the 1978 cassette version ‘Black And White’ album, and a song they have only ever played live anywhere on 8 previous occasions. Warne starts off the tune as a guitar solo which is like T.Rex and then he really lays into the instrument as do the others for theirs. This is where glam rock meets punk rock via Dr Feelgood. It’s a corker of a tune and one that they need to keep in for future sets! There’s a jamming bass guitar intro and they sign off with the title track of their 1977 ‘No More Heroes’ album. The LED’s display photos of many heroes, a majority of which are no longer with us. At 10:32pm the quartet took their bows at the front of the stage knowing that they had conquered! Cue outro tape….‘Waltzinblack’ from 1981 ‘The Gospel According To The Meninblack’ album.
The Stranglers:
Jean-Jacques Burnel – vocals, bass
Baz Warne – vocals, guitars
Toby Hounsham – keyboards, vocals
Jim Macaulay – drums, backing vocals
The Stranglers setlist:
(Intro tape: ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien’ by Édith Piaf)
‘Goodbye Toulouse’ (from 1977 ‘Rattus Norvegicus’ album)
‘Straighten Out’ (a 1977 single)
‘Was It You?’ (from 1986 ‘Dreamtime’ album)
‘Skin Deep’ (from 1984 ‘Aural Sculpture’ album)
‘15 Steps’ (from 2012 ‘Giants’ album)
‘5 Minutes’ (a 1978 single)
‘Tramp’ (from 1981 ‘La Folie’ album)
‘Instead Of This’ (from 2001 CD reissue of 1990 ‘10’ album)
‘Strange Little Girl’ (a 1982 single)
‘Golden Brown’ (from 1981 ‘La Folie’ album)
‘Thrown Away’ (from 1981 ‘The Gospel According To The Meninblack’ album)
‘Pin Up’ (from 1981 ‘La Folie’ album)
‘Peaches’ (from 1977 ‘Rattus Norvegicus’ album)
‘Mercury Rising’ (from 2012 ‘Giants’ album)
‘White Stallion’ (from 2021 ‘Dark Matters’ album)
‘Dead Ringer’ (from 1977 ‘No More Heroes’ album)
‘Breathe’ (from 2021 ‘Dark Matters’ album)
‘Something Better Change’ (from 1977 ‘No More Heroes’ album)
‘Duchess’ (from 1979 ‘The Raven’ album)
‘Hanging Around’ (from 1977 ‘Rattus Norvegicus’ album)
(encore)
‘Always The Sun’ (from 1986 ‘Dreamtime’ album)
‘Mean To Me’ (from 1978 cassette version ‘Black And White’ album)
‘No More Heroes’ ‘(from 1977 ‘No More Heroes’ album)
(Outro tape: ‘Waltzinblack’ from 1981 ‘The Gospel According To The Meninblack’ album)
