Jean-Jacques Burnel

Last updated

Jean-Jacques Burnel
The Stranglers (5563985230).jpg
Burnel performing with The Stranglers in 2011
Background information
Birth nameJean-Jacques Burnel
Born (1952-02-21) 21 February 1952 (age 72)
Notting Hill, London, England
Origin Guildford, England
GenresRock, punk rock, new wave, post-punk, folk
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter, producer
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, guitar, vocals
Years active1974–present

Jean-Jacques Burnel [1] (born 21 February 1952) is an English musician, producer and songwriter, best known as the bass guitarist and co-lead vocalist with the English rock band The Stranglers. He is the only original member to remain in the band.

Contents

Life and career

Jean-Jacques Burnel performing on French TV in 1983 Jean-Jacques Burnel-FR3-1983.jpg
Jean-Jacques Burnel performing on French TV in 1983

Jean-Jacques Burnel was born in Notting Hill, London, to French parents. His family owned a restaurant where his father worked as a chef. As a child, as the son of French immigrants, he was often the victim of mockery from his schoolmates, [2] which later led him to call himself John to disguise his French origins. This early encounter with xenophobia would also have an impact on his explosive temper in life and on stage [3] as well as on the way he plays. [4]

He moved with his parents to Godalming, Surrey, when he was 12 years old and attended the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, subsequently reading history at the University of Bradford and Huddersfield Polytechnic. [5] Burnel originally trained as a classical guitarist, but adopted the bass guitar as his instrument within the Stranglers. [6] He has provided lead vocals on nearly a third of the band's songs. Burnel later explained he often sang lyrics written by Hugh Cornwell (or vice versa) depending on "who had the best voice for that particular song." [7]

Burnel has been a member of the Stranglers since the group's inception in 1974, but has also made two solo albums: Euroman Cometh in 1979, and Un Jour Parfait in 1988, as well as a collaborative album with fellow Stranglers member Dave Greenfield, Fire and Water (Ecoutez Vos Murs) in 1983. [8] Burnel has also produced and appeared as a guest musician for a number of artists, such as Lizard and ARB from Japan, Polyphonic Size (from Belgium) and Taxi Girl's album Seppuku in 1981, as well as Laurent Sinclair's "Devant le Miroir" maxi single. Burnel also formed a rhythm and blues covers band, the Purple Helmets, who played a number of concerts and released two albums in the late 1980s.

As a holder of French citizenship, Burnel received his call-up papers for national service in France. He succeeded in avoiding it with a novel defence, arguing that his absence would damage the Stranglers as a band, and therefore the careers of the other members. This was in accordance with Burnel's claim that only the "bourgeois" would ever agree to serve their country's military.

Burnel composed and performed music for the anime Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo , including both the opening and ending themes, "We Were Lovers", and "You Won't See Me Coming" respectively.

Jean Jacques (left) performing in 1979 on The Raven tour with his Black Fender Precision The-Stranglers-Palace-1979.jpg
Jean Jacques (left) performing in 1979 on The Raven tour with his Black Fender Precision

Burnel is fluent in French and writes many of his songs in the language.

Equipment and sound

Shuker JJ Burnel signature bass headstock Shuker JJ Burnel signature bass.JPG
Shuker JJ Burnel signature bass headstock

Burnel is noted for his distinctive bass guitar sound and melodic bass lines. These are particularly prominent on earlier Stranglers recordings produced by Martin Rushent, such as the hit singles "No More Heroes" and "Peaches".

In the early days, Burnel's distinctive aggressive sound was created using a Fender Precision Bass with RotoSound roundwound strings played with a plectrum very close to the bridge, through Hiwatt all-valve amplification. [9] However, the defining factor was the use of a Marshall 4x12 speaker cabinet in which the speaker cones were ripped, creating a distorted sound. [10]

Later, he used a Yamaha BB2000 which he used on the Euroman Tour in 1979, he then used this full time between 1983 and 1985 before switching to a Steinberger L2 (headless) which he used from 1986 to 1989 and then reverted back to the Fender Precision bass for 10 Tour and continued using this until 2006. Since 2006, he has used Shuker JJ Burnel signature basses custom-built in England by Jon Shuker. [11]

He was one of the first bass guitarists to use Trace Elliot amplification when the company began production in 1980. He now uses amplification by Ashdown Engineering which has honoured him with his own JJ500 signature amps. [12]

Personal life

As of 2015, Burnel was a seventh degree black belt (nanadan) in Shidokan Karate [13] and is head of Shidokan UK. [14] He is also a motorcyclist and has owned many Triumph motorbikes. [15]

Discography

The Stranglers

Albums

Singles

Production and other appearances

Burnel has also produced and or appeared either as a member of the group (Mutations, Purple Helmets) or as a ‘guest’ musician on a number of recordings, as follows:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Stranglers</span> English rock band

The Stranglers are an English rock band. Scoring 23 UK top 40 singles and 20 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are one of the longest-surviving bands to have originated in the UK punk scene.

<i>The Raven</i> (The Stranglers album) Album by The Stranglers

The Raven is the fourth studio album by English new wave band the Stranglers, released on 21 September 1979, through record label United Artists.

<i>Fire & Water (Ecoutez Vos Murs)</i> 1983 studio album by Dave Greenfield and Jean-Jacques Burnel

Fire & Water is an album by Jean-Jacques Burnel and Dave Greenfield of the Stranglers, released on 11 November 1983 on the Epic record label. It is the soundtrack for the film Ecoutez Vos Murs, directed by Vincent Coudanne.

<i>Norfolk Coast</i> (album) 2004 studio album by the Stranglers

Norfolk Coast is the fifteenth studio album by the Stranglers, and was released on 16 February 2004 by EMI's Liberty Records label, making it their first new album recorded for the company in 23 years. It was released six years after their last studio album Coup de Grace and was their first official studio album with new guitarist Baz Warne, and also the last album to feature Paul Roberts on lead vocals. Norfolk Coast peaked at No. 70 in the UK Albums Chart in February, for one week's duration in that listing.

<i>Black and White</i> (The Stranglers album) 1978 studio album by the Stranglers

Black and White is the third studio album by English new wave band the Stranglers. It was released on 12 May 1978, through record label United Artists in most of the world and A&M in America.

<i>The Gospel According to the Meninblack</i> 1981 studio album by the Stranglers

The Gospel According to the Meninblack is the fifth album by English rock band the Stranglers, an esoteric concept album released 9 February 1981 on the Liberty label. The album deals with conspiratorial ideas surrounding alien visitations to Earth, the sinister governmental men in black, and the involvement of these elements in well-known biblical narratives. This was not the first time the Stranglers had used this concept; "Meninblack" on the earlier The Raven album and subsequent 1980 single-release "Who Wants the World?" had also explored it.

<i>Nosferatu</i> (Hugh Cornwell and Robert Williams album) 1979 studio album by Hugh Cornwell and Robert Williams

Nosferatu is an album by Hugh Cornwell of the Stranglers and Robert Williams, drummer in Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band. It was released on 16 November 1979 by United Artists.

<i>Greatest Hits 1977–1990</i> 1990 greatest hits album by the Stranglers

Greatest Hits 1977–1990 is a compilation album by the Stranglers, released in November 1990 by Epic Records. It contains hit singles selected from their back catalogue from both EMI and Epic Records.

<i>All Live and All of the Night</i> 1988 live album by the Stranglers

All Live and All of the Night is the second live album by English rock band the Stranglers, released on 8 February 1988 by Epic Records. The release peaked at No. 12 in the UK Albums Chart in March 1988.

<i>Dreamtime</i> (The Stranglers album) 1986 studio album by the Stranglers

Dreamtime is the ninth studio album by the Stranglers, released in 1986 by Epic Records. The title track was inspired by a belief of the Indigenous peoples of Australia called Dreamtime.

<i>10</i> (The Stranglers album) 1990 studio album by the Stranglers

10 is the tenth studio album by English rock band the Stranglers, released in March 1990 by Epic Records. It was the last to feature guitarist/lead singer Hugh Cornwell. 10 peaked at No. 15 and spent four weeks in the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Saturday Night, Sunday Morning</i> 1993 live album by the Stranglers

Saturday Night, Sunday Morning is a live album by the Stranglers, released in 1993 by Castle Communications.

<i>Aural Sculpture</i> 1984 studio album by The Stranglers

Aural Sculpture is the eighth studio album by the Stranglers, released in November 1984 by Epic Records. It was also the name given to a one-sided 7-inch single given free with a limited number of copies of their Feline album in 1983. The "Aural Sculpture Manifesto" on the 7" single was played before the Stranglers appeared on stage during concerts during both the 1983 "Feline" tour and the 1985 "Aural Sculpture" tour.

<i>Euroman Cometh</i> 1979 studio album by J.J. Burnel

Euroman Cometh is the debut solo album by the Stranglers' bassist J.J. Burnel, released in April 1979 by United Artists. It is a concept album, as most of the songs concern the ideal of a united Europe, both culturally and economically. Upon release, the album was a contrast to the more melodic songs of the Stranglers, containing what Pat Gilbert of Record Collector describes as "a collection of dark, atmospheric soundscapes, embroidered with Burnel's intense, monotone theorising about a united Europe."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Greenfield</span> English rock keyboardist (1949–2020)

David Paul Greenfield was an English keyboardist, singer and songwriter who was a member of rock band the Stranglers. He joined the band in 1975, within a year of its formation, and played with them for 45 years until his death.

<i>IV</i> (The Stranglers album) 1980 compilation album by the Stranglers

IV is a compilation album by the Stranglers, released on 24 September 1980 on I.R.S. Records and only available in the US and Canada.

"Hanging Around" is a song by English rock band the Stranglers, released on their 1977 debut album Rattus Norvegicus. The song was written by the band's guitarist, Hugh Cornwell, and is notable for its driving bassline and its lyrics about urban alienation.

Polyphonic Size is a Belgian new wave band founded in 1979 in Brussels by Roger-Marc Vande Voorde. Mixing electric guitars and synthesizers with French and English lyrics, most of Polyphonic Size records were produced by Jean-Jacques Burnel, from The Stranglers.

"Sometimes" is a song by The Stranglers, appearing as the first song on their debut album Rattus Norvegicus (1977). The song was written and sung by Hugh Cornwell, and credited to the band as a whole.

"Goodbye Toulouse" is a song by The Stranglers. It was the second song on their 1977 debut album, Rattus Norvegicus. The lyrics were written by Jean-Jacques Burnel and the music by Hugh Cornwell, although the song was credited to the band as a whole.

References

  1. ↑ Matilda Battersby (29 July 2010). "My life in ten questions...The Stranglers' Jean-Jacques Burnel – Profiles – People – The Independent". The Independent . London: INM. ISSN   0951-9467. OCLC   185201487 . Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  2. ↑ Mathilda Battersby (29 July 2010). "My life in ten questions...The Stranglers' Jean-Jacques Burnel". independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  3. ↑ Jean-Jacques Burnel interview, 1995
  4. ↑ Davet, Stéphane (18 February 2004), Jean-Jacques Burnel, le punk ressuscité (in French)
  5. ↑ Buckley 1997, pp.16–18.
  6. ↑ Buckley 1997, p.17.
  7. ↑ "Stranglers – Interview with Jean-Jacques Burnel". Pennyblackmusic.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  8. ↑ Buckley 1997, pp.136–137.
  9. ↑ Buckley 1997, p. 90.
  10. ↑ Hugh Cornwell, The Stranglers Song by Song,
  11. ↑ Shuker Guitars,"Players", Shuker, 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  12. ↑ Ashdown Engineering, "Jean-Jacques Burnel", Ashdown, 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  13. ↑ "Shidokan GB". Shidokan.org.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  14. ↑ "Interview: Jean Jacques Burnel, bass guitarist and founder of the Stranglers". Scotland on Sunday . Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  15. ↑ Buckley 1997, p.18.
  16. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 86. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
Bibliography

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.