Now with a new album in the swing, Suite XVI, Reminiscin' caught up with Jean Jacques Burnel to find out, what suites him?

Golden Brown is probably one of your most renowned tracks - how did that single help your careers?
We were written off by then. There was a new record company at the time that had taken us over because they have swallowed up our previous record company. They said punk was over and we were finished, and then we forced them to release that record. They said it didn't sound like The Stranglers and that you couldn't dance to it, etc. They released it before Christmas thinking it would kinda die a death, but it developed its own legs. As a result it won an Ivor Novello award that year.

You have performed on Top of the Pops on several occasions, now that the show has come to an end - any fond memories?
I think we did Top of the Pops every year for 13 years. Yeah we did have fond memories, but I can't remember, I can't remember. I was in a different state of mind in those days.

What has been your most favoured location when filming your videos?
The desert in Portugal. That was for the song 'Nuclear Device'. It was a video concept by a guy called Chris Gabbon, I think. He did all the Madness videos. I remember having a good time doing that. The other one we did was in Paris overnight. We went to Paris in the afternoon and we filmed all night long, walking around the Boulevards, cafés and along the river.

Touring is second nature to The Stranglers - do you think touring is important when you are in a band?
As a musician you want to grow. If you've lost the love to play live and want to only be in the studio then you're only half the musician. 99% of musicians would tell you that the best part of it, is playing your stuff live. The creative processes are good fun and it is very satisfying when you actually write a song that bears listening to by the people. The live element is what you live for.

Having traveled and toured worldwide - does the novelty wear off after a while?
There is always an aspect to the work that isn't 100% satisfying. If we do an American tour it will be for two week, if we go to Australia it will be for one week. Even in Europe we will do the gigs in little stages, as we don't like being away too long. It kills people. It does get tiring. Also unimportant things become largely important and that is just a distortion of reality -it's destructive to personalities. Living in hotel rooms ain't much fun after a while.

What has been the most enduring tour the band has ever been on?
We used to do ridiculously long tours in the Eighties. Touring six months in America-I refuse to do that now.

What country/ies do you find yourself most regularly visiting?
Just all over the world. They are all lovely; different cultures and different people. That's one of the privileges of being in an international band like The Stranglers.

As a globe trotter with the band - would you ever live abroad, if so, where?
France, probably.

What bands/artists have you seen perform that blew you away?
I go to pubs to see bands play. There are loads of good bands around. I'm interested in a little band from Brighton at the moment called Teasing Lulu. I am producing them at the moment.

Rockers and alcohol go hand in hand - any drunken stories to tell…
Sex, drugs and rock n' roll! Well, I couldn't have been that drunk if I remembered (laughs).

Related Link:
> www.stranglers.net
> The Stranglers CD - Amazon.co.uk