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Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
@Maxximum23Clark
8:30 PM 29th November 2014
arts

Interview with Hugh Cornwell (The Stranglers)

 
Former lead singer of The Stranglers, Hugh Cornwell is now a successful solo artist. He released his last studio album Totem and Taboo last year and he is currently on tour and will be appearing at the Wardrobe in Leeds on Sunday 30th November.

"It is quite incredible isn't it?" he ponders as I ask him about how The Stranglers music has stood the test of time. "They still sound fresh. On the tour we do not have keyboards so I play the songs with different arrangements, it still works"

On his Leeds visit Hazel O Connor will be appearing on the bill too " The promoter suggested it" he says " It made a lot of sense, Hazel had a hit with Hanging Around, one of The Stranglers songs which she sings on this tour. We share a lot of common ground. She has a lot stronger voice now"

He is excited about his last album "I recorded the album in Chicago with producer Steve Albini, I think it is a great album and the songs stand up live too"

He does not think much of today's music scene "I have no interest in it" he offers "There does not seem to be much happening, young people seem to be going back to re-discover the older stuff"

I asked him if he though the punk movement could happen today? "The world has changed radically; it is a different place to back in the late 1970's. Today with the internet things move so quickly, back in the 70's things were stuck and moved slowly"

He still speaks like a man with a mission and the Leeds gig promises to be special.