Aural Sculptors - The Stranglers Live 1976 to the Present


Welcome to Aural Sculptors, a blog aimed at bringing the music of The Stranglers to as wide an audience as possible. Whilst all of the various members of the band that have passed through the ranks since 1974 are accomplished studio musicians, it is on stage where the band have for me had their biggest impact.

As a collector of their live recordings for many years I want to share some of the better quality material with other fans. By selecting the higher quality recordings I hope to present The Stranglers in the best possible light for the benefit of those less familiar with their material than the hardcore fan.

Needless to say, this site will steer well clear of any officially released material. As well as live gigs, I will post demos, radio interviews and anything else that I feel may be of interest.

In addition, occasionally I will post material by other bands, related or otherwise, that mean a lot to me.

Your comments and/or contributions are most welcome. Please email me at adrianandrews@myyahoo.com.


Friday 24 August 2012

20 From '80 (4) Rainbow Theatre 3rd April 1980

The Stranglers Receive Helping Hands
Rainbow Theatre April 1980
(l-r JJ, Phil Daniels, John Ellis, Jet)
Photo credit and copyright Virginia Turbett Photography


This was one of the first Stranglers bootlegs that I acquired many years ago.

This incomplete recording is from the first of two nights that the band played as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of this legendary London venue. At this time Hugh was held at Her Majesty's pleasure at H.M.P. Pentonville, just down the road. He was serving a 3 month prison sentence for drug offences.

Although incomplete, the sound is very good for its age. It is certainly the 3rd rather than the 4th April. The second night featuring the full set, is best captured on the 'And Then There Were Three' Italian bootleg CD as well as on the officially released 'The Stranglers And Friends Live In Concert CD.

For certain, these two gigs were unique events (if indeed you can describe two gigs as being unique!?) in the history of the band. The guests appearing in support of Hugh's predicament and the severity of his sentence. With all due respect to those individuals in some instances they gave those songs a bloody good kicking..... bur I guess rehearsal time was minimal! That said, of course I would have given my right arm to have been there!!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-wpzt0frNlt

1. Toiler On The Sea
2. The Raven
3. Shah Shah A Go Go
4. Ice
5. Dead Loss Angeles
6. Nice 'N' Sleazy
7. Bring On The Nubiles
8. Peaches
9. Bear Cage
10. Duchess
11. No More Heroes
12. 5 Minutes
13. Something Better Change
14. Down In The Sewer

'Master & Servant'
JJ looks on at Ian Dury
Rainbow Theatre April 1980
Photo credit and copyright Virginia Turbett Photography



Also playing tonight in the capital:


Slaughter & The Dogs/Cockney Rejects/Crisis/Manufactured Romance   Electric Ballroom

6 comments:

  1. Thank you again kind sir, looking forward to this, just to compare notes. I remember buying Then there were three, what feels like 100 years ago now.

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  2. Do you have the 'And Then There Were Three' Italian bootleg CD you could upload!!!
    Thanx for all the great bootlegs.

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  3. Yet another great rarity for the collection!! This is an impressive site, I'm well chuffed I found it!!!!!

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  4. I'm glad to say I was there on one of the nights, having brought my ticket several weeks before. I remember picking up a Jam ticket for the following week that night! It was the Rainbows anniversary concert season....

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  5. I never knew 'Paul Daniels' played with the Stranglers lol. Looks like he's doing a magic trick in the photo though :-) ;-)

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  6. Don't seem like 40 year ago still magic traveled from at he end well worth it we got the midnight train hom😃

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