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.


Sunday 27 September 2015

Good News! Increased Capacity For Files


Actually two pieces of good news. I have two Wetransfer accounts, one of which I have renewed this week (the other is due for renewal in January). It was necessary to open a second account since the first had reached its 50Gb capacity. Now Wetransfer have increased the capacity from 50Gb to 100Gb which means that I now have approximately 130Gb additional capacity before I have to worry about deletions etc.

Thanks for your continued support of Aural Sculptors!

Salle De Grande Parc Bordeaux 27th September 1983


Another anniversary gig, a mere 32 years distant. The massive Feline offensive continued and saw The Stranglers back in France. This recording also features 'Ships That Pass In The Night' from the soundcheck and 'Let Me Introduce You To The Family' which made a rear appearance in the set. I'm happy to be corrected, but I think that it was only played a couple of times before being dropped.

FLAC: http://we.tl/gxK0yVo2ZG

Artwork: Included in main download folder

01. Ships That Pass In The Night Soundcheck
02. Intro
03. Nuclear Device
04. Toiler On The Sea
05. Ships That Pass In The Night
06. Its A Small World
07. No More Heroes
08. Who Wants The World
09. Never Say Goodbye
10. Golden Brown
11. Midnight Summer Dream
12. European Female
13. The Raven
14. Thrown Away
15. Tank
16. London Lady
17. Hanging Around
18. Down In The Sewer
19. Let Me Introduce You To The Family


Sunday 20 September 2015

Bourse Du Travail Lyon 20th September 1987


A mere 28 years to the day for this last date of the 'Dreamtour' and the last date the band played in a year of heavy gigging.

FLAC: http://we.tl/ZF3RYbqht6

Artwork: Located in the main download the main folder.

01. No More Heroes
02. Was It You?/Down in the Sewer
03. Nice in Nice/Punch and Judy
04. Souls
05. Always the Sun
06. Strange Little Girl
07. Golden Brown
08. Northwinds
09. Big in America
10. Nice 'N' Sleazy
11. Who Wants the World

01. Bring on the Nubiles
02. Shakin Like a Leaf
03. Uptown
04. Tank
05. Toiler on the Sea
06. Spain
07. All Day And All Of the Night
08. London Lady
09. Peaches
10. Duchess

Attila The Stockbroker The Square Harlow 11th September 2015


Great night out at The Square in Harlow last week to see Attila's book launch and a glittering heaven of stars on stage including Brighton's own Piranhas.

I first saw Attila 30 years ago at The Zap Club in Brighton. I new little of what he did as I went along to see The Newtown Neurotics (or The Neurotics as they were known at that point in time) only they didn't play on account of Steve Drewett having his wisdom teeth extracted that week. Attila played the gig on his own and this was really something new. During the set I recall he played the great 'Green Fields of France', a real tear jerker of a song about the death of a Scottish soldier in the trenches of the Western Front. Subsequently I wrote to him and he very kindly sent me a cassette containing said song and invited me to bootleg away.

The next time he played was at The Basement in Brighton in January 1986 and I took him up on his offer, this gig being one of only two gigs that I have ever bootlegged (on an early '80's dictaphone - no mini discs then!). I'll dig it out and upload sometime soon.


Since the date at the Zap Club I had armed myself with a copy of 'Ranting At The Nation' so I now understood the style.


So when Attila played at The Square last week marking his 35th year as a ranting poet and musician, it was strange to thing that I had shared 30 of those years!

In a night of celebration of the Harlow and Brighton music scenes of the late '70's and '80's the bill was wonderful as can be seen from the flyer at the top of this post.

A real highlight for me and an absolute live first came when Steve Drewett joined Attila on stage for a version of 'Mindless Violence/Andy Is A Corporatist', one of the most rousing anti-fascist messages that I know of.

Mindless Violence/Andy Is A Corporatist
The Square Harlow
11th September 2015

The night worked its way through Attila's long career, and 'Tyler Smiles' was another highlight, coming as it did on the eve of the announcement of the new era for the Labour Party.


The Piranhas headlined and although being the proud owner of the 'Tom Hark' single, one of the first ten singles I purchased I am sure, and coming from Brighton way, I had never seen them live. They were great and very funny, especially when Boring Bob shared his issues with Space Invaders machines!

Boring Bob Grover of The Piranhas
The Square Harlow
11th September 2015

'Space Invaders' by The Piranhas

All in all a great nights entertainment in my favourite of all venues The Square which will sadly close down..... a real loss for Harlow and live music generally!

Sunday 6 September 2015

The Clash The Roundhouse London 5th September 1976


Here's a near anniversary upload of a much circulated recording of The Clash's support slot to Southend's Kursaal Flyers. Interesting set with a few songs that didn't really make the grade when the band really took off a few months later.

FLAC: http://we.tl/v1994lHuUA

Artwork: http://we.tl/Zqnb4arokJ