Jean-Jacques Burnel
Date of birth: 1952-02-21
Place of birth: Notting Hill, London, England, UK
Known for: Acting
Also known as: The Stranglers, JJ Burnel, J.J. Burnel
Biography
Jean-Jacques Burnel (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 last founding member to remain in the band. 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, 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 as well as on the way he plays. 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. Burnel originally trained as a classical guitarist, but adopted the bass guitar as his instrument within The Stranglers. He has provided lead vocals on nearly a third of the band's songs, though 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." 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. 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 indirectly 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. Burnel is fluent in French and writes many of his songs in the language. 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. However, the defining factor was the use of a Marshall 4x12 speaker cabinet in which the speaker cones were ripped, creating a distorted sound. ... Source: Article "Jean-Jacques Burnel" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Movie Credits
No Nukes! muziekfestival
1982-04-09
The Stranglers - Rattus at the Roundhouse
2007-11-04
On 4th November 2007, thirty years to the exact day since their last visit, The Stranglers made a tr
The Stranglers - Ground Control
2021-12-08
Punk is not dead! Anyone who doesn't believe that punk is still alive and kicking in our times shoul
"The Journey", or The Memoirs of a Self-Confessed Surrealist
1978-01-18
George Melly explores his lifelong relationship with surrealism in all its forms and prominent perso
The Stranglers - Feline European Tour - Live in Hamburg
1983-02-20
The Stranglers - The Video Collection 1977-1982
1984-01-01
A compilation of promos from The Stranglers, chronicling the five year period in which their sleazy
The Stranglers: Live at Alexandra Palace
1990-08-11
On 11th August 1990, what began as just another Stranglers gig at Alexandra Palace became their fina
The Stranglers: Friday The Thirteenth - Live at the Albert Hall
2004-04-12
Twenty one years after their recording debut, the Stranglers celebrated the release of their 13th al
The Stranglers: Euro Live
2002-03-20
Euro Live is a live DVD recording by The Stranglers of a concert in Poland from 2000, one of the fir
The Stranglers: On Stage On Screen
2005-03-17
"On Stage On Screen" is a live DVD recording by The Stranglers of their concert at Shepherd's Bush,
Norfolk Coast
2006-03-01
Norfolk Coast is inspired by the album of the same name by The Stranglers. It stars Jean-Jacques Bur
The Stranglers: Never To Look Back - The Video Collection 1983-2012
2012-03-07
Featuring twenty-two music videos from 1983 - 2012
The Stranglers - Live at The Apollo
2010-03-19
The Stranglers live at the Apollo 19th March 2010
The Stranglers: The Ruby Tour
2014-07-01
Ruby Tour shows recorded in Manchester and Paris.
The Stranglers - Live '78, SF
1978-09-12
The Stranglers playing live in San Francisco 1978.
The Stranglers
2000-11-16
BBC Choice documentary the story of The Stranglers, charting the band's rise to fame in the 1980s to
The Stranglers à l'Olympia
2014-04-07
The Stranglers - Rock im Park 2012
2012-06-01
The Stranglers - Rock am Ring 2012
2012-06-02
Isle of Wight Festival 2012
2012-06-30
The Stranglers: Live at Musilac Festival 2018
2018-07-12
Musilac is a multi-genre music festival held annually in Aix-les-Bains, France. Held over four days
The Stranglers - Live at Fontwell Park
1993-01-01
Saturday, October 30th, 1993. The Stranglers are headlining at the launch gig of the "Rock Circus Su
The Stranglers - Rennes Deux - The Return`95
1995-10-17
The Stranglers performing live in Rennes, France
The Stranglers: Death + Night + Blood
2019-04-12
Unrealised documentary about The Stranglers
Mona Mur in Conversation
2025-09-26
The film explores the life and career of the Hamburg-born musician, whose creative work began in the
Stranglers Rennes '93
1993-03-12
Recording from The Stranglers Rennes gig at L'Ubu, Rennes during there 1993 tour 12th March
The Stranglers: Body Search - Live in London
1994-11-12
The Stranglers perform live in London during there 1994 tour.
The Stranglers: Dartmoor Prison
1992-09-28
In 1992, The Stranglers became the first rock band to perform at Dartmoor Prison. The concert took p
The Stranglers - Rockpalast
1983-02-20
Broadcast live from Hamburg’s Markthalle, this electrifying set captures The Stranglers at their sle
The Stranglers - Live in Madrid
1986-11-18
The Stranglers’ live performance in Madrid on 18 November 1986, recorded at Estación de Perpignan du
The Stranglers: Screentime
1986-01-01
The Stranglers first ever VHS with music videos for European Female, Midnight Summer Dream, All Road
Rockstage: The Stranglers
1981-05-19
The Stranglers in concert at the Royal Theatre, Nottingham and broadcast via the ITV network
The Stranglers: The Parr Street Chronicies
1995-01-01
The Parr Street Chronicles is a behind-the-scenes visual companion to About Time, featuring candid s
The Stranglers: 1st World Convention Live
1992-03-14
Filmed at The Stranglers inaugural fan convention along with a report and a live performance on 14th
The Stranglers: Absolut Live
1997-02-18
Filmed live for German television in Bremen on 18 February 1997, Absolut Live captures The Strangler
JJ Burnell: Songs and Stories - Live in London
2000-06-03
Jean-Jacques Burnell performs a solo acoustic set at the Islington Chappel in 2000.
The Stranglers: The Raven Tour live in Paris
1979-11-12
The Stranglers perform live at Théâtre de l’Empire in Paris 1979.
Stranglers in the Night
1985-01-01
The French TV series Les Enfants du Rock produced a documentary on The Stranglers during the release