Gigography

The Gigography for The Stranglers and Hugh Cornwell

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The Stranglers, 1974–1990

A gig-by-gig archive of The Stranglers, 1974–1990.1,160 entries across 17 years.

  1. 197414 entriesThe earliest known live dates for the band, performed under the names "Johnny Sox" and "Rusty Butler" before settling on The Stranglers. 14 dates are recorded for 1974, several with uncertain or approximate dates.
  2. 197539 entries39 dates are recorded for 1975, the band's first full year of regular gigging around London and the Home Counties, including Dave Greenfield's debut on keyboards in August.
  3. 1976175 entriesThe band's breakout year: near-continuous gigging across London pub-rock venues (Red Cow, Hope & Anchor, Nashville Rooms) alongside first major support slots (Patti Smith, Ramones, Sex Pistols) and their December signing to United Artists / Albion.
  4. 1977181 entriesThe band's UK breakthrough year: near-constant touring including the Roxy Club residency, a full UK theatre tour, first European dates, and Hugh Cornwell's US trip to see US punk acts. 179 entries recorded (including cancelled/doubtful dates and non-performance appearances such as recording/TV sessions).
  5. 197891 entriesThe band's first North American tour (March–April), European festival dates, and the "Battersea Park" era, alongside the release of *Black and White* and several singles. Non-gig milestones (releases, TV appearances) are included in the table below and marked accordingly in Notes.
  6. 197991 entriesA globe-spanning year: Japanese and Australian tours in February–March, JJ Burnel's "Euroman Cometh" solo tour in April, Wembley support to The Who in August, The Raven UK/Ireland tour in autumn, a European tour in November, and a return to Japan in December. 99 gigs recorded.
  7. 198088 entriesA year marked by a cancelled Asia/Middle East tour (India, Egypt), the "Rainbow without Hugh" shows following Hugh Cornwell's imprisonment, a European summer tour, and an extensive North American tour in October–November.
  8. 1981113 entriesA UK tour in February–March followed by an extensive North American tour (March–June), a quieter mid-year spent writing *La Folie*, and the La Folie UK/Ireland tour in November–December. Release milestones ("Thrown Away", "Golden Brown") are included in the table and marked as non-gig entries.
  9. 198228 entriesA quieter touring year for the band, centred on a UK theatre tour in January–February, a handful of European festival appearances, and multiple Top of the Pops performances.
  10. 198390 entriesA UK theatre tour and European dates in February, a full North American tour in April–May, and a major European tour in September–October. 90 entries recorded, including one cancelled date and one broadcast-only TV appearance.
  11. 198414 entriesA quiet year for live performances, dominated instead by studio work on *Aural Sculpture* (recording sessions in Brussels, production work, single/album releases). Only a handful of gigs and TV performances are recorded.
  12. 198576 entriesA UK theatre tour in February–March followed by a large European tour (March–April), an Australian tour in May, and festival/TV dates through the rest of the year. 76 entries recorded.
  13. 198631 entriesA light first half of the year (a possible festival cancellation, a TV miming gig, video shoots), followed by a UK theatre tour and European dates in the autumn to promote *Dreamtime*. The source thread itself flags a possible gap in coverage between mid-September and early October.
  14. 198751 entriesA February trip to Israel, a UK theatre tour in March, a full North American tour in April–May, and summer festival dates including support slots for David Bowie in Spain.
  15. 198820 entriesA lighter touring year for the main band, punctuated by several Purple Helmets side-project shows in spring, a European summer festival run, and a one-off John McCarthy benefit gig in November.
  16. 198911 entriesA sparse year for the main band — a planned September tour was delayed by album production issues — but Purple Helmets and JJ Burnel solo dates continued, alongside a short June UK/Ireland run.
  17. 199047 entriesA large UK theatre tour in February–March followed by a European tour in May–June and further festival/TV dates through the summer.