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, 1974–1990.1,241 entries across 17 years.

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  1. 197416 entriesThe earliest known live dates for the band, including performances under the name "Johnny Sox" before settling on The Stranglers. The Rusty Butler entries are included as early appearances by Dave Greenfield with that band; The Stranglers did not perform under the name Rusty Butler. 16 dates are recorded for 1974, several with uncertain or approximate dates.
  2. 197541 entries41 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. 1976177 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. 1977190 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. 189 entries recorded (including cancelled/doubtful dates and non-performance appearances such as recording/TV sessions).Photo montage from 1977
  5. 1978102 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.Photo montage from 1978
  6. 197995 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. 94 entries recorded.Photo montage from 1979
  7. 198093 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.Photo montage from 1980
  8. 1981121 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.Photo montage from 1981
  9. 198230 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. 198394 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. 94 entries recorded, including three cancelled dates and four broadcast-only TV appearances.Photo montage from 1983
  11. 198416 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.Photo montage from 1984
  12. 198583 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. 82 entries recorded.Photo montage from 1985
  13. 198638 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. The 21 June TV taping in Łódź, Poland, prompted a long first-person account from JJ Burnel about the trip, reproduced in full below; the 10 December Rennes date was performed as the band's Purple Helmets alter-ego rather than as The Stranglers proper.Photo montage from 1986
  14. 198754 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. 198827 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.Photo montage from 1989
  17. 199053 entriesA large UK theatre tour in February–March followed by a European tour in May–June and further festival/TV dates through the summer.Photo montage from 1990