The ultimate gig and venue as The Stranglers bring curtain down on final full UK tour at Warrington Parr Hall

AT the fourth time of asking The Stranglers finally appeared at Warrington’s Parr Hall, on what transpired to be their last show of their “Final Full UK Tour”.

Originally scheduled to appear in April 2020, the tour was twice postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with long-time keyboard player Dave Greenfield, later dying after contracting COVID while receiving treatment for a heart ailment.

The band was then scheduled to appear earlier this month but had to cancel at the eleventh hour due to lead guitarist and vocalist Baz Arne being taken ill.

With the tour now dedicated to the memory of Dave, it was certainly well worth the wait as The Stranglers took to the stage with almost two hours of no-nonsense classic punk and pub rock at its finest, with Ruts DC, of “Babylon’s Burning” fame, providing the ideal support act.

Emerging in 1974 the Stranglers are one of the longest-surviving bands to have originated in the UK punk scene with 23 UK Top 40 singles and 19 UK Top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades.

Being more of a heavy rocker, I’d never been a huge fan of the group in their early days, although appreciated some of their classics, with “No more heroes” a particular favourite.

But then I saw the band for the first time in Manchester in 2017 – and seeing them live, I was converted – and noticed there were plenty of others in the audience wearing heavy rock band t-shirts! At one time fierce rivals in our school days, punk and heavy rockers have almost become one family, appreciating each other’s genres of music.

With Jean-Jacques Burnel, the last surviving original member of the band, he shares front of house with Baz, who has been a mainstay now for more than two decades.

Both appeared to appreciate the fact the Parr Hall was a venue that took them back to their roots, starting out as a pub rock band before finding fame and filling much larger venues.

They hadn’t expected Warrington to be the venue for the last night of their final full UK tour – but I can’t think of a better venue or appreciative audience.

While much of the sell-out audience was male-orientated over 50s, there were a considerable number of youngsters and women in the crowd, which was pretty lively down at the front as the show hotted up with all the old favourites.

I had to wait to the final song for my particular favourite, which tends to suggest it must be everyone else’s as well – but “No more heroes” rounded off a fabulous night at the Parr Hall, which is probably one of the best venues around for any big band, looking to return to their roots at the end of their journey.

Thank you to The Stranglers and Warrington Parr Hall for another fantastic trip down memory lane. As well as paying tribute to Dave, showing support for the troubles in the Ukraine, this was pretty much as good as gets for a classic night of nostalgia.

Whether this will be their last appearance in Warrington, who can say. Although Billed as their last full Uk tour, Baz finished the show by saying “see you again sometime!” I suspect they are still enjoying it too much to fully retire and the Parr Hall certainly gave them a taste of their early days.

I can now name The Stranglers, up there with Status Quo, UFO, Black Star Riders (Thin Lizzy), Michael Schenker, Magnum, Diamond Head, The Sweet, Wizzard, Rick Astley as some of the iconic artists and bands I have witnessed perform on the Parr Hall stage (and numerous tributes) – here’s to many more!

Current line-up
Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass, backing vocals (1974–present), lead vocals (1974–1990, 2006–present)
Baz Warne – guitar, backing vocals (2000–present), lead vocals (2006–present)
Jim Macaulay – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2018–present, touring musician: 2012–2018)[65][66]
Toby Hounsham – keyboards, backing vocals (2021-present)

Set List:
Toiler on the Sea
Something Better Change
Sometimes
Water
Skin Deep
This Song (Disciples of Spess cover)
Nice ‘n’ Sleazy
Don’t Bring Harry
Strange Little Girl
Always the Sun
Peaches
Golden Brown
The Last Men on the Moon
(Get a) Grip (on Yourself)
Curfew
White Stallion
Nuclear Device
Relentless
Walk On By (Burt Bacharach cover)
Straighten Out
Duchess
Hanging Around
Encore:
The Lines
And If You Should See Dave…
Encore 2:
Go Buddy Go
No More Heroes