Hans Wärmling

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Hans Wärmling


Img_capt =
Background = khaki
Born = c. 1942
Died = 1995 (aged 53)
Origin = Sweden
Instrument = Guitar, Piano, Saxophone
Genre = Rock, new wave
Occupation = Guitarist, composer
Years_active = 1964 – 1974
Label =
Associated_acts = The Jackie Fountains
Johnny Sox
The Stranglers
URL =

Hans Wärmling (c. 1942–1995) was a Swedish musician and songwriter, and was a founding member and keyboardist of the British rock band, The Stranglers. His most notable achievement was as co-writer of the 1982 UK Top 40 release of "Strange Little Girl". He drowned in a boating accident in 1995.

Early years

The Jackie Fountains

Little is known of Hans Wärmling's childhood or teenage years. It is known that he was the guitar player in a rhythm and blues band called "The Jackie Fountains" that formed in 1964 and played in the Gnesta area of Sweden until 1967. His brother, Peter Wärmling, became their manager and provided rehearsal facilities. In this band he was known by the nickname of 'Hasse'. [ [http://www.freewebs.com/featheredapple66/index.htm The Jackie Fountains, a history by Peter Wärmling] Retrieved: 2 August 2008]

Johnny Sox

In 1972 a young Hugh Cornwell had travelled to Lund in Sweden and took up a position in the local university hospital whilst studying for a PhD in biochemistry.Cornwell 2004, p. 40.] Cornwell became friends with Hans Wärmling who happened to be working at the same hospital as a male nurse.Cornwell 2004, p. 40.]

Wärmling suggested that Hugh Cornwell could provide English lyrics to some of the 500 songs that he had recorded on a reel to reel tape recorder and they quickly became close friends. [Cornwell 2004, p. 46] Other musicians (Jan Knutsson, Gyrth Godwin and 'Chicago Mike') were recruited to form the band 'Johnny Sox'. In 1973 Cornwell decided to end his academic studies in Sweden and moved back to London, persuading the other members of 'Johnny Sox' to move with him although Wärmling chose to remain in his home country.

'Johnny Sox' continued to play in London pubs and clubs until mid-1974 [Cornwell 2004, p. 63] with Jet Black joining the band to replace the original drummer 'Chicago Mike'. Jean-Jacques Burnel had also joined the band line-up after being given a lift by Gyrth Godwin. [Cornwell 2004, p. 67.] Relations within the band deteriorated and both Godwin and Knutsson decided to return to Sweden. Cornwell convinced both Black and Burnel that they needed Hans Wärmling to fill the gap who, once contacted, came to London immediately. [Cornwell 2004, p. 70.]

The Stranglers

With the line-up of Black, Burnel, Cornwell and Wärmling the band renamed themselves 'The Guildford Stranglers' and began playing gigs again in pubs and clubs, mainly playing cover versions of MOR pop tunes. Wärmling was far from happy with this musical direction; in particular, he objected to having to learn and play "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" and he suddenly left the band, leaving the bus while they were travelling to a gig at a bar mitzvah in North London. [Cornwell 2004, p. 73.] Wärmling and Cornwell did not meet again until 1994.His position as keyboard player was soon filled by Dave Greenfield.

ong writing credits and discography

Hans Wärmling is co-credited with writing the music for three early (1974) Stranglers tracks: "Wasted",Cornwell, Drury 2001, p. 343.] "My Young Dreams", [Cornwell, Drury 2001, p.34.] and "Strange Little Girl".Cornwell, Drury 2001, p. 343.] These tracks with Wärmling playing keyboards can be heard on the compilation album "The Early Years '74 '75 '76 Rare Live and Unreleased". Most notably "Strange Little Girl", re-released with revised lyrics and Greenfield on keyboards reached number seven in the UK Top 40 in 1982. [Buckley, 1997. p. 292.] "Strange Little Girl" was later released as a cover version by Tori Amos.

Death

Hans Wärmling died in a boating accident near Gothenburg in 1995. On hearing of his death, Jean-Jacques Burnel rang Hugh Cornwell and left a message on his answering machine. He was disappointed that Cornwell did not reply. [Buckley 1997, p. 221.]

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Buckley, David. "No Mercy-The Authorised and Uncensored Biography of The Stranglers". London. Hodder and Stoughton. 1997. ISBN 0-340-68062-8
* Cornwell, Hugh, "A Multitude of Sins". London. Harper Collins Publishers, 2004. ISBN 0-00-719082-4
* Cornwell, Hugh and Drury, Jim. "The Stranglers-Song by Song". London. Sanctuary Publishing Ltd. 2001 ISBN 1-86074-362-5

External links

* [http://www.stranglers.net/b_ground.html The Rat's Lair - Official Stranglers website- Band history]