- Jean-Jacques Burnel
Infobox Musical artist
Name = Jean-Jacques Burnel
Img_capt = Jean-Jacques Burnel on stage withThe Stranglers in 2005
Background = khaki
Born = Birth date and age|1952|2|21|df=yes
Died =
Origin =London ,England
Instrument =bass guitar
Genre = rock, new wave, punk
Occupation = bass guitarist,composer
Years_active = 1974 – Present
Label =
Associated_acts =The Stranglers
URL =Jean-Jacques Burnel (born 21 February 1952 in
London ) also known as J J Burnel, is anAnglo -Frenchmusician andsongwriter , best known as the bass guitarist with the Britishrock band ,The Stranglers .Life and career
Burnel was born in
London , to French parents on 21 February 1952. He moved with his parents toGodalming inSurrey when he was about twelve and attended theRoyal Grammar School, Guildford and read history at theUniversity of Bradford . Burnel originally trained as a classical guitarist, but adopted thebass guitar as his instrument within the Stranglers. He has also sung lead vocals on about a quarter of theirsong s.Burnel has been with The Stranglers since their inception in 1974, but has also made two solo
album s "Euroman Cometh " in 1979, and "Un Jour Parfait " in 1988, as well as a collaborative album with fellow StranglerDave Greenfield , "Fire and Water (Ecoutez Vos Murs) " in 1983.Burnel is noted for his distinctive bass guitar sound, which is particularly prominent on earlier Stranglers recordings produced by
Martin Rushent , such as the hit singles "No More Heroes" and "Peaches". The aggressive and trebly sound was created using aFender Precision Bass withRotoSound roundwound strings played with aplectrum very close to the bridge, through a Hiwatt 200w amplifier with 2 Hiwatt 4*12 speaker cabinets. Such a cabinet was intended forelectric guitar , and the speaker cones on Burnel's unit were damaged. He now uses an Ashdown rig as can be seen in the picture. J J Burnel has been a RotoSound endorsee since the early 1980s, and has featured in theiradvertising .Despite only having lived there for a short period, Burnel received his call-up papers for
National service inFrance . He avoided this service due to the argument that his absence would indirectly damage the Stranglers as a band, and therefore the careers of the other members.He has also composed and performed some
music for theanime , "", including both the opening and ending themes, "We Were Lovers", and "You Won't See Me Coming" respectively.Leisure
*Burnel is a
karate expert and was reported to be running adojo inCambridgeshire ,England . In May 1991 when Burnel returned fromJapan , he was graded by Master Soeno ofShidokan as 2nd Dan. He is currently a 6th Dan and plans to spend six months in Japan to win his 7th Dan.
*He is also a motorcyclist, and a fan of theTriumph Bonneville .Discography
Albums
* "
Euroman Cometh " (1979) #40 (UK Albums Chart )
* "Fire and Water (Ecoutez Vos Murs) " (withDave Greenfield ) (1983) #94 (UK Albums Chart)
* "Un Jour Parfait " (1988)ingles
* "Freddie Laker (Concorde & Eurobus)" (1979)
* "Girl From the Snow Country" (1981) recalled due to label dispute.
* "They'll Never Know" (withSimon Gallup et al as "Fools Dance ") (1987)References
*
External links
* [http://www.stranglers.net The Rat's Lair]
* [http://www.rock-interviews.com/pageart.php?page=artistes/JJBurnel1&id=2&lang=fr Video Interviews with JJ Burnel - June 2007]
* [http://www.rock-interviews.com/pageart.php?page=artistes/JJBurnel2&id=10&lang=fr Video Interviews with JJ Burnel - November 2007]
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