THE STRANGLERS + BUZZCOKS @ BRIGHTON DOME – 29TH OCTOBER 2025
Tonight, The Stranglers descend upon Brighton Dome, bringing Buzzcocks with them in support. With regard to both bands, there is an elephant in the room which I will address straight away. There is a view that, as they now only have one remaining original member, their current line-up is somehow not valid. This is plainly nonsense.
In the case of Buzzcocks, although they initially broke up in the early 1980s, they re-formed in 1989 and have operated ever since. Although Pete Shelley passed away in 2018, the band continue, led by original member Steve Diggle. Bassist Chris Remington joined in 2008, whilst drummer Danny Farrant arrived in 2006.
The Stranglers have never split, remaining operational since 1974. Original singer/guitarist Hugh Cornwell left in 1990; his role is currently filled by Baz Warne, who joined on guitar in 2000 and took over vocals in 2006. Drummer Jim McCauley began deputising for Jet Black in the late 2000s and took over full-time in 2017. Keyboardist Dave Greenfield passed away in May 2020 and has been replaced by Toby Hounsham. These line-ups evolved naturally — therefore absolutely valid.
Buzzcocks play a set split between classics and 21st century gems. Steve Diggle is in fine voice. Destination Zero (b-side of 2020’s Gotta Get Better) is a fast highlight. Manchester Rain from 2022’s Sonics In The Soul proves, if proof were needed, that there is still plenty of life left. Closing with Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t Have) and Harmony In My Head is utterly unimpeachable. London’s 100 Club hosts them 30 Nov & 1 Dec — and Tunbridge Wells Forum on 12 Feb 2026.
Meanwhile, we gird our loins for the still formidable Stranglers. They walk on to Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien by Edith Piaf. Fitting. Opening with Goodbye Toulouse from the debut Rattus Norvegicus sets the tone. Jean-Jacques Burnel is in fine form — the bass still monstrous, though no karate kicks tonight.
Was It You (from Dreamtime) feels like a genuine deep-cut treat, complete with animated album artwork on the backdrop — tech embraced! Even the laid-back numbers retain that Stranglers menace, simply because they ARE The Stranglers. Baz Warne references the suicide that delayed trains getting to Brighton — crude, harsh, and yet typical Stranglers black humour.
15 Steps (Giants, 2012) bends towards rockabilly. Jean-Jacques Burnel spits out 5 Minutes with customary venom. The front-row “older” crowd are pleasingly bouncy. Tramp (La Folie) is gloriously elastic. As Golden Brown arrives, somebody yells “ere we go!!!” — the reaction is instant. Baz stands arms-wide for applause — and JJ corpses laughing.
Thrown Away (The Gospel According To The Meninblack) is as close as they get to jaunty. Pin Up (La Folie) comes complete with bikini-clad images on the backdrop — not entirely PC, but The Stranglers have pushed far worse. Mid-set Peaches lands — and in Baz’s hands “oh shit” becomes “oh shite”, plus a savage lyric swap to “inside Prince Andrew’s f***in’ head”.
Mercury Rising (Giants) brings a distorted guitar solo rarity. White Stallion (Dark Matters) sees the bass line mostly via keys while JJ sings. Toby Hounsham takes lead vocal on Dead Ringer and sounds suitably dangerous. Breathe (Dark Matters) starts on an acoustic loop, becomes thunderous, and features eardrum-cauterising feedback.
A closing crowd-pleasing trio of Something Better Change, Duchess and Hanging Around sets up the encore — Always The Sun, Mean To Me and No More Heroes. The intro to Mean To Me suggests Status Quo — honky-tonk keys adding to the illusion. No More Heroes is immense — JJ runs the bass intro twice, probably because even after nearly 50 years, he knows how bloody good it is. They walk off to Waltzinblack.
The Stranglers remain a shit-hot live band with a monstrous catalogue stretching from 1977 to (so far) 2022. When’s the next album and tour, lads?
WORDS: MARK KELLY PHOTOS: CRIS WATKINS
