Original personnel were singer/guitarist Hugh Cornwell (from Kentish Town, London), keyboardist/guitarist Hans Wärmling (from Sweden, replaced within two years by Brighton-born keyboardist Dave Greenfield), London-born bass guitarist Jean-Jacques Burnel and drummer Jet Black (real name Brian Duffy), a native of Ilford, Essex.
They began as a sinister sounding, hard-edged pub rock group, but eventually branched out to explore other styles of music. The Stranglers were, beginning in 1976, tangentially associated with punk rock, due in part to their opening for The Ramones' first British tour. The Stranglers were also associated with new wave music as well as gothic rock, but their idiosyncratic approach never fit completely within a musical genre.
In August 1990, founding member Cornwell left the band to pursue a solo career. In his autobiography, Cornwell states that he felt the band was a spent force creatively, and cited various examples of his increasingly acrimonious relationship with his fellow band-members, particularly Burnel. The remaining members recruited two replacements, including John Ellis, who had opened for the band in the 1970s as a member of The Vibrators, and singer Paul Roberts.
Interest in The Stranglers resurfaced when, in 2001, singer Tori Amos covered their song "Strange Little Girl" and titled the album it was featured on Strange Little Girls. "Golden Brown" was also used in the hit film Snatch by film director Guy Ritchie and extensively in the Australian film He Died With A Felafel In His Hand. Their hit "No More Heroes" was covered by Violent Femmes and used for the film Mystery Men. "Peaches", finally, also appears prominently in another British movie, Sexy Beast by director Jonathan Glazer.
The Stranglers had a critical and popular renaissance in 2004 (together with their first top 40 hit for 14 years - "Big Thing Coming") with the acclaimed Norfolk Coast album and a subsequent sell-out tour. The follow-up album, Suite XVI, was released in September 2006 (the title is a pun on "Sweet 16" and also a reference to the fact that it is the band's 16th studio album).
During the recording of Suite XVI Paul Roberts left the band to pursue his solocareer. Guitarist Baz Warne, who replaced John Ellis in 2000, became the main vocalist.
A quite rare Hugh Cornwell audio interview may be listened to on http://www.jasonwrightonline.com/
Sugar Bullets
The Stranglers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The red man just got the blues
From sucking on sugar bullets
Hey Chairman look over the wall
The little man is walking tall
From sucking on sugar bullets
The sun set in the East
Or the walls come tumbling down
So let us drink to missing friends
And call them to the feast
We'll bury the broken bones
Under the precious stone
And it just goes to show
Nobody knows what's in the future
And it just goes to show
Nobody knows at all
Hey Chairman don't look now
The new man will not kow tow
He's sucking on sugar bullets
I threw the coins last night
Broken lines in a blood red sky
And someone loading sugar bullets
Repeat chorus
The black queen with the ivory smile
The wild dog and the mystery smile
Are sucking on should be bullets
So Chairman don't feel bad
We think of the fun you're gonna have
Sucking those sugar bullets
The Stranglers's song "Sugar Bullets" contains lyrics that are full of political and social subtext. The lyrics are delivered in a very cryptic manner, which can be challenging to unravel. One possible interpretation is that the lyrics are discussing the effects of capitalism and consumerism on individuals and societies. The references to the Chairman and the red man could be interpreted as representing Communist regimes, while the mention of the new man is a nod to the rise of capitalist societies.
The line "from sucking on sugar bullets" is a metaphor for being seduced by the promises of capitalism and consumerism. The little man walking tall could be seen as a symbol for people who are benefiting from this system, while the black queen with the ivory smile and the wild dog could be seen as symbols of the powerful elite who run the system. The chorus talks about burying broken bones under precious stones, which could be a reference to the exploitation of the working class in order to create wealth and luxury for the wealthy.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Chairman have you heard the news
The singer is addressing the Chairman, asking if they have heard a particular piece of news.
The red man just got the blues
The indigenous people are struggling due to the negative effects of colonization.
From sucking on sugar bullets
The colonizers have given the indigenous people addictive substances as a means of subjugation.
Hey Chairman look over the wall
The artist is again addressing the Chairman, telling them to look beyond their immediate surroundings.
The little man is walking tall
The oppressed have found ways to resist and remain resilient in the face of adversity.
From sucking on sugar bullets
The oppressed have found a way to rebel and assert their autonomy through the addictive substances given to them by their oppressors.
Well I never thought I'd see
The singer is expressing surprise at a turn of events.
The sun set in the East
A metaphorical event that represents something that defies expectations has occurred.
Or the walls come tumbling down
Another surprising event that defies expectations has occurred.
So let us drink to missing friends
The artist is raising a toast to loved ones who are absent.
And call them to the feast
The singer is inviting those friends to a shared celebration.
We'll bury the broken bones
A reference to the buried remains of those who have been oppressed and have resisted, but ultimately been defeated.
Under the precious stone
A metaphorical way of describing how those who have been defeated will be remembered in a way that honors their courage.
And it just goes to show
An acknowledgment of the uncertainty of the future.
Nobody knows what's in the future
The future is impossible to predict with absolute certainty.
And it just goes to show
An acknowledgment of the uncertainty of the future.
Nobody knows at all
The future is entirely unpredictable and unknown.
Hey Chairman don't look now
The singer is again addressing the Chairman, suggesting that there is something they need to be aware of.
The new man will not kow tow
Those who are oppressed will not remain subservient, but will instead assert their autonomy.
He's sucking on sugar bullets
The oppressed are rebelling through the means provided by their oppressors.
I threw the coins last night
A reference to divination or fortune-telling, which is often used as a way of trying to make sense of the unpredictable future.
Broken lines in a blood red sky
The results of the divination were uncertain or dire.
And someone loading sugar bullets
The oppressors are continuing their efforts to subjugate the oppressed.
The black queen with the ivory smile
A powerful woman with a contrasting outward appearance that belies her true intentions or actions.
The wild dog and the mystery smile
Two more examples of individuals who are not what they seem, and who may be working against those who are oppressed.
Are sucking on should be bullets
The enemies of the oppressed should be fighting against them, but are instead indulging in addictive substances provided by the oppressors.
So Chairman don't feel bad
The singer is showing empathy and reassurance to the Chairman.
We think of the fun you're gonna have
The oppressors will continue to enjoy their power, even as the oppressed begin to resist and fight against them.
Sucking those sugar bullets
The addictive substances provided by the oppressors will continue to be used to control those who are oppressed.
Contributed by Caroline R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.