This interview was conducted by David Price, at the Manchester Evening News arena on 16th December 2003. A shortened version originally appeared in the winter 2004-2005 issue of "Torque" magazine (publication of the "Riders Association of Triumph").

Below is the full, re-edited, version of this interview.

JJ - Jean Jacques Burnel
DP - David Price

16th December 2003 and I am at the Manchester Evening News arena to interview Jean Jacques Burnel, bassist with The Stranglers and for many years a rider of Triumph motorcycles. The band are playing there later in the evening. Many of you who were teenagers during the mid to late 1970's will remember the punk scene; The Stranglers were tagged onto the movement due in part to their aggressive stance with many of their gigs being attended by Hells Angels.

In fact JJ was for a while a Hells Angel often backing up threats with physical action. 30 years on and despite a couple of changes in their line up, The Stranglers are still going strong, playing "real music" to full houses and JJ is still riding Triumphs.

I began the interview by asking JJ how old he was when his journey into the world of biking began.

JJ/ I was 16 and took my test on a scooter, I think it was an L150"

DP/ Was any member of your family into biking?

JJ/ My father had a Sunbeam S8 but other than that no one else.

DP/ What was your first bike?

JJ/ My first bike was a 1942 Harley Davidson WLC750 that I eventually had to sell to start The Stranglers off, which in retrospect wasn't too bad because with my first Stranglers royalty cheque in 1977 I bought a Triumph Trident that originally came from Saudi.

Then not long after I bought a Bonneville that I had for many years until it was stolen in the South of France. With the closure of the Meriden factory I ended up buying a Harley 883 Sportster fitted with Hi Lift cams and upped to 1200cc.

DP/ I read somewhere that prior to starting The Stranglers you had wanted to become a Harley mechanic and were saving up to go to Milwaukee on a training course. Do you have any regrets about not going?

JJ/ (Laughs) No! It was more of a schoolboy dream. Nuff said.

One of the defining moments for the British motorcycle industry during the late 70's was the Triumph workers co-operative fight to stop the closure of the Meriden factory.

Their fight did not escape the attention of JJ.

He went as far to make reference to the fact on the inside sleeve of his solo album "Euroman Cometh". The album also featured a Bonneville on tickover providing the backbeat to the instrumental track "Triumph of the Good City" - During 1979 JJ embarked on a solo tour; I personally remember attending the Manchester Apollo gig. He had brought his Bonneville with him on tour; I rode pillion with him around the car park at the Manchester Apollo. He said that the Bonneville would be used during the said track during the gig on stage no less. I thought he was taking the p***.

After enjoying the warm up act of dancers made up of many of the Hot Gossip troupe it was the turn of JJ and his Euroband. There was no sign of his Triumph; halfway through the set he disappears. A few minutes later and a long thick plank is placed against the stage and he rides his bike up the plank onto the stage, kills the ignition, mikes up the exhaust, introduces the track and with no further ado fires it back up again and the track begins. Original or what!

DP/ So how did you get to ride one of the Hinckley Triumphs?

JJ/ Well a good few years ago we were shooting a video for the album Written in Red close to the Jack Lilley's dealership. I had seen the new Thunderbird and thought it looked quite tasty. We spoke to Steve Lilley who loaned me a bike to use in the video. In the end of the shoot I ride off on an Adventurer.

DP/ Yeah I understand that Steve managed to persuade the factory to lend you a bike, which worked out well for you.

DP/ What other Triumphs have you owned?

JJ/ Well I have owned an X75, a Thunderbird, Thunderbird Sport which was a much tighter bike than the standard Tbird braking better, faster and pretty good on distances. Then I had a Speedtriple for a year, which was very sexy but not so good as the Tbird Sport on a long journey as it was a bit hard on the arse. The X75 I had was one of the first moulded bikes available; it had a great paint scheme. I did a photo shoot with the Daily Mirror and it threw its oil all over the cameraman!

DP/ Have you always had a preference for cruiser type machines, as until recently you have not ridden a faired bike.

JJ/ Yeah I had but since I bought my Sprint which I really love.

DP/ What kind of performance accessories do you fit to your bike?

JJ/ I have fitted performance parts in the past such as I explained with the Harley 883. The (Hinckley) Triumphs I have owned though I've not fitted anything to them, I mean you only get 2-3 horses more so is it really worth it. Mine is 108hp and can on the continent cruise at 125mph. I really don't think that Triumphs need it that much. Although I think Harleys do benefit from it (laughs).

DP/ Do you do any of your own maintenance?

JJ/ No not really, I only change the tyres/wheels when required I don't really have the time.

DP/ How often do you ride?

JJ/ As often as possible, typically I can be anywhere between 6-12000 miles a year. I run down to the South of France to see my mother. The route is beautiful I think it was designed for bikers! The run goes through the mountains with undulating bends, hairpins which make for a great days riding.

DP/ Describe the way you ride.

JJ/ France and its 3 times the size of Britain with the same population so other than the big cities or major routes traffic can be pretty sparse. There are some really fast roads like drag strips so you can really go for it. Since I got the RS I can hold the corner much better. I've also learnt to hang off.

DP/ Have you ever done a track day?

JJ/ No I haven't but I'd like to. (We digress slightly here) Eddie Jordan asked if he could play drums with us, we said yeah. We went to so we had two drum kits on stage and we did No More Heroes and a few others. There were all these celebrities there from the world of motor racing and a product placement by Harley. One bike there I had not seen before. They took this bike out of a crate and it was the V Rod and I got to ride it. I was the first person in the UK to ride the V Rod.

DP/ Do your commitments with the Stranglers really restrict your riding time?

JJ/ If we are busy with festivals around Europe then it does to a degree, but I sometimes ride to our gigs. I rode to the Bulldog Bash this year and a couple of others.

DP/ What do you think of the Triumph range of bikes?

JJ/ Good, in fact I'm excited about what Triumph have been doing recently. The big Daytona with a 140hp is a great bike; I borrowed one when the clutch cable snapped on my Sprint. I rode the Daytona to our last World Convention in the South West.

That 200mph that we heard about, it's a shame it didn't make it into production. The new Rocket III looks awesome. I'd really like to get a ride on one of those.

DP/ If you could have a stable of five bikes what would you have?

JJ/ Well even though I haven't ridden it the Rocket III, RS Sprint, 955i Daytona, the new Bonneville and a Speedtriple but all that could change if something else comes out!

DP/ So you like Triumphs then?

JJ/ (Laughs) I've never owned a Jap bike ever. I ridden some of them; a friend of mine has a Blade and I did 125mph on that. They're really different bikes, so smooth.

DP/ I've had a few performance Jap bikes V max, ZRX1100, X11 but they lack the character of the Trumpets. A few years ago I owned a X1 Lightening (a Buell). It was a great bike. Did a track day on it no problem but it just didn't seem right so I sold it and bought my second Speedtriple.

JJ/ When was that?

DP/ December 2002, it's the one with the revised 955 engine and sharper steering.

JJ/ Yeah the engine is not that different to my Sprint.

DP/ Have you ever been to the new Triumph factory and toured the facility?

JJ/ No I haven't. I keep meaning to go but they stopped the tours. (Bruno are you listening!)

DP/ Do you take either of your children out on your bike?

JJ/ Yeah my son and daughter. My wife isn't too keen though.

DP/ Are there any other bikers in the Stranglers?

JJ/ No just me although Dave use to ride.

DP/ Are you a member of RAT?

JJ/ I used to be.

DP/ I'll send you a membership form.

The call goes for The Stranglers to get ready to take the stage and the interview has to end. They are previewing songs from their new album "Norfolk Coast".

Over the many years I have listened to the Stranglers music there has always been some reference or other to JJ's love of motorcycles. When they take the stage these days, and in fact for many years now, JJ usually has a tee shirt with the Triumph logo on the front. He has also appeared in numerous editorials over the years discussing his love of bikes.

On their new release "Long Black Veil" there is a track called "Life's too Short" and again his love of motorcycling emerges in his writing as he describes his journey to and through France on his bike. We read of TV Celebrities taking their bike test and buying this bike and that. Always splashed over the spreadsheets for maximum exposure.

It was refreshing to sit and listen to him during the 90 minutes of the interview and know it was from the heart and not for personal gain when he spoke.