In late May/early July 2000, JJ took a solo act, "JJ Burnel - Songs & Stories - Alone and Acoustic", on the road around the UK. As the title suggests, these were one-man performances, consisting of songs old and new, plus accompanying dialogue, in a more intimate setting than the usual Stranglers outing.

The dates for this tour were as follows:

As the tour progressed, SIS OnLine was literally bombarded with comments (all very complimentary), photos, etc.. We would like to thank all of you who took the time to write to us.

We commissioned two reviews, which are reproduced below:

When we arrived at 7:15pm, the doors to the venue were still locked. Whilst standing outside chatting to two other Stranglers fans we'd just met, we noticed JJ talking to a group of fans about 30 yards away and they were heading for the pub. We followed, deciding that the gig couldn't start without him!

When we noticed JJ had left, we headed back to the Arts Centre and took our front row seats. He came on stage just after 8pm to face a lonely looking stool, a bottle of red wine and a packed-out venue. Being so close, we had a fantastic view. He still looks about 35; how does he stay looking so young?

He asked us to pretend that we were in his front room and to just have a good time to which someone shouted out, "I like your curtains, JJ!" JJ shouted back, "Which ones, the beef curtains?" to much laughter from everyone. He then settled down to play his first song which, to everyone's delight was "Jellyfish". However, he hadn't switched on the amp and when nothing happened, one of the road crew came running out to help. As we all laughed, JJ told us in graphic detail just how nervous he was!

In between songs, he chatted to the audience about where he was born, being christened Jean-Jacques, his early musical influences (Beach Boys, The Who), writing his first song at 15 years old ("Go Buddy Go"), Europe and the story behind "La Folie" amongst other things. It was nice to have an introduction/background to each song.

There was also a previously unheard verse of "Something Better Change" which, JJ explained, was taken out before the song was released to make it shorter, in line with the songs of the day. JJ also played some brilliant new stuff which he wrote whilst alone in Norfolk last year. He told us the story of some frogs he saw which got run over as they tried to cross the road during mating season (seriously) and played a beautiful piece of music about it.

The whole atmosphere was very personal and different to a normal gig where you can't really feel close to a band.

At the end, we hung around and managed to meet him and have a chat (without some big security guard getting in the way) which was the icing on the cake.

The only downsides were that we couldn't drink in the theatre, whilst JJ sat on stage drinking red wine(!) and the night didn't last long enough.

Thanks JJ for a great evening; for signing autographs and letting us take countless photos of you which I have waited 19 years for!! Come back to Swindon soon either with or without the rest of the band. Also, thanks to Andy & Mark for taking the photos.

Some of the tracks played were (in no particular order):

Jellyfish; Go Buddy Go; Something Better Change; Where I Live; Never To Look Back; European Female; Coup De Grace; Skin Deep.

Arrived at 7.45pm, and took a pew (literally). It was a seated concert in a church!! It was a very different type of venue, never thought I'd see the day when I would actually enjoy sitting in a church for 2 hours. There was a good crowd of people, in fact I would say that it was near to a 'sell-out'.

I have never seen JJ solo before, so this was going to be an experience. JJ arrived on stage at 8pm armed with a bottle of Red Wine, which he casually sipped throughout the evening. At one point he said "I think I may have drunk a bit too much", and his wife (who was sitting in the row in front of us) said, "Yes I think so too", (or words to that effect). His Son also at some point in the evening turned round and said something about "His Dad's jokes not being very good", quite funny to hear 'family' points of view rather than the fans.

JJ also said (after playing a guitar solo), that if someone's mobile phone had rang it would have put him off, he was obviously really concentrating on playing that particular song perfectly. What made the night so different was that before each song he told a story based on that particular song. We heard the unknown 3rd verse of "Something Better Change", which was 'interesting' to say the least. I'm not surprised it didn't make it onto the single, it never would have got any air-play!!

One song (an instrumental - title forgotten), was apparently written while he was staying in a house in Norfolk (I think). The front part of the house overlooked the sea, and the rear of the house overlooked a marsh: at night he could hear the frogs croaking. In the morning when he used to go out he would see the frogs, squashed, after trying to make it to the other side of the road!! A Very bizarre experience for a song to be based on, I think! He also spoke of the bands interest in Ufology, and how the church we were sitting in was really like a space rocket, pointing up to the sky.!! (I would never have thought of a church spire like that before). He explained that Fred & George was a song written by Chopin (with JJ's own words) about the affair between Chopin and George Sands. He spoke of many different stories that have hit the press, with his version of events, one being when Fagin got into Buckingham Palace and found the Queens bedroom: he went on to add that Buckingham Palace has 380 rooms, and even Phillip doesn't remember where her bedroom is!!

Set List:

JellyFish; Something Better Change; Skin Deep; Go Buddy Go; Talking About Me and You (new song); Big Thing Coming (new song); In The End; Quark, Strangeness & Charm; Coup De Grace; Never To Look Back; European Female; You Did it to Me? (new song); Garden of Eden; Un Jour Parfait; Instrumental about frogs crossing road; Where I Live; Fred and George; Talkin' bout Me & You; Norfolk Coast.

(Unfortunately I can't remember every song he sang, but "Thanks" to Steve Martin & Others for giving me the set list, and to everyone else who jogged my memory on various Bits & Pieces.)