As mentioned below, the Stranglers will be playing a semi acoustic session in the Covent Garden Doc Martens store on 10th September. Appearance time will be 1.00 pm. The performance (and subsequent interviews) will be posted on the Doc Martens site.

SIS Canada have moved address. The new contact information is:

SIS Canada
62 Benedict Court
London, Ontario
N5Y 5H6
Canada

Phone/FAX: +1 (519) 673 5105

Marcel, of SIS Holland, informs us that publication of Rattus Report has ceased, due to a lack of members. SIS Holland will now act as a phone and email service.

Telephone: (0031) 0252518511
email: mvo70@yahoo.com

Apparently, JJ is to be featured on "After They Were Famous" on ITV. There may be regional variations on transmission time, but the slot forwarded to us was on Friday 3rd September at 22:00.

To coincide with the Stranglers' 25th anniversary, Doctor Martens are commissioning a special 25th anniversary Stranglers Boot.

It would appear that the design is to be changed from that previously announced on this page. The boot is now scheduled to feature a black, embossed rat logo (which will be harder-wearing than the original red or silver versions). More details as we get them.

To mark this event, the band will be playing 4 or 5 semi acoustic tracks in the Covent Garden Doc Martens store on 10th September -- this date is now CONFIRMED. The band will also be interviewed during this appearance. The performance and interviews will be posted on the Doc Martens site, and there will be a link on the new "Hits and Heroes" CD to enable fans to download the event.

Questions for the interview session can be sent to us at liggins@icdc.com. Please write "25th Anniversary Questions" in the subject line and get them to us before August 25th. The best questions will be used on the day.

A fan-submitted review of the Atlantic Highway Rock Festival has been added to our "Gig Reviews" page.

A cover version of "No More Heroes", by the Violent Femmes appears on the soundtrack for the newly released movie "Mystery Men" (starring Ben Stiller, Tom Waits and Paul Ruebens, among others). The album is on the Interscope label, Catalogue no. INTD-90345.

"Spic 'n' Span", the new limited edition "hand made" CD by John Ellis will be available shortly. This new release is a compilation of instrumental and vocal music recorded by John over the last 20 years, and ranges from early 4-track demos, via unreleased album tracks, to pieces recorded in the last few months. All these tracks are available for the first time.

The cost of this CD is £30.00 + £1.50 p+p. Payment should be made by cheque, euro-cheque, postal order or international money order, made out in Pounds Sterling only. Copies may be ordered from: Furious Productions, 16 Crouch Hill, Islington, London, N4 4AU, England.

This album is not to be confused with the recent "Gallery Music" series released by Voiceprint Records.

Today, we received the following release from Jon Hall, of the UK Stranglers tribute band "Orange Alert":

"As part of Orange Alert's celebration of 25 years of The Stranglers, we have the following London dates confirmed.

Friday 10th September - THE ROCK GARDEN - Covent Garden.
Saturday 11th September - THE HOPE AND ANCHOR - Islington.

It was the 11th September 1974 when The Stranglers name was registered as a trade name. The Hope and Anchor was where The Stranglers had their first London residency. We all feel lucky and privileged to tread on the sacred ground.

We are hoping to add a third southern date on Sunday 12th probably in Brighton. We have around 30 dates lined up from August to the end of the year. Most are detailed on our web site".

No More Heroes will be playing the Victoria Inn at Derby (opposite the Train Station) this Friday 30th July. The band will be on stage at around 9:15pm. The gig is being recorded for possible inclusion on the band's live CD, due to be released later in the year.

Marian Shepherd of SIS UK has asked that we post the following statement:

SIS UK would like to state that having fulfilled a promise to relevant parties to provide the material for the 2nd issue of Voiceprint's newsletter, we have taken the decision to have no further involvement with any future projects or publications issued by the Voiceprint Group of Companies. We remain in very close contact with the band and will keep fans informed as soon as future plans are confirmed.' - SIS UK July '99

For those interested, the show will be called "Changing", and will be at the Changing Room Gallery, Aveling Road (Adj. LLord Park), Forest Road, Walthamstow, London E17. The show will run from 27th September to 3rd October 1999 (10am to 6pm). The gallery is open on weekends and admission is free.

The Stranglers will be playing the Rock and Blues Custom show (July 29th to 31st) at the Pentrich Show Ground, in Derbyshire's Amber Valley. Other bands on the bill include Hawkwind, Bad Manners and Doctor and the Medics. A custom bike show is also part of the event. Tickets can be purchased from the Ripley Tourist Information Centre (£23), or at the gate (£25). For more information, 'phone (01773) 841488.

The Stranglers tribute band "The Meninblack" will be playing their yearly gig on Saturday 17 July at the Window Arts Centre, Bath. Described as "deadringer soundalikes for the originals", they will be playing "all the favourites from the original Stranglers line-up's repertoire". The show starts at 9.00pm and admission is £3.50.