We can currently report on four tribute projects. Firstly, there are "No More Heroes" the band and (confusingly enough) "No More Heroes" the album. Both these projects produced albums in 1998. A live offering from the band is apparently in the works. Two other tribute bands are "The Meninblack" (who released a live album in 2000) and "Orange Alert" (who released a live album in 1999). Details of these projects are provided below: if you are aware of (or are part of) other tribute-projects, please let us know and they will be included here.

"No More Heroes" are a Nottingham (UK) based tribute band who evolved out of the "Flip-top Heads"; they can be found actively gigging around the central-UK area. The band consists of Ash Reynolds (drums), Rob Holmes (bass/vocals), Sprock (keyboards) and Dave Berridge (guitars/vocals). It must be said that while they certainly look nothing like the Stranglers (something of an impossibility), they do set out to re-create the sound of the originals in a small bar/club setting. The fact that Stranglers fans will travel large distances to attend gigs and that they have their own group of ardent followers is testimony to their musical abilities and success in re-creating a Stranglers-esque live experience.

Due to popular demand, No More Heroes have tended to concentrate on the period 1977 to 1983 (however, newer material is now being included). In the summer of 1998, they released their first (and much anticipated) album "Rats, Ravens and Men in Black" (Fliptop Records 77283CD). The track-listing for this album is:

Waltz in Black; Grip; London Lady; Princess of the Streets; Hanging Around; Something Better Change; Straighten Out; No More Heroes; Bring on the Nubiles; Nice 'n' Sleazy; Toiler on the Sea; The Raven; Nuclear Device; Thrown Away; Golden Brown; European Female; Outside Tokyo.

While highlighting their live set, this album also serves to show that, rather than simply mimicking the originals in carbon-copy fashion, they can produce subtle (and, very enjoyable) new twists on old favourites. Nowhere is this more evident than with their stirring version of "The Raven". Certainly a worthy addition to any fan's collection.

"Rats, Ravens and Men in Black" should be available from most UK retailers (RRP £12.99), direct from the band's distributor, Plastic Head Distribution (UK £13.99, rest of the world £14.99, postage included), or at gigs.

Another source for this album can be found at http://www.imvs.com.

"No More Heroes" have their own web page at: http://www.stranglerstribute.co.uk/, for updated band info and live dates.

In March 1998, we were fortunate to witness a "No More Heroes" gig at the Checkers pub, Hucknal, Nottinghamshire. On this occasion, Dave Berridge was recovering from a throat operation; therefore, singing duties went to Pete Howells from Telford, a short-notice stand-in, sporting a short-cropped mohican. The place was packed to the gills, with a very appreciative audience witnessing the band pounding through two forty-minute sessions. Not only did the regulars give an impressive performance, but Mr Howells excelled; all in all, a very enjoyable evening. Certainly a band worth checking out.

The summer of 1998 also saw the release of "No More Heroes", a multi-band tribute album put together by US-based "Elevator Music". The bands are mostly from the US (plus one from the UK and one from Portugal).

The track-listing for this album is as follows:

SONG Shut Up Something Better Change No More Heroes Curfew Bring on the Nubiles Tank Rok It to the Moon Vietnamerica Duchess Choosey Suzy Go Buddy Go London Lady Nice 'n' Sleazy Peaches Golden Brown Always the Sun Love 30

ARTIST U.S. Chaos The Reducers Wreached Ones The Truents U.S. Chaos Ugly Truth Joe Diaz and the Disruptors Sanity Assassins Time Bomb 77 Tedio Boys Wat Tyler Dead End Kids Candy Snatchers The Invaders The Independents Sisters of Morrissey Blast Fence

From my perspective, this album contains a strange mish-mash of styles and treatments of familiar tracks, from those obviously trying to get close to the original ("Something Better Change" and "Always the Sun") to the rather bizarre ("Rok it to the Moon"). As is mentioned in "London Lady", not all the bands on the album have keyboards, so it's interesting to spot the creative ways of getting around this shortcoming (particularly evident when covering Stranglers songs). The influence of other styles has also lead to some interesting results -- the overtones of B-52s on "Bring on the Nubiles" and the "Ska" treatments of "Peaches" and "Golden Brown" are prime examples. Special mention must also go to the heavy version of "Love 30".

The fact that so many bands, from diverse musical genres would take time out to contribute to this tribute project is highly laudable. While all the material is probably not going to appeal to every Stranglers fan, the album as a whole is certainly well worth a listen.

Here's the ordering details for "No More Heroes", as sent out by Fernando Pinto of Elevator Music:

email to : fernando@rcn.com.
CD / $10. w/postage included for U.S.A.; $15.00 world w/postage.
Send a US money order or cash to
Elevator Music
P.O. Box 1502
New Haven CT 06511 USA

In the US, this CD is available from distributors such as: Caroline Distribution, Rotz, Revolver USA and Surefire.

In the UK, this album is available via Plastic Head Distribution; in the Netherlands by Sonic Rendezvous and in Portugal by Ataque Sonoro.

The Meninblack are a UK-based tribute band, who date back to 1991. Julian Hight (AKA "Bugsy") provided the following information:

"Stranglers tribute band 'The Meninblack' played their first gig in November 1991 in Hampshire, after coming together for a jam and realising that they could play a dozen Stranglers songs straight off, all of them being ardent fans.

Singer/Guitarist Bugsy, shortly moved to Somerset, and lost touch with the rest of the band. It wasn’t until November 1997, some 6 years later that they bumped into each other at a Stranglers gig in Basingstoke and decided that after the success and sheer enjoyment of the previous gig, they should get back together for a repeat performance.

After two successful gigs Paul the Bass player moved to Slovakia, and is returning this summer [1999] to play a gig at the Window Arts Centre in Bath on Saturday 17 July.

Toby possesses all the wizardry necessary for the demanding Keyboard parts and also plays in chart band 'Rialto', who had top 20 hits last year with "Untouchable", "Monday Morning 5.15" and "Dream another Dream", along with drummer Anthony.

Bugsy auditioned for the job of singer when Hugh Cornwell left the Stranglers, and Paul uses the original bass rig as used by the Stranglers on their first two albums, therefore obtaining that 'Baracuda Bass' sound.

They perform authentic renditions of all the old favourites from the original Stranglers line up, including; Peaches, No More Heroes, Strange Little Girl and Golden Brown. Please e-mail all Meninblack comments/enquiries to julianhight@hotmail.com"

The Meninblack also have a web page at: www.themeninblack.org.uk.

In January 2000, the Meninblack released a live CD. Recorded at the Window Arts Center, Bath, on 17th July 1999, this release is entitled "TheMeninblack-Stranglers Tribute Band, 'All Live in Bath'".

The track-listing is: Toiler on the Sea; Tank; Hanging Around; Strange Little Girl; (Get a) Grip (on Yourself); Nice 'N' Sleazy; Straighten Out; The Raven; Golden Brown; Always the Sun; 5 Minutes; Peaches; Duchess; Nuclear Device; No More Heroes; Bring on the Nubiles; Something Better Change.

This CD is available exclusively from the official Stranglers merchandise page.

Four More Heroes are a UK-based tribute band, from Leeds: initially, most of their gigging was in the Yorkshire area, but they are now spreading their net a bit wider.

The band came together in February 1998, and consists of: Jonn Hall (Guitars), Howdyd Gorzden (Bass), Mick 'The Doc' Turley (Keyboards) and Nicole (Drums). Originally named "Orange Alert", they changed their name to "Four More Heroes" in January 2001. In August 1999 the band conducted a tour in celebration of the Stranglers' 25th anniversary.

September 1999 saw the release of the band's first CD. Entitled "live@theserbian.leeds.uk", this live recording features 15 tracks: Sometimes; Grip; Toiler on the Sea; Who Wants the World; Burning Up Time; Bring on the Nubiles; Something Better Change; London Lady; Hanging Around; Golden Brown; Tank; No More Heroes; Peaches; Duchess; Down in the Sewer.