Jet Black
Jet Black performing with The Stranglers at the 2006 Bestival
Background information
Birth name	Brian John Duffy
Also known as	Jet Black
Born	26 August 1938 (1938-08-26) (age 71)
Origin	Ilford, Essex, England
Genres	Jazz, Punk, New Wave
Occupations	Professional drummer; electronic drum programmer
Instruments	Drums
Years active	Early 1970s - present
Labels	EMI (as per The Stranglers)
Associated acts	The Stranglers

Jet Black (born Brian John Duffy, 26 August 1938,^[1][2] Ilford, Essex) is an English drummer and one of the founder members of punk rock / new wave band The Stranglers.^[3]

[edit] Career

[edit] Early years

Black was a successful businessman up until the mid-1970s, owning a fleet of ice cream vans,^[4] and an off-licence in Guildford, called 'The Jackpot'. This establishment was the base for the early Stranglers.^[5][6]

He became a full-time professional musician in the mid 1970s and applied to join the Hugh Cornwell-led band Johnny Sox after reading an advertisement in the Melody Maker magazine.^[7] Johnny Sox would evolve into The Stranglers in 1974.^[8]

[edit] Later years

His style is usually simple and jazz-influenced^[9], although "Duchess" and "Down in the Sewer" are examples of Stranglers songs that feature more frantic drumming.

In the mid 1980s, Black elected to cease playing acoustic drums in the recording studio and used a Simmons kit triggered by pick-ups, most notably on the Feline and Aural Sculpture albums.

Black is still currently drumming for The Stranglers, despite his advancing years.^[10][11][12] His name is frequently chanted by the crowd at concerts.^[13]

[edit] Possible retirement

Speaking ahead of their 2008/2009 tour, Stranglers bassist Jean-Jacques Burnel said: "None of us are getting any younger but our drummer, Jet Black, is 70 now so I don't know how much longer he's going to want to carry on. I mean, he was always a lot older than the rest of the band but I don't think we'd carry on without him."^[14]

However, in October 2009, it was announced that the band (featuring Black) would embark on a 16-date tour in February and March 2010.^[15]

[edit] Views on The Stranglers

He has said he is particularly fond of The Raven album because it was "the first time The Stranglers got major critical approval in the newspapers."^[16]

He wrote a short book, Much Ado About Nothing, which detailed the riots in France which were blamed on The Stranglers' presence in 1981.^[17]

[edit] Customised equipment

During a long career in music, Black, like many other drummers, became aware of certain practical limitations inherent in the basic kit design and set about addressing the issue in the form of the now patented 'Jet Black Power Bass Drum Pedal'. This has brought new freedoms of comfort and technical feasibility to drummers. The 'Jet Black Power Bass Drum Pedal' enables the bass drum to be placed anywhere and yet remain playable.^[18][19]

[edit] Illness

In March 2007, it was announced on The Stranglers' website that he was suffering from atrial fibrillation and consequently refrained from appearing with the band until he had recovered. He played a full Stranglers concert in early June and regularly played with the band again, although he was unable to travel very long distances at that time.

In mid-2008, he was absent from several Stranglers gigs.^[20][21] It was shortly thereafter announced that he was suffering from chest problems and was "not rushing back to work" on the advice of his doctor. In September 2008, he returned to full rehearsals and began touring with the band on 13 October.^[22]

During his absences, his temporary replacement was Ian Barnard, who is also his full-time drum tech. He was also replaced by Barnard in a concert in Helsinki, on 13 January 2009 because of jet lag.

[edit] Honour campaign

In 2008, an online petition on the British Government website campaigning for him to be included in the next list of honours attracted 477 signatures and was mentioned in the national press.^[23]

[edit] Personal life

His second wife, Helena, left him following several arguments over the presence of The Stranglers rehearsing in their home during the early days of the band.^[24]

He has apparently had no contact with former Stranglers singer Hugh Cornwell since he left the band in 1990. According to Cornwell's 2004 autobiography, when he telephoned Black to announce his resignation, the latter's response was simply "OK, fine."^[24]

He currently lives in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, where he reportedly designs and builds wooden furniture.^[25]

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• The Great Rock Discography - 5th Edition - ISBN 1-84195-017-3
• Guinness Rockopedia - ISBN 0-85112-072-5

[edit] External links

• Jet Black interview for The Burning Up Times Issue 3 at www.strangled.co.uk