Hugh Cornwell

Hugh Cornwell

Born: August 28, 1949
in Tufnell Park, London, England, UK
Hugh Alan Cornwell (born 28 August 1949) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and writer, best known for being the lead vocalist and lead guitarist for the punk rock and new wave band the Stranglers from 1974 to 1990. Since leaving the Stranglers, Cornwell has recorded a further ten solo studio albums and continues to record and perform live.

Cornwell grew up in Tufnell Park and Kentish Town and attended William Ellis School in Highgate, where he played bass in a band with Richard Thompson, later a member of folk rock band Fairport Convention. In the late 1960s, after earning a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from the University of Bristol, he embarked on post-graduate research at Lund University in Sweden. Not long after his arrival he formed the band Johnny Sox.

Cornwell returned to the UK in 1974 with Johnny Sox (minus Hans Wärmling). Drummer Jet Black then joined the band. At one stage it was just Cornwell and Black, who were then joined by bassist Jean-Jacques Burnel. Guitarist, keyboardist and saxophonist Hans Wärmling, on holiday from Sweden, joined the line-up towards the end of 1974. The Johnny Sox name was dropped, with the band adopting the name the Guildford Stranglers before settling on the Stranglers.

Wärmling was soon replaced by Dave Greenfield, who joined in 1975 after answering an advertisement placed in the Melody Maker magazine. Cornwell was the lead guitarist in the group and he also sang the majority of songs, with Burnel handling lead vocals on about a third of the band's songs. Years later, Burnel recalled that he often sang lyrics written by Cornwell, and vice versa, depending on "who had the best voice for that particular song".

By 1977, the group had secured a recording contract with United Artists Records. They went on to become the most commercially successful band to emerge from the UK punk scene, with numerous hit singles and record albums. He recorded his first studio album away from the group, Nosferatu, in collaboration with the Captain Beefheart's Magic Band's drummer, Robert Williams, in 1979. Cornwell's first solo studio album, Wolf (1988) was produced by Ian Ritchie with additional production on two tracks by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, who had engineered the first three Stranglers albums and produced their fourth studio album, The Raven (1979).

Throughout his Stranglers career, Hugh used a Black Fender Telecaster all the way from 1974 until 1989 when he adopted a Gibson Melody Maker for the 10 Tour. Hugh also used a Hofner Razorwood for the La Folie Tour in 1981-82 for certain songs which required distinctive sounds. He also used a Bass guitar when performing Dead Loss Angeles on The Raven tour in 1979 and was instrumental in teaching Stranglers bassist Jean Jacques Burnel how to play bass guitar.

In 1990, due to growing tensions within the band and a constant clash with Jean Jacques Burnel, he decided that he could go no further artistically. He recorded the album 10 with the band before leaving them after 16 years. ...

Source: Article "Hugh Cornwell" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Movies for Hugh Cornwell...

My View: Clem Burke
Title: My View: Clem Burke
Character: Self
Released: January 5, 2019
Type: Movie
An access all areas documentary with Clem Burke, a look back at 40 years on the road and performing with one of the worlds most iconic bands. Clem Burke is the drummer behind multi-platinum selling band BLONDIE. His signature beats have brought millions to the dance floor and his unique approach to playing has seen him accompany an endless list of artists from Bob Dylan to The Eurythmics. We follow Clem on the road, playing as hard as ever in this access all areas documentary. Feel the energy behind the kit as Clem plays with Blondie at Hyde park to 80,000 people and witness his tireless work ethic at The Cavern Club for Beatles week, where he plays 5 gigs in 24 hrs. Exclusive interviews from Dave Stewart, Chris Stein, Hugh Cornwall, Glen Matlock, Bob Gruen and many more put the spotlight on one of rock 'n' rolls most enigmatic unsung heroes - Clem Burke the Doctor of Rock.
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The Stranglers: Never To Look Back - The Video Collection 1983-2012
Title: The Stranglers: Never To Look Back - The Video Collection 1983-2012
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: March 7, 2012
Type: Movie
Featuring twenty-two music videos from 1983 - 2012
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Title: Through the Night with...
Character: Self
Released: May 10, 2002
Type: TV
Durch die Nacht mit … is a German documentary film television series produced by ZDF for Franco-German television channel ARTE. Locations are mainly in France or Germany. The title of the French version is Au cœur de la nuit. Two Celebrities spend an filmed evening together. One of them is the host who sets the location and the program. There is no moderator.
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The Stranglers
Title: The Stranglers
Character: Self
Released: November 16, 2000
Type: Movie
BBC Choice documentary the story of The Stranglers, charting the band's rise to fame in the 1980s to present day. Despite the departure of lead singer and frontman Hugh Cornwell in 1990, the band continue to perform successfully to thousands of fans all over the world. Interviews with members of The Stranglers. Presented by jazz singer and art critic, George Melly.
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Title: Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Character: Self
Released: November 12, 1996
Type: TV
Never Mind the Buzzcocks is a comedy panel game show with a pop and rock music theme. The show is infamous for its dry, sarcastic humour and scathing, provocative attacks on the pop industry.
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The Stranglers: Live at Alexandra Palace
Title: The Stranglers: Live at Alexandra Palace
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 1990
Type: Movie
Men in black, the Stranglers perform what turned out to be their final gig with founder vocalist Hugh Cornwell, live at Alexandra Palace on 11th August 1990. Tracks include 'No More Heroes', 'Something Better Change', 'Duchess' and Kinks cover 'All Day and All of the Night'.
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Lucky Sunil
Title: Lucky Sunil
Character: Charlie
Released: April 17, 1988
Type: Movie
Young, handsome and alone in London at the start of a great career. But will Sunil's luck hold out against the seductions of pretty girls, the wiles of con-men and a hundred temptations of the great city?
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Hugh Cornwell: Another Kind of Love
Title: Hugh Cornwell: Another Kind of Love
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 1988
Type: Movie
Svankmajer's music video for Hugh Cornwell's "Another Kind of Love."
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Eat the Rich
Title: Eat the Rich
Character: Edgeley
Released: October 23, 1987
Type: Movie
Alex is a disgruntled waiter at a snobby exclusive restaurant who falls on hard times. Forced to deal with the contempt and disgust of the upper class, Alex & cohorts attempt to go on a rampage. Meanwhile, General Karprov and Spider plot to involve the inept anarchists into their plans to derail the prime-minister-to-be's campaign.
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The Bleeding Star
Title: The Bleeding Star
Character: Englishman
Released: January 1, 1987
Type: Movie
An Englishman arrives in a remote French town near the coast to collect his broken-down car. What he sees there will change his life forever.
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Title: Ambitions
Character: Self - The Stranglers
Released: February 28, 1986
Type: TV
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One For My Baby
Title: One For My Baby
Character: Frank
Released: January 1, 1985
Type: Movie
A BAFTA award nominated drama.
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The Stranglers - The Video Collection 1977-1982
Title: The Stranglers - The Video Collection 1977-1982
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 1984
Type: Movie
A compilation of promos from The Stranglers, chronicling the five year period in which their sleazy pub rock launched them to worldwide success, culminating in their biggest hit 'Golden Brown'.
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No Nukes! muziekfestival
Title: No Nukes! muziekfestival
Character: Self - The Stranglers
Released: April 9, 1982
Type: Movie
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The Colour Black
Title: The Colour Black
Character: Presenter
Released: February 6, 1982
Type: Movie
A documentary made for BBC West in 1982, written & presented by Hugh Cornwell and Jet Black of The Stranglers. It focuses on the colour black and includes the Meninblack phenomenon and some Stranglers of course...
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The Stranglers - Live '78, SF
Title: The Stranglers - Live '78, SF
Character: Self
Released: September 12, 1978
Type: Movie
The Stranglers playing live in San Francisco 1978.
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Title: "The Journey", or The Memoirs of a Self-Confessed Surrealist
Character: Self
Released: January 18, 1978
Type: Movie
George Melly explores his lifelong relationship with surrealism in all its forms and prominent personalities.
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Title: Rockpalast
Released: October 4, 1974
Type: TV