Hugh Cornwell says The Stranglers was a "very interesting apprenticeship" in the music business.
The 69-year-old punk legend fronted the ‘No More Heroes’ rockers from 1974 until 1990, and he learned a lot about what it took to be a working musician during what was a "singular and unique" time in the industry.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, he said: "It was a very interesting apprenticeship. I learnt a lot of my craft with the band, and I’ve been applying and refining it since.
"It was a very unusual time, a very singular and unique time for the music business… I don’t know if new bands still do this, they’ll have to forgive me if they do, but I doubt if they go out like we used to on the road, playing four or five nights a week."
Hugh will be on tour next month across the UK following the release of his new solo album ‘Monster’ – which comes out on Friday (05.10.18) – and he will be playing songs from across his entire career in a bid to keep everyone happy.
Admitting it is impossible to please the entire audience every night, he added: "It’s nice to keep them guessing! there’s so many songs in that catalogue. I can guarantee you this, whatever we end up playing, someone at the end will be disappointed. ‘You didn’t play my favourite!’
"There are so many in that catalogue, you’d have to play all night for everyone to hear the one they want to hear. There’s bound to be a couple of disappointed people, believe you me.
"You can’t please all the people all of the time – you can please all the people some of the time, some of the people all the time."
The star – who has also recorded a second disc featuring acoustic versions of Stranglers songs – will split each night on the road in two for the upcoming run.
The first set will include tracks from the new LP alongside others from across his solo career, while he joked the second half will see him "ram that Stranglers catalogue down their throats".
The new album sees Hugh tackle the lives of a number of inspirational – and infamous – people across history, ranging from his own mother Winifred, 98, and beloved animator Ray Harryhausen to the likes of Lou Reed, Evel Knievel and Benito Mussolini.
Commenting on the album he explained: "They’re all part of one painting really… It doesn’t matter what a song is about, I always write it the same way.
"The most important thing about a song for me is when you get an idea for a song, what it’s going to be about. Once you’ve got that, then suddenly it exists."
Hugh Cornwell says Strangers was ‘a very interesting apprenticeship’
