The Tubes and The Stranglers
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Suggest New Bands and Artists
Forum Description: Suggest, create polls, and classify new bands you would like included on Prog Archives
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=37047
Printed Date: March 03 2025 at 18:06
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: The Tubes and The Stranglers
Posted By: erik neuteboom
Subject: The Tubes and The Stranglers
Date Posted: April 19 2007 at 19:33
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Hello progheads.
What about The Tubes and The Stranglers as new additions to Prog Archives?
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Replies:
Posted By: Bastille Dude
Date Posted: April 19 2007 at 20:59
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I don't know much about The Stranglers, I do love The Tubes though I'm unsure of their proginess. I just don't know.
------------- DEATH TO FALSE PROG! |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: April 20 2007 at 03:47
| I like the Tubes. They did some very good stuff. I don't think you could call them them prog related, though. Did they have anything other than just "songs"? Creative songs, for sure. But then again, I just listened to a few albums. Are they prog related in any way? |
Posted By: Floydoid
Date Posted: April 20 2007 at 04:58
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The Stranglers were certainly one of the best bands to emerge in the punk/new wave era of the late 70's, but I can't imagine how you'd begin to consider them to be prog-related.
------------- Is it any wonder that the monkey's confused? |
Posted By: Mandrakeroot
Date Posted: April 20 2007 at 05:16
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For the use of the keyboards and the atmospheres THE STRANGLERS are PROG RELATED.
THE TUBES... I think... I think that not haven't Prog Elements... But I don't know them well. ------------- 
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Posted By: Joolz
Date Posted: April 20 2007 at 05:58
Good luck with this Erik .... if you succeed with The Tubes I shall be first in the queue for some rave reviews .... Don't Touch Me THERE!!!!! 
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Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: April 20 2007 at 06:55
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... if you really care Well, I witnessed gigs by The Tubes (1979) and The Stranglers (1981), in that era their music could match with Art-rock in my opinion. And don't forget that Robert Fripp joined The Stranglers on one gig, it's on CD
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Posted By: Tony R
Date Posted: April 20 2007 at 07:23
I think I'd need a little more convincing than that Erik.....
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erik neuteboom wrote:Posted By: mystic fred
Date Posted: April 20 2007 at 07:44
i was never really interested in the Tubes but was a big fan of the Stranglers in the 70's, they're a great band! many felt they were a commercial rock band riding on the new wave bandwagon at the time, they made some fabulous music and had regular chart entries, including a reggae style song "Nice an' Sleazy" and some great rock numbers "Somethin' better Change" and also covered some rather gloomy subjects such as nuclear power "Nuclear Device/Yellowcake uf6 " and nuclear war was high in the nation's conciousness at the time during President Carter's S.A.L.T. Treaty talks with the Russians ( Ian Gillan also covered this with his "M.A.D" single). As for the Stranglers being Prog i would say no, though i haven't heard all of their albums they would be worthy of discussion.
 -------------  Prog Archives Tour Van 
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: April 20 2007 at 08:40
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Don't know The Tubes.
The Stranglers may have some hints of prog in their mid-period but overall I don't see them belonging here.
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Posted By: Chicapah
Date Posted: April 20 2007 at 08:50
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The Tubes were excellent as a band but their styles were all over the place and I'm not so sure they did enough prog to qualify here. They definitely had a sense of humor and a lot of courage. Not familiar with the Stranglers at all. ------------- "Literature is well enough, as a time-passer, and for the improvement and general elevation and purification of mankind, but it has no practical value" - Mark Twain |
Posted By: akin
Date Posted: April 20 2007 at 08:58
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The Stranglers have at least two albums that could be considered
strongly prog influenced: The Raven and The Gospel According to
Meninblack. They have other songs to be considered mainly in their
early albums, like the four part suite Down in the Sewer, Walk on by
and some others, with use of odd time signatures, excellent keyboards
and bass passages, unusual drum patterns. This is a fact. If they are considered prog or prog-related according to this site, I just don't know and it is up to the team members or admins to decide. |
Posted By: AOR_Crazy
Date Posted: April 20 2007 at 10:07
| I listen and love very much both of the bands and since i listen actively progressive music i stand strongly on the opinion that those two bands ARE NOT prog music. The Tubes are some kind of AOR/Melodic hard rock with funny lyrics and The Stranglers are mixture between dark/new wave/post punk music. |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: April 20 2007 at 10:25
Anywhere, but not...
Don't... EVER... !
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Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: April 20 2007 at 15:37
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Just listen to the 2-CD compilation to discover what a progressive blend of styles The Tubes has delivered all those years so I disagree with AOR/melodic hardrock. To me The Stranglers sound as Art-rock as Queen does after their punk/new wave in the early years. |
Posted By: Soul Dreamer
Date Posted: April 20 2007 at 23:09
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Well, I don't know about The Tubes (ignorant me...) but about The Stranglers I shurely agree that they belong in the prog-related section of these archives. Even their earliest work is allready prog related (listen to the keyboards in Rattus Norvegicus and No More Heroes) and lateron the link only becomes stronger... ------------- To be the one who seeks so I may find .. (Metallica) |
Posted By: AOR_Crazy
Date Posted: April 21 2007 at 08:44
Well my friend i don't need to listen to that compilation 'cause i have all The Tubes albums in my collection. If you think that The Tubes are prog-related you're wrong cause we could put then a whole bunch of bands into prog-related and that is in my opinion useless. I shall say it again, although progressive is a wide type of music genre it is defined at the same time, a lot of people tend to philosophy over this and that but it's all babble to me, i know what progressive music is. Hey lets put Madonna in progressive metal?
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Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: April 21 2007 at 09:21
Excuse me AOR Crazy, I don't know what progressive music is ... 
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Posted By: AOR_Crazy
Date Posted: April 21 2007 at 11:54
| Oh, you're blushing, well i don't know if you're an expert in symphonic prog or whatever but if you say you are what are your arguments for saying that The Tubes are progressive?? |
Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: April 21 2007 at 12:28
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My arguments for considering The Tubes as a band with interesting progressive ideas are:
- the use of shifting moods and (surprising) breaks
- a varied instrumentation including vintage keyboards
- blending different styles
Don't get me wrong, I am not pushing to add The Tubes and The Stranglers to this site, I am only asking for opinions about their progressive potential, my personal opinion is that both bands have had a very interesting Art-Rock period.
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Posted By: AOR_Crazy
Date Posted: April 21 2007 at 14:01
| Yeah, i understand you. I'm talking about The Tubes cause i think that Stranglers have absolutely nothing with prog or art rock, but that's me. Concerning Tubes, yes, they tend to surprise you in their songs but those surprises are a bit to simple for me to put them into prog, well maybe into Art Rock. Being the one who grew up listening to Kansas,Yes, Genesis, Vandergraaf Generator, Gong'n'stuff like that it's hard for me to put some bands into progressive music although i'm open for discussion. |
Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: April 21 2007 at 14:58
| Well, I am from 1960 and I grew up with the symphonic rock dinosaurs in the Seventies and with the neo-prog in The Eighties and nonethless, I have the idea that The Stranglers and The Tubes have some very nice progressive ideas to offer. |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: April 21 2007 at 16:24
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Well, if the Tubes come in, Split Enz has to come in. No, just joking, but I remember both bands had this theatrical side. Both bands had pictures in my school agenda (RIJAM) when I was at high school and I thought both looked very strange. I never would have imagined that years later I would be listening to albums by both The Tubes and Split Enz.
I like the Don't Touch Me There single the best, I think. It was some sort of parody, I suppose, but it worked out very well. Very good band.
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Posted By: clarke2001
Date Posted: April 21 2007 at 20:31
The Stranglers are definitely some sort of art-rock, but I don't see any relation with Queen  ...Stranglers' artism is based mostly on their theatrics and keyboard wizardry, and that type of art rock is closer to the XTC, even Television than Queen, IMHO.------------- |
Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: April 22 2007 at 04:10
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OK Clarke2001, it's a bit confusing what I meant, this sounds better: "After their punk/new wave sound in the early years, to me The Stranglers sound as Art-Rock in the same category as Queen (inventive and progressive ideas with rock as the craddle)."
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Posted By: AOR_Crazy
Date Posted: April 26 2007 at 22:29
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Oh gawd!? Come on, Television? XTC?? Split Enze???? I love all of those bands, but you're all confusing progressive music with early post punk/alternative music, hey!? think before typing damn it!! "Television were one of the most creative bands to emerge from New York's punk scene of the mid-'70s, creating an influential new guitar vocabulary. While guitarists http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:aiftxqr5ldde - Tom Verlaine and http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:f9fuxqu5ldte - Richard Lloyd liked to jam, they didn't follow the accepted rock structures for improvisation -- they removed the blues while retaining the raw energy of garage rock, adding complex, lyrical solo lines that recalled both jazz and rock. With its angular rhythms and fluid leads, Television's music always went in unconventional directions, laying the groundwork for many of the guitar-based post-punk pop groups of the late '70s and...." XTC: "XTC was one of the smartest -- and catchiest -- British pop bands to emerge from the punk and new wave explosion of the late '70s. From the tense, jerky riffs of their early singles to the lushly arranged, meticulous pop of their later albums, XTC's music has always been driven by the hook-laden songwriting of guitarist http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:j9fixq85ldde - Andy Partridge and bassist http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gifrxqygldte - Colin Moulding . While popular success has eluded them in both Britain and America, the group has developed a devoted cult following in both countries that remains loyal over two decades after their first records..." www.allmusic.com So where is Art Rock or Progressive here, Ok????? |
Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: April 27 2007 at 05:35
| AOR Crazy, would you mind to post a little less agressive than "think before you type, damm it", that will contribute to a more pleasant way of discussing, otherwise just another thread has to be closed because of "out of control reactions", OK? Thanks in advance! |
Posted By: AOR_Crazy
Date Posted: April 27 2007 at 06:26
| Hm, well, i didn't offend anybody, did i? You being so touchy, i'll just pull myself outta here... |
Posted By: clarke2001
Date Posted: April 27 2007 at 10:38
AorCrazy, I am not confusing progressive rock with post punk/new wave, and I was not implying anything regarding these bands - just making a line of comparison of a certain artism similar to The Stranglers's artistic approach - everything was clearly explained couple of posts before. ------------- |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: April 27 2007 at 12:02
| I would be happy for both to be added.Both had strong progressive ideas IMO.. |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: April 27 2007 at 12:17
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I can hear some Prog influence in The Stranglers, but feel uncomfortable with their addition. It just doesn't sit right with me. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: April 27 2007 at 12:29
Totally agree.
Any respecting band ought move on (literally 'progress') unless they have subjected themselves to Simon Cowell's or Pete Waterman's level of musical castration. But developing the music, taking on different influences, occasionally demonstrating a smattering of originally, doesn't make them progressive rock. Too often the latest wunderkind to grace the dubious charts, sounds to be closely related to 60's musicians who did really originate the new, often through hybridisation of their music. I strongly suggest there should be (but I thought there was from the very start) a clear definition of what a progressive rock is and close the door to any band that doesn't meet well argued critieria for the genre. We may be one of the biggest prog sites on the web, but also in danger of being the biggest laughing stock for the OVER liberal inclusion of bands. ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: April 27 2007 at 18:43
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Well fellow progheads, since mailto:M@X - M@X his 'The Beatles addition move' this site is no longer about progressive rock but about music with progressive tendencies, it would be better to change the name into Prog Music Archives. And in my opinion The Tubes and The Stranglers match with Art-rock with their music in the late Seventies and in The Eighties. Or ... ?
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Posted By: Floydoid
Date Posted: May 03 2007 at 12:10
I think the inclusion of the Beatles is justified as you can find some of the seeds of prog on albums such as Revolver, Sgt Pepper & the White Album. The Tubes & Stranglers may have been influenced by prog, and their music may contain prog elements, but I don't see that alone as justification for their inclusion. On a side note, punk purists also argue as to whether the Stranglers were really a punk band or not. ------------- Is it any wonder that the monkey's confused? |
Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: May 03 2007 at 13:34
| At least The Tubes are an interesting band to add, yesterday I listened to their 2-CD compilation Going Down, it contains so many great songs with progressive ideas and it often blends several styles. |
Posted By: Joolz
Date Posted: May 03 2007 at 19:50
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^^^^ "progressive ideas" .... yeah, they were a pretty inventive bunch in those days ... their big hit "White Punks On Dope" easily fits the Prog bill .... my favourite album is the live "What Do You Want From Live" ... not a bad song on it and I love their rendition of "I Saw Her Standing There" amongst others... my only regret was not seeing them perform on that tour of UK ... they were banned in my area ... sadly, many authorities thought the band's theatrical stage show was unsuitable for us delicate flowers 
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Posted By: erik neuteboom
Date Posted: May 04 2007 at 05:55
Well Joolz, I witnessed that tour in 1979 and for me it was the start to become a The Tubes fan because I only went to their show because of the visuals and daring stage antics but in the end I was delighted about their music and impressed by the amount of vintage keyboards (including a fat Moog sound) that was used 
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Posted By: Cheesecakemouse
Date Posted: May 04 2007 at 06:00
Split Enz is in, the discography just has to be completed. ------------- |
Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: May 08 2007 at 08:08
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Stranglers in Prog-Related, definitely.
"Golden Brown" is in 13/4...
Seriously, though, their music was "Intelligent Art Punk" to start off with, and got more and more artful in terms of composition - especially around the mid-1980s.
I don't know about the Tubes though - everything I've ever heard of theirs has been somewhat simple - ingeneously put together songs, but not with the devil-may-care approach that the Stranglers have, or the sheer slickness in composition.
Even "No More Heroes" (from "Rattus Norwegicus", their first album) has a complex arrangement - all the parts move contrapuntally on the whole - and the bass playing is amazing.
The repetitive nature of the riffs keeps their music out of fuill-blown prog - but that's only my criteria: There are plenty of bands considered Prog who utilise repetitive riffs.
Anyway - listen to "Aural Sculpture" - the name alone tells you it's art music.  ------------- The important thing is not to stop questioning. |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: May 08 2007 at 08:11
*cough* Actually its from the album of the same title "No More Heroes"...  ..The second album....*cough*....thanks.------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Cesar Inca
Date Posted: May 19 2007 at 23:59
At most, they will be considered as talented bands with a bunch of excellent art-rock related songs in their catalogue, but I really think that they do not belong here. Ultravox and Japan are more artsy and more pretentious, but again, they are not part of this zine. Now, the fact that Barbieri plays in PT and Billy Currie was a supporting musician for Steve Howe speaks clearly about their individual interests for prog rock and art rock, but as bands in themselves, they belong in other archives, not ProgArchives.
Let's keep in mind that Guy Pratt played in an artsy pop band called Icehouse and the bassist/stickist of Kajagoogoo was also a support musician for Steve Howe. Kajagoogoo played new wave with lots of touches of jazz-rock and Latin-jazz, even some neat sophisticated funky. Does it make them appropriate as neighbours of Weather Report in this site? What about Icehouse?
I think that in this case, labels are distinctly separated from each other. I strongly recommend listening to Stranglers, Ultravox, Kajagoogoo, etc., but keep them out of the prog thing, starting now and forevermore!!
Kind regards.
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Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: May 20 2007 at 12:17
I knew that - my fingers went ahead of my brain **cough**, ahem.
I'm listening to "Feline" as I type - it's a tough album to categorise. ------------- The important thing is not to stop questioning. |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: May 20 2007 at 12:46
You metnioned "Aural Sculpture" in an earlier post. I just love that album. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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