What draws me to this band is the bass. It’s so raw in some of their songs that it sounds like it was plugged into an Ampeg amp and turned to 11. Before I heard them, this is close to the sound I got live, so it sounded totally natural to me. The Stranglers were labeled a punk band, but it’s clear they were musically superior to their peers and managed to retain that rawness. So a shout out to bass player J.J. Burnel.
This song was released in 1977 as the title song to their 1977 album. The Stranglers doubled down on their refusal to play by punk’s rulebook. While many of their peers were playing with speed and volume, the Stranglers were more into structure and order. It was written during a period of constant touring and confrontation, and with this band, that is totally believable. They already had a “difficult” reputation. Rather than celebrating rebellion, this song questioned the idea of hero worship altogether.
The track is driven by Jean-Jacques Burnel’s bass line, which carries the song as much as the vocals. Hugh Cornwell’s guitar work is sharp, while Jet Black keeps the rhythm steady and controlled. The playing sounds like a band that knows exactly what it wants to say. Producer Martin Rushent encouraged clarity and separation, helping the bass dominate without muddying the sound. Cornwell’s vocal was delivered straight, like he was observing something in real time. The list of names in the song came together naturally, chosen for how they fit the theme rather than for provocation alone. Basically, a rejection of dependency on figures to lead the way.
Lyrically, Cornwell runs through a list of historical and cultural figures, not to praise them, but to question why society keeps needing replacements for fallen idols. The chorus is blunt and repeated without any form of apology. This is a band more interested in thought than a the punk posture. Now, years later, the song still holds up because its message never tied itself to a moment. Heroes come and go.
The album No More Heroes peaked at #2 on the UK Album Charts in 1977. The song peaked at #8 on the UK Charts. This song was written by Hugh Cornwell, Jean-Jacques Burnel, and Jet Black.
No More Heroes
Whatever happened to Leon Trotsky?He got an ice pickThat made his ears burn
Whatever happened to dear old Lenny?The great Elmyra, and Sancho Panza?Whatever happened to the heroes?Whatever happened to the heroes?
Whatever happened to all the heroes?All the Shakespearoes?They watched their Rome burnWhatever happened to the heroes?Whatever happened to the heroes?
No more heroes any moreNo more heroes any more
Whatever happened to all the heroes?All the Shakespearoes?They watched their Rome burnWhatever happened to the heroes?Whatever happened to the heroes?
No more heroes any moreNo more heroes any more
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The songs message does hold up well. I don’t know their music like I probably should at all. But I can certainly see how and why they set themselves apart.
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Interesting sound. May have heard something from them, but not sure. I think the keyboard would set them apart from other punk acts.
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Yes that keyboard did…the song that drew me to them was a song called Peaches…I love the bass sound in it.
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Great track, early Punk as I liked to hear it, with an attitude and a point, and a hook!
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Yes it was…they were different and I really like them. It did have all 3.
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Love ’em as you know. JJ, at his best was the best rock bassist, period, and early on his bass was way more important to the song than Hugh’s guitar. Add in Dave’s Doors-y keyboards and they were a unique ‘punk’ act. Great to see live too.
I found out who Pancho Sanzer was through this song too!
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You know I love namecheck songs…so I was drawn to this right away. I heard it and liked it…then found out it was a hit in the UK. They were musically above many of their punk peers no doubt.
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I noticed CB’s comment – early on they hated doing shows like Top of the Pops and hated lip-synching or miming, so they went out of their way to make a mockery of it. There was one song, can’t remember which one, where they all switched instruments, you know JJ behind th e drums flailing away, big Jet Black at the mic, Hugh looking out of place at a single little keyboard, that kind of thing. Their fans had a big laugh and half the rest of the viewers probably never noticed!
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Trotsky was assassinated in Mexico on August 20, 1940, by Stalinist agent Ramón Mercader, who struck him with an ice axe after gaining his trust.
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So thats where the ice pick came from in the lyrics.
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There is a great play, “Variations on the Death of Trotsky”, that emphasizes that it was an ice axe and not an ice pick. Horrendously, it took a day for the blow to his head to kill him.
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Pretty weird Russians, go figure.
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That’s a great opening line, either the ice pick. I’ve heard their debut, but not this one.
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I like this album…there were a few that I really liked off of it. I only knew their debut as well before I listened to this one.
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Ive seen bands mess around doing tv shows but that takes the cake. A little Jimi and Who action at the end plus Hugh didnt even get to the mike to put his lips to the synch. Great tune great band. Unique sound. The producers notes were well taken. I like the sound.
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I had to post that clip of them…it’s so funny. It’s like…why even bother?
I do as well…their bass sound (and on the debut) is terrific! He knew how to get a good sound.
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