However, the four members of the group Hugh Cornwell, Jean Jacques Burnel, Dave Greenfield and Jet Black (real name: Brian Duffy)were not regarded as punks by their musical peers for the reason that they could actually play and write A string of top ten hits, including No More Heroes and Peaches placed the band at the forefront of the New Wave movement - a branch one step removed from the spitting, snarling punks.
If one were to listen to the songs (or at least some of them) on 'The Raven,' their 1979 album, one would clearly see the 'symptoms' of their separating from 'traditional' punk to adopt a more new-wave approach. Take one listen to the title track from the album - even just the first minute - and you'll be convinced.
The Stranglers went on to score hits with the ballad Golden Brown (1982) and Strange Little Girl the same year, and by 1990 had more British chart hits (28) than any other artist ever to reach the number one spot. songs of creditable quality.
Who can also forget the rippling pipe organ on the best-known song from their 1984 album 'Aural Sculpture' - 'Skin Deep'? Their 1986 album, 'Dreamtime,' was also good, but reverted to softer, more soothing 'instrument work' and vocals that were clearly more subdued than 'Aural Sculpture' and most of their albums before it.
Founding member Cornwell left in August 1990 to pursue a solo career. The remaining members recruited two replacements and have continued to tour and release independent label records to little fanfare.
The Stranglers classic period 1977-1990 has secured them a respected place in British popular music history.
Interest in The Strangers resurfaced when, in 1999, their music was used in the soundtrack to the hit film Fight Club. Then, just one year later, singer Tori Amos covered their song Strange Little Girl and titled the album it was featured on "Strange Little Girls" and their song Golden Brown was also used in the hit film Snatch by film director Guy Ritchie.