Jean Jacques Burnel

b. 1952, London, England. Of the four original members of the Stranglers, bass player Burnel was probably the most forthright. Born of French parents, he was staunchly pro-European. A keen biker and former skinhead, with a black belt in karate and an economics degree from Bradford University, he was employed as a van driver in Guildford, Surrey, when he first met Hugh Cornwell through the American lead singer of the band Bobbysox, with whom Cornwell was playing guitar in the early 70s. Original plans to become a karate instructor were shelved (although he later returned to thi...