Former Stranglers frontman and ever-restless creative force Hugh Cornwell is heading back to Australia this June, bringing with him a career-spanning set and a continued passion for musical experimentation. As leader of The Stranglers, Hugh was the main songwriter of all the band’s most memorable songs across ten stellar albums all of whom consolidated Cornwell’s stature as a unique songwriter and musician. His lyrics to “Golden Brown”, from the La Folie album, and their multiple meanings, is a songwriting masterclass. Widely regarded as the poet laureate of punk, Hugh Cornwell has also built a substantial and singular body of impressive solo albums. His tenth solo opus, Moments of Madness, continues his illustrious output by experimenting with musical genres as his enviable reputation as a wordsmith resounds across this album’s songs.
Speaking with Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips, Cornwell reflected on wild memories of past tours, his evolving recording process, and why he still thrives on pushing boundaries more than 50 years into his career.
Q: You’re heading back to Australia in June. What keeps bringing you back?
Hugh Cornwell: Well, I get invited and I never refuse an invitation.
Q: You’ve toured here many times. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing though has it? There was a gig in Brisbane in the late ’70s that got shut down.
Hugh Cornwell: We’d written a song about Joh Bjelke-Petersen, and he sent down some agitators. Someone threw a glass at me on stage and cut my head, but we kept playing until the police came and closed the show.
Q: Were gigs often dangerous in those days?
Hugh Cornwell: Not really. But you never quite knew what to expect, especially in Australia back then. I remember one show where it was so hot the condensation was shorting out the gear. I asked the crowd to open a window, and they smashed the glass with chairs to let air in. Job done!
Q: What are your fondest memories of that era?
Hugh Cornwell: Moments like that. The unpredictability. You never knew what was going to happen, and that made it exciting.
Q: You started out playing bass with Richard Thompson. Do you still keep in touch?
Hugh Cornwell: Occasionally. He’s very busy, but when he’s in the UK we try to catch up, have a curry and a chat. He actually taught me to play bass when we were kids.
Q: Do you still play bass much?
Hugh Cornwell: Yeah, I play bass on my records. These days I record mostly on my own with my engineer. I go into the studio with just a rough idea and build it from there, it’s a very spontaneous process.
Q: You seem to really enjoy modern recording techniques.
Hugh Cornwell: I do. I record digitally, then transfer it to tape to get that analogue feel. It fattens the sound up nicely. It gives you the best of both worlds.
Q: Albums like Moments of Madness show you’re still experimenting. What drives that?
Hugh Cornwell: I want to push boundaries. I try to come up with things people haven’t done before. You just follow your gut and apply what you’ve learned over the years.
Q: How do you approach building a setlist for a tour?
Hugh Cornwell: Once it’s set, it mostly stays that way. You might tweak the order, but there’s an art to the dynamics, flow and energy. That’s very important to me.
Q: What makes a good opening song?
Hugh Cornwell: It sets the tone. We’ve been opening with “Coming Out of the Wilderness”, it works well as an introduction.
Q: Will your touring band be the same as on your recent live album?
Hugh Cornwell: Mostly, but my bass player couldn’t handle the travel last time, so Steve Fishman is stepping in. We go way back, so it’ll be great.
Q: What gear do you bring on tour these days?
Hugh Cornwell: I keep it simple, a Telecaster I’ve had since The Stranglers days and a spare. I used to use Vox AC30 amps, but they’re not great for travel, so I’ve switched to Fender Deluxe Reverbs.
Q: And your pedal setup?
Hugh Cornwell: Minimal. A tuner, delay, overdrive, and the odd effect. Rock ’n’ roll should be simple.
Q: You’re working on a new album—what can you tell us?
Hugh Cornwell: It’s called Succubus and it’s nearly finished. I love the title, it hasn’t been used before I don’t think, so I’m hoping no one beats me to it!
Q: Where do your song ideas come from these days?
Hugh Cornwell: Anywhere…films, news, anything. Often it starts with a title. Once you’ve got that, the song is born.
Q: You’ve also spent time around film circles. Any memorable encounters?
Hugh Cornwell: I used to hang out with Tim Roth a bit, and I met Chloë Sevigny early in her career. You cross paths with people and then move on, it’s part of the lifestyle.
Q: How do you think a band like The Stranglers would fare starting out today?
Hugh Cornwell: Probably wouldn’t get played on the radio. The subject matter might be a bit too risqué for today.
Q: You’re also a cricket fan…did you follow the Ashes?
Hugh Cornwell: I did. England needs to change things up, and it sounds like they might. It could be a very different team soon.
Q: Do you still play cricket yourself?
Hugh Cornwell: Not anymore, but I used to. I remember being told by Mark Butcher to take my rings off in the slips, you don’t want to break a finger.
Q: Any bucket list projects still to tick off?
Hugh Cornwell: I’m writing novels and doing a film podcast called Mr. DeMille FM. I’m a huge film fan, I watch a movie nearly every day and interview people from the industry when I can.
Q: Finally, what can Australian audiences expect from the tour?
Hugh Cornwell: Expect the unexpected. There’ll be a mix of Stranglers classics, not just the hits… and solo material. We like to throw in a few deeper cuts as well.
HUGH CORNWELL AUSTRALIAN TOUR – JUNE 2026
Fri 19 June – The Rosemount, Perth
Thu 18 June – The Gov, Adelaide
Sun 14 June – Crowbar, Brisbane
Sat 13 June – Manning Bar, Sydney
Fri 12 June – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Wed 10 June – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
Tickets available via – troubadourpresents.com/events/hugh-cornwell
