Euroman Cometh

Euroman Cometh is the debut solo album by the Stranglers' bassist J.J. Burnel, released in April 1979 by United Artists.

[4][5] Upon release, the album was a contrast to the more melodic songs of the Stranglers, containing what Pat Gilbert of Record Collector describes as "a collection of dark, atmospheric soundscapes, embroidered with Burnel's intense, monotone theorising about a united Europe.

"[5] Despite a mixed critical reception,[5] Euroman Cometh reached number 40 in the UK Albums Chart in April 1979.

[3] According to Stuart Bolton, writing for The Burning Up Times magazine, "Euromess" is not "purely an anti-Soviet rant but more a pro-European call for solidarity.

"[9] It is also a lament for Jan Palach, the Czech student who burned himself to death after the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact armies.

With no pre-written songs, Burnel found it useful, creatively, to record basslines or guitar parts over a rhythm and building it up from there.

The tribute reads, "The Triumph Workers Co-operative at Meriden have proved that personally motivated enterprise coupled with group interest is a necessary ingredient in successful socialism and the sham they call nationalisation could only be suggested and perpetrated by enemies of the people."

[11] To promote the album, Burnel assembled the Euroband,[3] containing Peter Howells, keyboardist Penny Tobin (ex-Nick Lowe's Last Chicken in the Shop) and guitarist John Ellis (ex-the Vibrators),[5] for a UK tour all through April.

[12] With a 45-minute set featuring no Stranglers songs, the tour suffered from poor ticket sales, resulting in three gigs being cancelled.

[3][12] The band's performance at the Pavilion in Hemel Hempstead on 25 April was recorded, and included as bonus tracks on two reissues of Euroman Cometh.