Brian John Duffy (26 August 1938 – 6 December 2022), known professionally as Jet Black, was an English drummer and founding member of punk rock/new wave band the Stranglers.

[3] He was a successful businessman up until the mid-1970s, owning a fleet of ice cream vans[4] and an off-licence in Guildford called The Jackpot,[5] which was the base for the early Stranglers.

Duffy was known as Jet Black when he became a full-time professional musician in the mid-1970s and met Hugh Cornwell of the band Johnny Sox after reading an advertisement in Melody Maker magazine.

[7] His style was usually simple and jazz-influenced,[8] although "Duchess" and "Down in the Sewer" are examples of Stranglers songs that feature more frantic drumming.

In the mid-1980s, Black elected to cease playing acoustic drums in the recording studio and used a Simmons kit triggered by pick-ups, most notably on the Feline and Aural Sculpture albums.

[13] During a long career in music, Black (like many drummers) became aware of the practical limitations inherent in the design of the basic kit.

[14][15] In March 2007, it was announced on the Stranglers' website that Black was suffering from atrial fibrillation and consequently refrained from appearing with the band until he had recovered.

He returned to playing with the band in June, but he permanently retired from performing outside of the United Kingdom due to health issues associated with lengthy travel.

[citation needed] On 12 March 2012, Black was taken to hospital after "falling ill" shortly before a Stranglers concert at the O2 Academy Oxford.

Black did not feature at some subsequent gigs, but played half of the band's set at others where stage space would allow for the positioning of two drum kits.

[citation needed] Jean-Jacques Burnel confirmed, in a December 2015 interview, that Black would not take part in the band's 2016 tour.

[2] His second wife, Helena, left him following several arguments over the Stranglers rehearsing in their home during the early days of the band.

[3] In 2008, an online petition on the British Government website campaigning for him to be included in the next list of honours attracted 477 signatures and was mentioned in the national press.