Line-up changes after Cornwell’s departure

Following the departure of Cornwell, CBS-Sony dropped the Stranglers from its roster. The remaining members recruited John Ellis , who had had a long-standing association with the band. He had opened for them in the 1970s as a member of The Vibrators , filled in for Cornwell during his time in prison for drug possession in 1980, worked with Burnel and Greenfield in their side-project Purple Helmets and been added to the Stranglers’ line-up as a touring guitarist a short time before Cornwell’s departure. Burnel and Ellis briefly took over vocal duties (for one television appearance on The Word ) before enlisting Paul Roberts , who sang on most songs live, even those originally sung by Burnel.