In Loving Memory of Brian John Duffy (a.k.a.: Jet Black)

Brian John Duffy (August 26, 1938 – December 6, 2022), professionally known as Jet Black, was an English drummer and founding member of punk rock/new wave band The Stranglers. He last performed with the band in 2015, and officially retired in 2018.

Black was born in Ilford, Essex. He was a successful businessman up until the mid-1970s, owning a fleet of ice cream vans, and an off-licence in Guildford, called 'The Jackpot'. This establishment was the base for the early Stranglers. He was also the owner of one of the earliest home brewing equipment companies, at a time when home brewing was in vogue.

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 the Melody Maker magazine. Cornwell joined Black in the Stranglers in 1974.

His style was usually simple and jazz-influenced, 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. Black performed with the Stranglers until 2015, with his retirement confirmed by 2018. His name is frequently chanted by the crowd at concerts.

He wrote a short book, Much Ado About Nothing, which detailed the riots in France which were blamed on The Stranglers' presence in 1981, and also wrote a book in 2010 titled Seven Days in Nice about the same subject.

Full name: Brian John Duffy

Born: August 26, 1938

Passed away: December 6, 2022

Age: 84 years of age

Birthplace: Ilford, Essex, United Kingdom