Clash ’n’ Sleazy at The Star: The Spirit of The Stranglers Returns To Guildford

Published on: 16 Jun, 2026
Updated on: 16 Jun, 2026

Stars at The Star: From left, Duane Stubbington, Chris Scopes and Jezz Buzzing. Lee Dallaway is on drums

Dragon Review by Charlie Whiting

Chris Scopes, from the spiritual home of The Clash, graced the home of The Stranglers in Guildford on Saturday – and his band played tracks from both bands.

Chris fronted Clash ’n’ Sleazy at The Star Inn – where The Stranglers (originally the Guildford Stranglers) played their first ever gig, on December 21, 1974.

Chris now lives on Kings Avenue, five minutes from The Crown and Sceptre on Streatham Hill. “You were down The Crown planning your next move” says a line from Stay Free, off the second Clash album, Give ‘Em Enough Rope. Clash guitarist Mick Jones wrote Stay Free when he lived in the flats opposite The Crown.

Chris admits: “When I heard the start of Nice ’n’ Sleazy on Top of the Pops in 1978 I thought that’s ugly, nasty, brutal… but a minute into the track I thought, I love it!”

The last gig I saw at the Star was when Jean-Jacques Burnel from The Stranglers played acoustic with fellow Strangler Baz Warne as they campaigned to keep the pub as a live music venue. An absentee property developer had bought the adjoining flats in Quarry Street and decided he would prefer silent neighbours. He did not succeed, obviously.

So amplified Stranglers filled Quarry Street again, turning it into Quality Street, this time mixed with Clash tracks including Safe European Home, White Riot and what Chris introduced as “the best punk reggae song ever written” – White Man in Hammersmith Palais. And Guildford marches on as the kernel of great music.

Asked whether he prefers The Clash or The Stranglers Chris, the bassist, replied: “I’d have to say Stranglers because of the basslines.” You can give your opinion, below.

He and the band have extensive experience on the music scene. Drummer Lee Dallaway has also played with Chelsea. Jezz Buzzing on keyboards, rhythm guitar and vocals has played with Past Tense. Duane Stubbington plays the lead guitar and also sings.

Chris, formerly of Chords UK, is also in two other bands – Woking Calling, which plays Clash and Jam, and Punky Reggae Party. The latter started in 2017.

Chris returns to The Star with Woking Calling on Friday, October 30. Meanwhile, original Stranglers frontman and songwriter Hugh Cornwell is playing Guilfest on Sunday, July 5.