EVERY March as winter turns to spring, rock band The Stranglers head out on tour.

And this year is no different as the aptly-named The Stranglers March On makes it way to the Manchester Academy on Saturday.

Speaking from a French villa where he is rehearsing with guitarist and singer Baz Warne, bassist and founder member Jean-Jacques 'JJ' Burnel is happy with the way things stand.

He said: "Yeah, we’re in a good place at the moment. All our detractors have died or have given up the ghost. We are now getting respect and are really enjoying playing live.

"We certainly have lots of material.”

Since they formed 41 years ago, the band has not stopped touring and recording and they have produced classic hits including Golden Brown, Peaches, Duchess and Five Minutes.

JJ said: "We’re a successful band but not commercial — we’ve always been true to ourselves.”

JJ, keyboard player Dave Greenfield and drummer Jet Black have been together since 1975 and Baz has been with them for almost as long as original singer-guitarist Hugh Cornwell.

Jet is aged 76 and has been having health problems for a number of years so no longer tours abroad with the band and his UK appearances are limited to a couple of songs at selected shows.

JJ, aged 63, said: "Our only concern really is Jet.

“He wants to keep drumming. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

“We take it on a day-to-day basis and we count our blessings if he does just one song.”

When Jet does not play, the drum sticks are taken up by substitute musician Jim MacAulay.

JJ said: "Jim’s great.

“Jet has been mentoring him and he has been accepted by the fans — and overall we’ve had seven drummers in total standing in for Jet over the years.”

Conflicting reports have stated that once Jet retires from the band, The Stranglers would also end but JJ has a diplomatic — and hopeful — response.

He said: "Well, it’s not a problem yet as Jet is still very much involved in the band, he still records and is very active behind the scenes.

“But my take is that when Jet is completely out of the band we would finish, but Jet himself would like it to continue. As I said, he’s mentoring Jim and is trying to convince me to carry on.

“I remain to be persuaded though.”

Last year, the band celebrated their 40th anniversary with a massive UK tour and a concert at the Olympia in Paris that was filmed for DVD.

JJ said: "I really enjoyed the Ruby tour.

“We managed to do at least one piece from every one of our 17 studio albums; not only that but we beat all our attendance records at every show.

“And the Olympia show, I personally think is the best filmed concert of The Stranglers ever. Everything was spot on and it captured the production perfectly.”

And what can we expect this time?

“A few surprises.

“We are playing a few songs we haven’t done in ages and I’m having to relearn stuff I haven’t played in over 30 years — that’s what I’m doing at the moment with Baz.

"It’s become a very pleasant habit for us every spring. We have an audience and each show is a kind of communion.

“We’re not selling anything, we are musicians and we love to play and we’re just having a bloody good time.”

The Stranglers March On tour will be at the Manchester Academy, Oxford Road, on Saturday.

MARTIN HUTCHINSON