Sunderland's Baz Warne records lockdown single with Italian band The Mugshots

Lead singer of The Stranglers, Baz, performed a guitar solo on the record, which each musician recorded separately in their own homes.

The Mugshots are from Brescia in Italy in a Northern region of the country badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Entitled Quarantine Chant, the single is part of the band’s funding campaign to support their local hospital, Spedali Civili.

Baz said: “The Mugshots are mates of The Stranglers. We play with them quite often when we tour over there, and their singer contacted me to see if I’d contribute a guitar solo to the charity single they were making for COVID-19 relief in their country.

“They were hit incredibly hard, and I was only too happy to help in any way I could.

“I recorded it in my studio at home and sent it to them in a couple of hours and it came out pretty well.”

First formed in 1974, The Stranglers’ no nonsense attitude was embraced by the punk movement of the late '70s. They have an extensive back catalogue spanning 45 years, with hit singles including Peaches, No More Heroes and Walk On By.

Baz, who’s fronted The Stranglers since 2000, said: “I don’t play too much punky/metal stuff these days, so it was nice to dust off a different guitar, turn it right up, and see what came out.”

The single has been getting airplay around the world including the influential Rodney Bingenheimer Show in LA.

Baz said: “The band are pretty chuffed with the response and it was nice to contribute to a very worthwhile cause – without leaving the house!”

The band say they believe it’s the first single to be recorded in Italy during lockdown.

A spokesman for the band said: “As the song invites us to stay safe at home during the COVID-19 emergency, each musician recorded his part separately, with the final product being assembled on a computer.”

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