Hazel O'Connor 1980

Hazel O'Connor 1980

by Pete Clemons

What a year 1980 was for Coventry born singer songwriter Hazel O'Connor. Hazel, as most know, starred in the iconic film, 'Breaking Glass'. In addition to playing the lead role, Hazel wrote all the songs in the film. Yet despite all its success, Hazel received none of the expected royalties. As such, and in Hazel's own words, 'I've never known what it's like to sell hundreds and thousands of records and live off the royalties. But the good thing is I quickly learned to live off what I did, my live work'. And that's why, today, Hazel works as hard as ever touring.

A tour promoting the Breaking Glass album gave rise to the support band who had been selected by Hazel. And that band was Duran Duran who, as a result of those gigs, gained their first recording contract.

During the year in which Hazel became a household name she met up with Hugh Cornwell. Hazel and her band had supported The Stranglers on several gigs. And Hazel and Hugh became 'very good buddies for a small amount of time, maybe a week, but then he got put in prison. He has such a brilliant mind, his lyrics and music are quite amazing, as is his cynicism and dry wit'.

During March 1980 The Stranglers guitarist and songwriter, Hugh Cornwell, was given an eight week prison sentence and fined £300 at a West London court. He had admitted to five charges of possessing drugs. Hugh along with a rock promoter, who worked for Harvey Goldsmith Entertainments, were stopped at a routine roadblock at Hammersmith Broadway on November 1 1979, and drugs were found in the car.

During the passing of the sentence it was said by the magistrate that 'the pair were intellectual men of mature years who had a great influence on the lifestyle of teenagers and who should not cause damage to the morals and physical well being of those who admired them. Both had had a university education that made their involvement in the drug scene all the more contemptible'.

It was assumed at the time that the sentence could have wider implications for The Stranglers themselves. Countries like the United States and Japan were known to take a tough line with visitors who had been convicted with drug offences and this might affect any future dates.

While in prison Hugh spent 12 hours a day scrubbing floors, cleaning and washing up, earning £1.30 a day in prison wages. He also gained a stone and a half in weight during the five weeks due, in part, by the carbohydrates in the prison diet. Hugh was adamant that this involvement with the drug scene was over and also his prison career.

On his release from Pentonville prison, five weeks later, he was met at the gates by a small crowd that included his Mother, Hazel O'Connor, Stranglers drummer Jet Black and several news reporters. When asked what prison life was like he said 'Why don't you go and find out for yourself'?'. During a later interview Hugh revealed that 'it was the most inhuman , demoralising experience of my life. All the bitterness is knocked out of you in there. It's a hell, you can't imagine how bad it is in prison. I just hope I can do something about it one day. When I was sentenced they slapped handcuffs on my wrists and drove me through the centre of London. I was looking at people outside the van while I cupped my hands smoking a cigarette.'

Hazel O'Connor and Hugh Cornwell remain friends and have since toured together. But Hazel also tours regularly with Coventry band, The Subterraneans, and more recently, Toyah Willcox. Fingers crossed that a tour, originally scheduled for this time, holds up later in the year.