BEING the front man for one of the most successful bands of the late 1970s and early 80s obviously brings many perks.

However, receiving a "get out of jail for free" card when you're caught possessing drugs isn't one of them.

And that's how Hugh Cornwell, former front man for the internationally renowned punk group The Stranglers, managed to secure the band's anarchic image.

But he says although his stretch at her majesty's pleasure 20 years ago was good for his and the band's kudos, it wasn't necessarily a reflection of the man.

He points out the drug-taking stopped in 1983, something he feels a lot better for.

"The Stranglers had a collective bad boy image," he said.

"When I went down the band got its image. That's how it happens.

"I do miss the acclaim which came with the band, but I do not miss being taken for something that I am not."

For 13 years the group enjoyed global success with hits including No More Heroes, Peaches, Walk on By, Strange Little Girl and Always the Sun.

In 1997 Guy Ritchie used the band's hit Golden Brown for his 1999 blockbuster Snatch.

However, after all that success, Hugh still says the band highly underachieved.

This might be a clue as to why the band split in 1990 due to internal tensions between Hugh and other group members.

"The band could have been so much better, and a lot bigger," he added.

"And the reasons it didn't will become clear in a couple of months when my book is published.

"But I have been left with many ambitions unrealised.

"When I left, I was feeling very unsure of myself as a musician and it took me a couple of years to get out of that web. It took a few years to re-establish myself by writing and recording, but now I am setting up a fan base around the world which I can build on."

And so the singer-songwriter is back with a vengeance, and due to play at Worcester's Huntington Hall later this month. After great universal acclaim from his album Guilty, which he released three years ago, he says the future is "very positive."

And his outlook has been given a boost after writing and performing alongside dance collective Ruff Driverz for their song Attention.

"The music now is more psychedelic," he said.

"I am taking more chances with my music now and I have got a great working relationship with my producer which is paying dividends. I am looking to get completely away from The Stranglers' sound.

"I was approached by Ruff Driverz and when something like that happens you can't say no. It's such a compliment."

For tickets to Hugh's performance, on Thursday June 28, contact the hall's box office on 01905 611427.