Stiff Little Fingers are a punk band from Belfast, Northern Ireland, formed… Read Full Bio ↴Stiff Little Fingers are a punk band from Belfast, Northern Ireland, formed in 1977. They started out as a schoolboy band called Highway Star (named after the Deep Purple song), doing rock covers, until they discovered punk. In 1983 they split up after six years and four albums, although they reformed four years later, in 1987. Despite major personnel changes, they are still touring and recording as of 2011. Jake Burns, their lead singer, is the only member to have been with the band during all its incarnations, although in March 2006, original bass guitarist Ali McMordie rejoined them following the departure of The Jam bass player Bruce Foxton after fifteen years.
Early years
Prior to becoming Stiff Little Fingers, Jake Burns, vocals and guitar, Henry Cluney, guitar, Gordon Blair, bass, and Brian Faloon, drums, were playing in a rock music cover band, Highway Star, in Belfast. Upon the departure of Gordon Blair (who went on to play with another Belfast group, Rudi), Ali McMordie took over on bass. Cluney had by this time discovered punk, and introduced the rest of the band to it. They decided that Highway Star wasn't a punk enough name, and after a brief flirtation with the name "The Fast", decided to call themselves Stiff Little Fingers, after the Vibrators song of the same name.
It was while they were doing a gig at the Glenmachan Hotel that they met up with Gordon Ogilvie, who was a Marxist journalist with the Daily Express newspaper, invited along for the evening by Colin McClelland, another journalist, with whom Jake had been corresponding.
Ogilvie suggested they play material based upon their experience of the Troubles. McClelland arranged to get the band some recording time at a local radio station, and in the studio normally used to record jingles, they recorded "Suspect Device". The single was packaged in the form of a cassette, with a cover depicting a cassette bomb, apparently causing great hilarity in the group, when one record company phoned them and asked for another copy, as they'd thrown the first one in a bucket of water for fear that it was a real bomb.
A copy of the single was sent to John Peel. He played it repeatedly leading to a distribution deal through Rough Trade. The single was released on the band's own Rigid Digits label and sold over 30,000 copies. Peel would later do the same with the first single by another famous Northern Irish band, The Undertones. There were a number of well-publicised arguments between the two bands; the Undertones accused Stiff Little Fingers of sensationalising the Northern Ireland conflict, while they retorted that The Undertones ignored it.
The lyrics of many Stiff Little Fingers' songs concerning the troubles are extremely critical of the paramilitary organisations and governments involved, showing them to be exploititative of ordinary people (particularly the young) and all as bad as each other. Their second single, "Alternative Ulster", was originally intended to be given away free with the fanzine of the same name.
Inflammable Material
In the second half of 1978, they toured with the Tom Robinson Band, and in 1979, they released their first album, Inflammable Material. The band agreed a contract with Island Records, but it fell through, leaving the band to release the album on their own label. Despite the album's independent release, it reached number 14 in the UK Albums Chart and reached Silver status, selling over 50,000 copies. Inflammable Material was the first album distributed Rough Trade records, and the first independent album to chart in the UK. This inspired their move to London, which led to the departure of Brian Faloon and Colin McClelland (who along with Gordon Ogilvie had been joint manager of the band up until that point).
Jim Reilly became their drummer in time for the "Gotta Gettaway" single, and played in the Rock Against Racism tour.
Nobody's Heroes and Go for It
In mid-1979, Stiff Little Fingers signed their Rigid Digits label to Chrysalis Records, and in 1980 released their second album, Nobody's Heroes. 1981's Go for It followed. Soon after the Go for It tour, Jim Reilly left the band. His place was taken by Brian 'Dolphin' Taylor, who Jake remembered from Taylor's days with the Tom Robinson Band.
Breakup
Now Then...
In 1982 came a 4 song EP called £1.10 or Less and then their fourth studio album, Now Then... (although their fifth album, as they had released a live LP, Hanx, between Nobody's Heroes and Go for It). By this time they had diversified musically, and Now Then had an almost pop feel about it in places. This led some of their more hardcore fans to feel alienated, and in the face of low sales and concert attendances, they broke up in 1983, when Burns said: "Our last LP Now Then was to my mind the best album we have made. But it is also unfortunately the best I think we will ever make. So I have decided to call it a day." The band later revealed the original split had been somewhat acrimonious, with bandmembers apparently having fistfights rather than talking through their differences.
Reformation
They reformed in 1987; according to Burns, because they were "skint and wanted to make a bit of cash to get back to Ireland for Christmas". They released some live albums and did short tours towards the end of the 1980s, and by 1990 were thinking of reforming permanently.
Flags and Emblems
Ali McMordie decided he could not commit the time to tour full-time or record, and so left, being replaced by Bruce Foxton (previously bass guitarist in The Jam) in time to record 1991's Flags and Emblems. In Britain, the single from this album, "Beirut Moon", was withdrawn from sale on the first day of release, allegedly because it criticised the government for not acting to free hostage John McCarthy, who had been held in the Lebanon.
In 1993 Burns made what he described as one of the hardest decisions of his life and asked Henry Cluney to leave the band, and the trio of Jake Burns, Bruce Foxton and Dolphin Taylor continued for the next four years, joined on live shows by either Dave Sharp or Ian McCallum.
Get a Life
In 1994 they released Get a Life in the UK, releasing it in the U.S. in 1996. By the end of 1996 Taylor left due to family commitments. Burns called in Steve Grantley who had played drums for Jake Burns and the Big Wheel in the late 1980s.
Tinderbox - Guitar and Drum
The trio of Burns, Foxton and Grantley recorded 1997's Tinderbox album, with help from Ian McCallum who joined as a full time member for 1999's and best of all...Hope Street . This same line-up recorded 2003's Guitar and Drum.
Lineup change
On 18 January 2006, the following announcement appeared on the SLF Website. Bruce Foxton has announced that he is to leave Stiff Little Fingers with immediate effect. After 15 years of writing, recording and touring with SLF Bruce says it is time to move on and concentrate on other projects. "The situation is amicable" says Foxton. "I have enjoyed my time with Jake, Ian and Steve and will miss them. Naturally I wish them all continued success and hope to catch up with the boys during their spring tour."
Obviously, we as well wish Bruce every success in everything he goes on to do in the future. He has been a fantastic asset to the band and we'll miss him as well.
Jake, Steve, Ian.
On 23 January 2006, it was announced that original bass guitarist Ali McMordie was to rejoin the band for the duration of their upcoming March tour. The tour was a success, with many fans writing into SLF's message board saying how much they enjoyed it, and how fired up the band seemed to be. After much discussion regarding the status of McMordie within the band after the tour, on 21 April 2006, Burns posted the following on the message board.
"For the time being Mr. McMordie is happy to continue as long as his busy schedule allows. It may be that occasionally we have to bring on a "substitute", if he is up to his eyes and we need to do something, but hopefully we can avoid that.
Cheers,
Jake."
New album
On 9 March 2007, Jake Burns announced that Stiff Little Fingers would be recording a new album which would hopefully be completed by the end of 2007. They have previewed a track from the new album, "Liars Club", at live concerts. The track is named after a bar Jake drove past on his way home whilst listening to a press report about Tony Blair, George W. Bush and the Iraq War. As of February 2009, the new album is still unreleased. This is mainly due to the fact that Burns had more or less completed writing, when he decided on a change of direction, and scrapped most of the songs.
Early years
Prior to becoming Stiff Little Fingers, Jake Burns, vocals and guitar, Henry Cluney, guitar, Gordon Blair, bass, and Brian Faloon, drums, were playing in a rock music cover band, Highway Star, in Belfast. Upon the departure of Gordon Blair (who went on to play with another Belfast group, Rudi), Ali McMordie took over on bass. Cluney had by this time discovered punk, and introduced the rest of the band to it. They decided that Highway Star wasn't a punk enough name, and after a brief flirtation with the name "The Fast", decided to call themselves Stiff Little Fingers, after the Vibrators song of the same name.
It was while they were doing a gig at the Glenmachan Hotel that they met up with Gordon Ogilvie, who was a Marxist journalist with the Daily Express newspaper, invited along for the evening by Colin McClelland, another journalist, with whom Jake had been corresponding.
Ogilvie suggested they play material based upon their experience of the Troubles. McClelland arranged to get the band some recording time at a local radio station, and in the studio normally used to record jingles, they recorded "Suspect Device". The single was packaged in the form of a cassette, with a cover depicting a cassette bomb, apparently causing great hilarity in the group, when one record company phoned them and asked for another copy, as they'd thrown the first one in a bucket of water for fear that it was a real bomb.
A copy of the single was sent to John Peel. He played it repeatedly leading to a distribution deal through Rough Trade. The single was released on the band's own Rigid Digits label and sold over 30,000 copies. Peel would later do the same with the first single by another famous Northern Irish band, The Undertones. There were a number of well-publicised arguments between the two bands; the Undertones accused Stiff Little Fingers of sensationalising the Northern Ireland conflict, while they retorted that The Undertones ignored it.
The lyrics of many Stiff Little Fingers' songs concerning the troubles are extremely critical of the paramilitary organisations and governments involved, showing them to be exploititative of ordinary people (particularly the young) and all as bad as each other. Their second single, "Alternative Ulster", was originally intended to be given away free with the fanzine of the same name.
Inflammable Material
In the second half of 1978, they toured with the Tom Robinson Band, and in 1979, they released their first album, Inflammable Material. The band agreed a contract with Island Records, but it fell through, leaving the band to release the album on their own label. Despite the album's independent release, it reached number 14 in the UK Albums Chart and reached Silver status, selling over 50,000 copies. Inflammable Material was the first album distributed Rough Trade records, and the first independent album to chart in the UK. This inspired their move to London, which led to the departure of Brian Faloon and Colin McClelland (who along with Gordon Ogilvie had been joint manager of the band up until that point).
Jim Reilly became their drummer in time for the "Gotta Gettaway" single, and played in the Rock Against Racism tour.
Nobody's Heroes and Go for It
In mid-1979, Stiff Little Fingers signed their Rigid Digits label to Chrysalis Records, and in 1980 released their second album, Nobody's Heroes. 1981's Go for It followed. Soon after the Go for It tour, Jim Reilly left the band. His place was taken by Brian 'Dolphin' Taylor, who Jake remembered from Taylor's days with the Tom Robinson Band.
Breakup
Now Then...
In 1982 came a 4 song EP called £1.10 or Less and then their fourth studio album, Now Then... (although their fifth album, as they had released a live LP, Hanx, between Nobody's Heroes and Go for It). By this time they had diversified musically, and Now Then had an almost pop feel about it in places. This led some of their more hardcore fans to feel alienated, and in the face of low sales and concert attendances, they broke up in 1983, when Burns said: "Our last LP Now Then was to my mind the best album we have made. But it is also unfortunately the best I think we will ever make. So I have decided to call it a day." The band later revealed the original split had been somewhat acrimonious, with bandmembers apparently having fistfights rather than talking through their differences.
Reformation
They reformed in 1987; according to Burns, because they were "skint and wanted to make a bit of cash to get back to Ireland for Christmas". They released some live albums and did short tours towards the end of the 1980s, and by 1990 were thinking of reforming permanently.
Flags and Emblems
Ali McMordie decided he could not commit the time to tour full-time or record, and so left, being replaced by Bruce Foxton (previously bass guitarist in The Jam) in time to record 1991's Flags and Emblems. In Britain, the single from this album, "Beirut Moon", was withdrawn from sale on the first day of release, allegedly because it criticised the government for not acting to free hostage John McCarthy, who had been held in the Lebanon.
In 1993 Burns made what he described as one of the hardest decisions of his life and asked Henry Cluney to leave the band, and the trio of Jake Burns, Bruce Foxton and Dolphin Taylor continued for the next four years, joined on live shows by either Dave Sharp or Ian McCallum.
Get a Life
In 1994 they released Get a Life in the UK, releasing it in the U.S. in 1996. By the end of 1996 Taylor left due to family commitments. Burns called in Steve Grantley who had played drums for Jake Burns and the Big Wheel in the late 1980s.
Tinderbox - Guitar and Drum
The trio of Burns, Foxton and Grantley recorded 1997's Tinderbox album, with help from Ian McCallum who joined as a full time member for 1999's and best of all...Hope Street . This same line-up recorded 2003's Guitar and Drum.
Lineup change
On 18 January 2006, the following announcement appeared on the SLF Website. Bruce Foxton has announced that he is to leave Stiff Little Fingers with immediate effect. After 15 years of writing, recording and touring with SLF Bruce says it is time to move on and concentrate on other projects. "The situation is amicable" says Foxton. "I have enjoyed my time with Jake, Ian and Steve and will miss them. Naturally I wish them all continued success and hope to catch up with the boys during their spring tour."
Obviously, we as well wish Bruce every success in everything he goes on to do in the future. He has been a fantastic asset to the band and we'll miss him as well.
Jake, Steve, Ian.
On 23 January 2006, it was announced that original bass guitarist Ali McMordie was to rejoin the band for the duration of their upcoming March tour. The tour was a success, with many fans writing into SLF's message board saying how much they enjoyed it, and how fired up the band seemed to be. After much discussion regarding the status of McMordie within the band after the tour, on 21 April 2006, Burns posted the following on the message board.
"For the time being Mr. McMordie is happy to continue as long as his busy schedule allows. It may be that occasionally we have to bring on a "substitute", if he is up to his eyes and we need to do something, but hopefully we can avoid that.
Cheers,
Jake."
New album
On 9 March 2007, Jake Burns announced that Stiff Little Fingers would be recording a new album which would hopefully be completed by the end of 2007. They have previewed a track from the new album, "Liars Club", at live concerts. The track is named after a bar Jake drove past on his way home whilst listening to a press report about Tony Blair, George W. Bush and the Iraq War. As of February 2009, the new album is still unreleased. This is mainly due to the fact that Burns had more or less completed writing, when he decided on a change of direction, and scrapped most of the songs.
At The Edge/ Silly Encores
Stiff Little Fingers Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Stiff Little Fingers:
02--State of Emergency You're looking for something But what could that be? You l…
03--Here We Are Nowhere Friday night's here What's the scene? Nothing to do why'k…
03.Doesn`t Make It All Right Just because you're nobody It doesn't mean that you're no g…
04 Wait and See Hah! When we started we thought we were great Though nob…
06. Stands to Reason They say our country's on the rocks and Britain's the…
07-Human Shield How do you propose to live your life in times…
1. suspect device Inflammable material, planted in my head It's a suspect dev…
13. what if i want more I'm sick of being pushed around I'm tired of being forced…
78 R.P.M Sixty-nine, it was fine You say, but by seventy-nine it's g…
Achilles Heart It was a different world back then Though not so long…
All I Need When you're facing up to trouble And your mind has drawn…
All The Rest (Jake Burns/Steve Grantley) He's drinkin' supermarket cider…
Alternative Ulster There's nothin' for us in Belfast The Pound's old, and that'…
Alternative Ulster (live) There's nothin' for us in Belfast The Pound's old and that's…
At The Edge Back when I was younger they were talking at me Never…
Baby Blue Always seems to be same round here Town full of losers…
Back to Front On cheap returns to summer places Awayday herd, all out in…
Back to Front (Live) On cheap returns to summer places Awayday herd, all out in…
Barbed Wire Love I met you in No Man's Land Across the wire we…
Be Seeing You Scams and lies and alibis Are all your stock in trade Spin…
Be True To Yourself You gotta show me gotta make see You gotta give me…
Beirut Moon "We'd like to help you." the consul said "But there's nothi…
Best of Fools I can't believe you can look me in the eye…
Big City Night Stop and go on an empty crossing The lights keep changing…
Bits of Kids It was nothing like that in my day Here in…
Bloody Sunday Aaaah! Take a look around you all is dead A good look…
Breakout Ain't got no money but I don't give a damn 'Cause…
Bulletproof Take me back to a place Summertime, Anaheim I can't wait to…
Can't Believe In You Don't think of tomorrow, do it today Let's live our lives…
Can't Get Away With That You had us almost believing we were good enough for…
Closed Groove Punctuality, waste of time Now nostalgia is past it's prime …
Cold Sometimes it's fine Sometimes I know just what it's all wort…
Dead Man Walking When I went out last night I saw a dead man…
Dead Of Night Walk the streets at midnight As the rain pours down and…
Die and Burn You're holding on to something I don't believe it's real You…
Doesn Just because you're nobody It doesn't mean that you're no go…
Doesn’t Make It Alright Just because you're nobody It doesn't mean that you're no g…
Dust In My Eye I need no help, no aid I don't need your assistance I…
Dust in my eyes I need no help, no aid I don't need your assistance I…
Each Dollar a Bullet Oh it must be so romantic When the fighting's over there And…
Empty Sky I talk to God sometimes, but nobody's listening I talk to…
Ever Changing Moral Stance Well, I find it hard to concentrate While you sit there…
Falling Down Someone's falling down tonight While facing front you stand …
Fly the Flag Gimme a country that's red, white and blue Gimme the British…
Forensic Evidence You got the lawyers and establishment You got the proof You …
Gate 49 When I'm away I think of you And how you're where…
Get A Life Well you snap to attention And pay heed to what they…
Go for It you got to pass the bowl and make the food…
Good for Nothing you're good for nothing so watch your p's and q's best keep…
Gotta Get Away You had us almost believing we were good enough for…
Gotta Getaway Gotta gotta getaway, gotta gotta getaway You know there ain…
Gotta Gettaway Gotta Gotta gettaway Gotta Gotta gettaway You know there ai…
Guitar & Drum Well you get you entertainment Through a corporate plan Vi…
Guitar & Drum (Live) Well you get you entertainment Through a corporate plan Via …
Guitar And Drum Well you get you entertainment Through a corporate plan Vi…
Half A Life Away Gill and Galloway were working late On a summers night in…
Happy Yesterday Just like the autumn When leaves turn brown and fall upon…
Harp Don't pity this poor immigrant My eyes were open when I…
Here We Are Nowhere Friday night's here What's the scene? Nothing to do Y'know w…
High & Low She got a 2 year old in nursery And then lately…
Hits and Misses Look at every man you meet It can be him on…
Honeyed Words (Jake Burns) Time after time The world is pressing down On …
Hope St. So you′re living on a false reputation You're a big man…
Hope Street (Jake Burns) So you're living on a false reputation You're …
Human Shield How do you propose to live your life in times…
Hurricane Hey you, yeah I'm trying to get through Past that chip…
I Can't Believe In You Don't think of tomorrow, do it today Let's live our lives…
I Could be Happy Yesterday Just like the autumn When leaves turn brown and fall upon…
I Don't Like You If I thought you could find a way, I'd tell…
I Waited I waited but you never came So everything stayed the same Co…
I Want You If I thought you could find a way, I'd tell…
In Your Hand It's all or nothing That's how you've always been All or n…
Is that What You Fought the War For Yes, I know you did your bit back then. But…
Johhny 7 I remember back so long ago Where I went you'd always…
Johnny 7 I remember back so long ago Where I went you'd always…
Johnny Was Woman hold her head and cry 'Cause her son had been…
Johnny Was... Woman hold her head and cry 'Cause her son had been…
Just Fade Away She asks for more and I give less Why can't she…
Kicking Up a Racket I sit and I don't make a sound While I watch…
Last Train From the Waste Land (J. Burns/B. Foxton) Arise! You've listened to too many li…
Law and Order Hup! Everybody's down in the centre of town You're doing no…
Listen It seems so easy in the light of day And when…
Long Way To Paradise When you're young you stand your ground And nothing seem to…
Love of the commom people Living on Government hand-outs Water in the milk from a hole…
Mr Fire Coal Man [Chorus] Hey I hear you calling Mr Fire Coal-Man Come and do…
Mr. Fire Coal Man [Chorus] Hey I hear you calling Mr Fire Coal-Man Come and…
My Ever Changing Moral Stance Well, I find it hard to concentrate While you sit there…
No Change Why do you talk that way? It's not what you used…
No Faith (Jake Burns) You once were my friend You once cared for the…
No Laughing Matter You tell me all your tales and your stories You give…
No More of That They never ask us if we want a war Who do…
No Surrender Here's your mask 'nd here's your glove, it's all an…
Nobody I think it's time we talked this over I think you've…
Nobody's Heroes I think it's time we talked this over I think you've…
Nobody's Heroes (Live) I think it's time we talked this over I think you've…
Nobodys Hero I think it's time we talked this over I think you've…
Piccadilly Circus Piccadilly Circus in the dead of night Just passing time ben…
Protect & Serve Mama Papa It's cold in here I'm hurt and I'm bleeding…
Road to Kingdom Come Your family can't help you They're standing in your way Ti…
Roaring Boys Paddy is waiting in Drogheda town For the train to carry…
Roaring Boys Part 2 Paddy is waiting in Drogheda town For the train to carry…
Roaring Boys Parts 1 & 2 Won't you tell me all your cares and problems Won't you…
Roots Radical Rockers and Reggae You roots, you radicals, you rock to the reggae You roots,…
Rough Trade Yeah! Record boss said we would be a smash Yeah, go straight…
Running Bear You're good for nothing so watch your P's and Q's Best…
Sad Eyed People Hey you Sad-eyed people sat in bars Sad-eyed People sat in …
Sad-Eyed People Hey you Sad-eyed people sat in bars Sad-eyed People sat …
Safe as Houses She makes a home and she stays mum About the things…
She Grew Up I'd met her before somewhere, I knew the face But she…
Silver Lining They tell you not to worry They say they're terribly sorry B…
Smithers Jones Here we go again, it's Monday at last, He's heading for…
Smithers-Jones Here we go again, it's Monday at last He's heading for…
Stand Up and Shout It's time to ask yourself just what you want to…
Stands to Reason They say our country's on the rocks and Britain's the…
State of Emergency You're looking for something But what could that be? You loo…
Stiff Little Fingers No Sleep 'til Belfast 5 years on we're still the same F**k…
Stiff_Little_Fingers_-_All_The_Best_Disc_2_-_10_-_Good_For_Nothing you're good for nothing so watch your p's and q's best kee…
Still Burning Now I'm a little bit older I'm expected to accept all…
Straw Dogs All things are relative with cousins everywhere Hard-nosed b…
Strummerville You lit a flame in my heart And it is burning…
Suspect Device Inflammable material, planted in my head It's a suspect devi…
Suspect Device (Live) (Fingers/Ogilvie) Inflammable material is planted in my head…
Talkback Every time I go to speak my mind you just…
Tantalise (Jake Burns) Well I can't lie and I won't try I ain't…
THE "COSH" Everything is turning upside down in this town The crime rat…
The Game of Life From the minute you're born Til the day you die Why'know the…
The Message Broken glass everywhere People pissing on the station Y'know…
The Night That The Wall Came Down Maybe you remember, before the wall came down How we hated…
The Only One It makes you so angry You rage and rage again But you…
The Price of Admission So somebody's told you how to be a man Just fuck…
The Road To Kingdom Come Your family can't help you They're standing in your way Ti…
The Roaring Boys Paddy is waiting in Drogheda town For the train to carry…
Tin Soldier He joined up to get a job and show he…
Tinderbox Then the rain came down And washed all hope away And your…
Touch & Go Looking back it's funny that we never lied That night we…
Two Guitars Clash Though up till then I'd thought that what I had…
and many more tracks by Stiff Little Fingers.
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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