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.
Talkback
Stiff Little Fingers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every time I try to have my say you have it for me
They say there's freedom of speech
But when I try to make free you say
Don't you talk back to me
Don't you talk back to me
Don't you talk back to me
Every time I ask you to lend an ear I get both together
Everything I say just goes in one and out the other
They say there's freedom of thought
But when I think out aloud you say
Don't you talk back to me
Don't you talk back to me
Don't you talk back to me
Now you must see reason
See that I'm a person
Shut your face and listen .... ain't it time
And if you open your mouth
I'll jump straight down your throat and say
Don't you talk back to me
Don't you talk back to me
Don't you talk back to me
Don't you talk back to me
Don't you talk back to me
Don't you talk back to me
Anytime
The Stiff Little Fingers song "Talkback" is an anthem for those who feel silenced and ignored when they try to speak their minds. The lyrics suggest that the right to free speech is not always upheld, even when it is legally protected. The first verse describes the frustration of attempting to express oneself, only to have someone else speak for them or ignore their words entirely. The tone of the lyrics suggests that the singer feels dismissed and overlooked, despite their efforts to be heard.
The second verse explores the idea that freedom of thought is also not always respected. The lyrics suggest that even when someone has the freedom to think for themselves, expressing their thoughts out loud can be met with resistance or dismissal. The line "Now you must see reason, see that I'm a person" implies that the singer feels dehumanized by those who refuse to listen to them.
The repeated refrain "don't you talk back to me" serves as a symbol of the power dynamic at play in the relationship between the singer and the person they are addressing. The phrase implies that the singer is seen as inferior or subordinate, and that their attempts to assert themselves are not welcome. The final verse suggests that the singer is fed up with being silenced, and is ready to fight back against those who would try to control them.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time I go to speak my mind you just ignore me
Whenever I attempt to express my opinions or thoughts, you simply disregard them.
Every time I try to have my say you have it for me
Whenever I try to make a point or speak up, you interject with your own thoughts before I can finish.
They say there's freedom of speech
People say that individuals have the right to express their thoughts and ideas freely without censorship or punishment.
But when I try to make free you say
However, whenever I attempt to exercise my right to freedom of expression, you prevent me from doing so.
Don't you talk back to me
You demand that I do not respond or express any opposing thoughts to your own.
Every time I ask you to lend an ear I get both together
Whenever I request your attention and an opportunity to be listened to, you close yourself off and refuse to listen.
Everything I say just goes in one and out the other
Nothing I say appears to benefit or impact you, as you simply ignore or dismiss my words.
They say there's freedom of thought
Individuals are thought to be able to think freely and form their own opinions without outside influence.
But when I think out aloud you say
However, whenever I vocalize my opinions, you silence me and refuse to listen or consider them.
Now you must see reason
It is time for you to comprehend the logic or justification behind my perspective.
See that I'm a person
Recognize and acknowledge that I am an individual with my own thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Shut your face and listen .... ain't it time
Please be quiet and pay attention - isn't it about time you listened to what I had to say?
And if you open your mouth
If you choose to speak up or object to my thoughts, ideas, or opinions...
I'll jump straight down your throat and say
I will respond to you aggressively and without hesitation, probably with another demand for you to not talk back to me.
Don't you talk back to me
Once again, you demand submission and the absence of any opposing thoughts or ideas.
Anytime
This pattern of silencing and control endures and repeats itself in any given moment.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAKE BURNS, GORDON OGILVIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind