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.

The Message
Stiff Little Fingers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Broken glass everywhere
People pissing on the station
Y'know they just don't care
I can't take the smell
I can't take the noise
I got no money to move out
I guess I got no choice
Rats in the front room

Roaches in the back
Junkies in the alley with a baseball bat
I tries to get away but I couldn't get far
Cos a man with a truncheon re-possessed my car

Chorus:
Don't push me cos I'm close to the edge
I'm trying not to lose my head
It's like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder how I keep from going under

My son said: "Daddy, I don't wanna go to school
Cos the teacher's a jerk, he must think I'm a fool
And all the kids smoke reefer I think it'd be cheaper
If I just got a job learned to be a street sweeper
I'll dance to the beat, shuffle my feet wear a shirt and tie
And run with the creeps"
Cos it's all about money ain't a damn thing funny
You got to have a car in this land of milk and honey
A child is born with no state of mind
Blind to the ways of mankind
God is smiling on you but he's frowning too
Because only God knows what you'll go through
You'll grow in the ghetto living second rate
And your eyes will see a song of deep hate
The places you play and where you stay
Looks like one great big alleyway

You'll admire all the number book takers
The pimps the pushers and the big money makers
Driving great big cars spending twenties and tens
And you want to grow up to be just like them
Smugglers scramblers burglars gamblers
Pickpocket pedlars even panhandlers
You say I'm cool I'm no fool
But then you end up dropping right outa school

Now you're unemployed null and void
Walking round like you're Pretty Boy Floyd
Turn stick up kid look what you done did
Got sent up for an eight year bid

Being used and abused to serve like hell
Till one day you was found hung dead in the cell

Overall Meaning

The Message, by Stiff Little Fingers, is a raw and honest commentary on the struggles of living in the inner city. The lyrics express frustration with the urban decay, the lack of opportunities, and the inevitability of getting caught up in a cycle of poverty, crime, and violence. The verses paint a bleak picture of broken glass, people urinating on the streets, rats, roaches, and junkies wielding weapons who make it impossible to escape. Despite the hardships, the singer tries to resist succumbing to the madness and the pressures of the environment, but the chorus shows that he is barely holding on. The lyrics of the chorus surge with a powerful list of the experiences that push him toward the brink: "It's like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder how I keep from going under." The final verse depicts the heartbreaking realities of a father trying to protect his son from the same fate by sending him to school, only to find out that education is not the solution, and that the only way to survive is to aspire to become like those who are exploiting the system. The lyrics of The Message express the exhaustion and despair of those who are caught in the struggle of the inner city, and their desperate need for change.

Line by Line Meaning

Broken glass everywhere
The environment is littered with broken glass and other debris, indicating a lack of upkeep and care.

People pissing on the station
People are urinating in public spaces without fear of consequence, disrespecting both the space itself and those around them.

Y'know they just don't care
Those responsible for maintaining public spaces seem to have given up on doing so, resulting in an unsanitary and unpleasant environment.

I can't take the smell
The stench created by the unclean and uncared-for surroundings is physically intolerable.

I can't take the noise
The noise of the city is overwhelming and distressing, adding to the overwhelming atmosphere of chaos and disorder.

I got no money to move out
The singer is unable to escape their environment due to a lack of financial resources.

I guess I got no choice
The singer feels trapped and helpless, with no power to improve their situation.

Rats in the front room
The artist's home is infested with vermin, further contributing to an unpleasant and unsanitary living situation.

Roaches in the back
The presence of cockroaches suggests a lack of cleanliness and sanitation, and further highlights the unpleasantness of the artist's environment.

Junkies in the alley with a baseball bat
Drug users and dealers are present in the artist's neighborhood, and their potential for violence is a constant source of fear.

I tries to get away but I couldn't get far
The singer has attempted to leave their situation, but has encountered obstacles that make it impossible to do so.

Cos a man with a truncheon re-possessed my car
The artist's recent attempt to escape was thwarted by the repossession of their vehicle by an authority figure wielding a club.

Don't push me cos I'm close to the edge
The singer is at their breaking point and feels vulnerable.

I'm trying not to lose my head
The singer is doing their best to stay calm and maintain emotional stability.

It's like a jungle sometimes
The city is chaotic and dangerous, with residents struggling to survive just like in a wild animal habitat.

It makes me wonder how I keep from going under
The artist is amazed that they have managed to continue living in such a situation without giving up or losing their mind.

My son said: "Daddy, I don't wanna go to school
The artist's child is expressing frustration and hopelessness with the school system.

Cos the teacher's a jerk, he must think I'm a fool
The child feels disrespected and undervalued by their teacher's behavior and assumes it is because they are seen as inferior.

And all the kids smoke reefer I think it'd be cheaper
The child is exposed to recreational drug use and sees no value in continuing their education when they could make money in the drug trade.

If I just got a job learned to be a street sweeper
The child is contemplating dropping out of school to pursue a low-paying job that will likely not improve their financial situation.

I'll dance to the beat, shuffle my feet wear a shirt and tie
The child imagines putting on a false persona in order to be accepted by others.

And run with the creeps"
The child envisions joining illicit groups in order to make money and get ahead.

Cos it's all about money ain't a damn thing funny
Money is the most important factor in this world, and it is not a laughing matter.

You got to have a car in this land of milk and honey
Owning a car is essential for survival in a society that prioritizes wealth and material possessions.

A child is born with no state of mind
Babies are not born with preconceived ideas or opinions - their environment shapes their perceptions and attitudes.

Blind to the ways of mankind
Newborns are ignorant to the social structures and customs of the world they have just entered.

God is smiling on you but he's frowning too
The idea of divine intervention is both positive and negative - while God may be helping, he is also aware of the struggle the singer will face.

Because only God knows what you'll go through
The artist acknowledges the unpredictable and difficult path their life may take.

You'll grow in the ghetto living second rate
The artist recognizes the social and economic limitations imposed on them in their upbringing.

And your eyes will see a song of deep hate
The singer has internalized feelings of anger and resentment, a byproduct of their environment and upbringing.

The places you play and where you stay
The environment shapes one's experience and influences their development.

Looks like one great big alleyway
The artist's neighborhood is rundown and uninviting, with little differentiation between public spaces and residential areas.

You'll admire all the number book takers
The artist will be exposed to criminal activity, and may feel admiration or envy towards those involved in lucrative illegal enterprises.

The pimps the pushers and the big money makers
The artist will encounter those who profit from the exploitation of others, selling drugs or sex acts for profit.

Driving great big cars spending twenties and tens
Those who profit from illegal activities are unafraid to flaunt their wealth, even in overtly visible ways.

And you want to grow up to be just like them
The artist imagines aspiring to the wealth and power of those involved in illegal enterprises, without understanding the dangers and risks involved.

Smugglers scramblers burglars gamblers
The singer will come into contact with those who engage in risky and potentially dangerous activities in order to gain power and money.

Pickpocket pedlars even panhandlers
The singer will see, interact with, and may even become one of those on the fringes of society, living on little to nothing.

You say I'm cool I'm no fool
The singer holds their own in the face of scrutiny, not easily swayed by outside opinion.

But then you end up dropping right outa school
Despite their initial confidence, the pressures and challenges of life may lead the artist to abandon their education.

Now you're unemployed null and void
The artist is unable to find a job, and as a result, feels empty and worthless.

Walking round like you're Pretty Boy Floyd
The singer feels shameless and without fear, like the notorious criminal of the same name.

Turn stick up kid look what you done did
The singer has become involved in illegal activities and may feel proud of their accomplishments or ashamed of their actions.

Got sent up for an eight year bid
The artist was arrested and sentenced to a lengthy prison term due to their involvement in illegal activities.

Being used and abused to serve like hell
The artist is being exploited and mistreated by those who have power over them, potentially within the prison system.

Till one day you was found hung dead in the cell
The artist knows someone who died while in prison, possibly at their own hands or the hands of the corrupt system.

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TRACKS