Stiff Little Fingers are a Northern Irish Punk Rock band who first formed in 1977 at the height of The Troubles. The bands songs reflect this violent backdrop with songs calling for reconciliation and social justice.
Originally a high school band called Highway Star (after the Deep Purple song), they briefly considered naming themselves The Fast before settling on Stiff Little Fingers (A Good Name for a Rock Band sometimes said to have been inspired by '60s American TV show The Invaders (1967), although Wikipedia says they named themselves after a song by fellow punk band The Vibrators).
The band broke up over the course of a series of fistfights following the release of Now Then... in 1983, but later reformed in 1987. Lead singer Jake Burns is the only member of the original lineup to remain with the band through its entire history.
Members (Current Lineup in bold)
- Jake Burns - lead vocals, guitar (1977–1982, 1987–present)
- Ali McMordie - bass (1977–1982, 1987–1991, 2006–present)
- Ian McCallum - guitar (1993–present)
- Steve Grantley - drums (1996–present)
- Henry Cluney - guitar (1977–1982, 1987–1993)
- Dave Sharp - guitar (1993–1997)
- Gordon Blair - bass (1977)
- Bruce Foxton - bass (1991–2006) of The Jam
- Brian Faloon - drums (1977–1979)
- Jim Reilly - drums (1979–1981)
- Dolphin Taylor - drums (1981–1982, 1987–1996) of Tom Robinson Band
Discography
- 1979 - Inflammable Material
- 1980 - Nobody's Heroes
- 1981 - Go for It
- 1982 - Now Then...
- 1991 - Flags and Emblems
- 1994 - Get a Life
- 1997 - Tinderbox
- 1999 - Hope Street
- 2003 - Guitar and Drum
- 2014 - No Going Back
Tropes:
- Coming of Age Story: A common theme for the band. "At the Edge" is about a kid being told he needs to put aside "all your stupid hopes and dreams" in favor of a more realistic, responsible life of Small Town Boredom.
- Cover Version: The Title Track of the Live Album No Sleep 'Til Belfast is a cover of Beastie Boys' "No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn". SLF has also done some Reggae songs, such as Bob Marley's "Johnny Was", Nicky Thomas' "Love of the Common People" and Bunny Wailer's "Roots, Radicals, Rockers and Reggae". The band's own "Suspect Device" has, in turn, been extensively covered by other bands, with "Wasted Life" and "Gotta Gettaway" not far behind.
- Dare to Be Badass: A handful of songs qualify, such as Nobody's Hero, Alternative Ulster and Suspect Device.
- Taken up to eleven with Fly the Flag, a Dare To Be Badass song aimed at the United Kingdom itself.
- The Four Chords of Pop: The main guitar riff of "Alternative Ulster" uses the ''I-V-vi-IV" progression.
- I Am the Band: As noted, lead singer Jake Burns is the only consistent member.
- I'm Not a Hero, I'm...: "Nobody's Hero", of course — about rejecting stardom and telling the listener to make their own decisions. Also "Wasted Life", mocking the idea that being a soldier and killing for the sake of "freedom" ("All thanks to the freedom-seeking hordes") is in any way noble.
- The Power of Rock: A mundane example is expressed in Guitar and Drum.I believe in the power of guitar and drum
I believe in the hope held in a song
I believe that the music makes you strong
I believe in the power of guitar and drum - Precision F-Strike: Happens in Suspect device:Their solutions are our problems
They put up the wall
On each side time and prime us
Ensure we get fucked all - Protest Song: Virtually their entire discography comprises of these.
- War Is Hell: Many songs about the pointlessness of war, owing to growing up at the height the Troubles, but especially "Wasted Life", "Tin Soldiers" ("At the age of 17 he did as he was told / Now at the age of 21 tin still won't turn to gold") and "Each Dollar a Bullet":Now you've never stood on Belfast's streets
And heard the bombs explode
Or hid beneath the blankets
When there's riots down the road
