A taut, explosive Belfast-based punk band, Stiff Little Fingers (named after a Vibrators song) had the dubious distinction of being referred to as "The Irish Clash." What must have seemed like a compliment at the time did little to help their career, only because it made comparisons between the two bands inevitable. Granted, there were many similarities: both bands debuted playing revved-up late-'70s punk rock, were politically inclined, featured pissed-off lead singers, had a love for reggae, and possessed a near-palpable sense of isolation and desperation. But as we all know, the Clash offered complexity, panache, and a consistently breathtaking body of work. Stiff Little Fingers, on the other hand, were simply a very good punk rock band. With sandpaper-throated frontman Jake Burns leading the way, SLF did release an auspicious, if badly produced, debut album, Inflammable Material, that featured the band's two best songs, "Alternative Ulster" and "Suspect Device." Both were passionate, ferocious songs dealing with the harsh, deadly realities of growing up in the middle of two decades of Northern Ireland's violence. These songs thrust SLF into the limelight and got them loads of enthusiastic press, which led to a contract with the decidedly anti-punk Chrysalis label in 1980. After that, SLF released a handful of pretty good records (including a terrific live album. Hanx), but their unregenerate fast and loud punk style started to sound stale. In 1982, the band released their most non-punk record (Now Then...). which was greeted by general apathy. In a musical rut, dogged by the facile Clash comparisons, and with punk rock running out of steam, Burns pulled the plug on SLF. Sadly, the band's breakup lasted only five years. After a string of forgettable solo singles and a stint as a BBC Radio producer, Burns, hoping to cash in on punk nostalgia, re-formed SLF (with another aging punk rocker ex-Jam bassist Bruce Foxton) in 1987, and released a bunch of lousy (mostly live) records for the rest of the millennium.
STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
Tinderbox
CD
$10
PAYPAL:
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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
Get A Life
CD
$10
PAYPAL:
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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
Pure Fingers
CD
$15.99
PAYPAL:
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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
Live Unplugged
CD
$15.99
PAYPAL:
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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
Flags & Emblems
CD
$15.99
PAYPAL:
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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
I Can't Believe in You
CD
$10.99
PAYPAL:
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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
Now Then
CD
$13.99
PAYPAL:
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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
2 CD BOX SET$22.99
PAYPAL:
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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
Tin Soldiers
CD
$12.99
PAYPAL:
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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
Inflamable Material
CD
$16.99
PAYPAL:
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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
Go For It
CD
$14.99
PAYPAL:
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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
Back Against
The Wall
CD
$16.99
PAYPAL:
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COLLECTABLES
LP'S
STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
Inflamable Material
LP
$ 45
PAYPAL:
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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
Go For It
LP
$ 25
PAYPAL:
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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
No Bodys Heroes
original UK Verion
LP
$ 45
PAYPAL:
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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
No Bodys Heroes
LP
$ 28
PAYPAL:
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COLLECTABLES
7 INCHES
STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
Suspect Device/Wasted Life
7 INCH
$30
S.L.F. 1st 7 INCH
PAYPAL:
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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
Back To Front/
Mr Fire Coal Man
7 INCH
$ 16
PAYPAL:
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STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
At The Edge/Running Bear
/White Christmas
7 INCH
$ 18
STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
Nobody's Hero/Tin Soldier
7 INCH
$ 22
POSTERS
STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
POSTER
$6 ppd in USA
sent in tube
$6 ppd outside USA
PAYPAL:
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VIDEOS
TAANG TV VOL 1
Contains S.L.F. Harp Video
VIDEO
$12 PPD USA
$15 PPD OUTSIDE USA
Volume
One includes videos by ten bands from our stable, including SSD,
Poison Idea, Ganggreen, SSD, Negative FX, Mighty Mighty Bosstones,
Stiff Little Fingers, Buck O Nine, Bullet Lavolta, and one of three
videos in existence by Spacemen 3.
Available
in US or European PAL formats.
PAYPAL:
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