This Irish punk band was formed from the ashes of cover outfit Highway Star. Taking their new name from a track on the Vibrators' Pure Mania debut, Stiff Little Fingers soon attracted one of the most fervent fanbases of the era. Present at the Clash's Belfast gig in 1977, Jake Burns (vocals/lead guitar) led Henry Cluney (rhythm guitar), Ali McMordie (bass) and Brian Faloon (drums) came together as Ireland's first new wave cover band. The original drummer, Gordon Blair, had gone on to play with Rudi. When journalist Gordon Ogilvie saw the band live he urged them to concentrate on their own material, quickly becoming their manager and co-lyricist. They recorded their first two original songs, "Suspect Device" and "Wasted Life", soon afterwards, on their own Rigid Digits label. The first pressing of 350 copies sold out almost as soon as BBC disc jockey John Peel spun it. Rough Trade Records quickly picked up the distribution, and released the band's second single, "Alternative Ulster", in conjunction with Rigid Digits.
After a major tour supporting the Tom Robinson Band, the band were almost signed to Island Records, but remained on Rough Trade for their long-playing debut, Inflammable Material. With songs concentrating on personal experiences in the politically charged climate of Northern Ireland, the album still managed to surprise many with its inclusion of diverse rock patterns and a flawed love song. The release marked the departure of Faloon who was replaced by Jim Reilly. The follow-up, Nobody's Heroes, revealed great strides in technique and sophistication with the band branching out into dub, reggae and pop. The dialogue with the audience was still direct, however, urging tolerance, self-respect and unity, and rejecting the trappings of rock stardom. They would still come in for criticism, however, for Ogilvie's patronage. After a disappointing live album, 1981's impressive Go For It! saw the band at the peak of their abilities and popularity. Reilly left for the USA, joining Red Rockers shortly afterwards, with Brian "Dolphin' Taylor (ex-Tom Robinson Band) drafted in as his replacement. 1982"s Now Then embraced songs of a more pop rock nature, though in many ways the compromise was an unhappy one.
Burns left at the beginning of the following year, forming the Big Wheel. However, live and on record he was unable to shake off comparisons to Stiff Little Fingers, and he soon opted instead for a career as trainee producer at BBC Radio 1. McMordie formed Fiction Groove and contributed to Sinéad O'Connor's The Lion And The Cobra, while Cluney taught guitar back in Ireland. Taylor returned for a brief stint of drumming with TRB, but the spectre of Stiff Little Fingers remained. One reunion gig gave birth to further events, until 1990 when they re-formed on a permanent basis. McMordie had grown tired of the rock circuit, however, and his replacement was the band's old friend Bruce Foxton (ex-Jam).
In the early 90s the Stiff Little Fingers embarked on further major tours and recorded two respectable albums, Flags And Emblems and Fly The Flag, but lost the long-serving Henry Cluney amid much acrimony. He was replaced by guitarist/vocalist Ian McCallum. Taylor "retired" in November 1996 and was replaced by ex-the Big Wheel drummer Steve Grantley. The band then released Tinderbox, their first album of new material in over three years. The follow-up And Best Of All .../Hope Street was a twin set, featuring one remastered "best of' CD and a collection of new material. 2003"s Guitar And Drum, the band's first all-new studio album for six years, contained a poignant tribute to the late Joe Strummer, "Strummerville".
