Founded in Belfast in 1977 out of the ashes of a heavy metal covers band, Stiff Little Fingers and their manager, Gordon Ogilvie, wrote hard-hitting, scathing songs about The Troubles in Northern Ireland. This was in stark contrast to their contemporaries like The Undertones who chose to ignore The Troubles to sing about teenage angst and chocolate bars.
Stiff Little Fingers was championed by the legendary John Peel and released the iconic Inflammable Material album, which became the first independently released album to chart in the UK, reaching number 14 and achieving silver-selling status.
The band changed its style over the next two albums which lost them a lot of fans and, due to the popularity of synthesiser-based pop music over guitar-driven bands in the 1980s, Stiff Little Fingers broke up in 1983.
A cynical, money-spinning reunion tour in 1987 saw the band enjoy better attended shows than ever and so they decided to give it another go. To this day Stiff Little Fingers continues to tour the world as well as recording and releasing albums - the latest of which became the band's first number one on the BBC Rock Albums Chart.
Join me as I tell the (somewhat expletive filled) story of a 45-year-old band that is arguably more popular now than ever!
Contact
Twitter: @BannedBiogs
Facebook: @BannedBiographies
Instagram: @bannedbiographies
E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com
Jason Potbelly Review, News and Reviews for January 2024
Interview with Jason Potbelly (Potbelly)
Pete Trainor Interview Round Up, News and Review for December
Interview with Pete Trainor (Author of ’Calling All The Dreamers’ - The Untold Story of Electrasy)
October and November News and Reviews
Madness Part 1 Round Up, News and Reviews for September 2023
The Rise And Fall And Rise Again: A Brief History of Madness (Part 1)
Brompton Jackson Round Up, News, Single And Album Reviews
Interview with Brompton Jackson (Wilmette, Action/Adventure, Knockout Kid)
David Green Round Up, News, Single And Album Reviews
Interview with David Green (Moonraker)
Christopher Swinney Round Up, Rancid Gig Review, News and Single and Album Reviews
Interview with Christopher Swinney (Fire Sale, The Ataris, Brazil, Underminded, The Widow Jenkins)
High Frequency Round Up, News and Reviews... and an Explanation
Interview with High Frequency
Zach Blair and Laurie Black Round Up, News and Reviews
Interview with Laurie Black (Solo Musician and Cabaret Compère)
Interview with Zach Blair (Rise Against, GWAR, Only Crime, Armstrong, Hagfish)
Tom’s Sham 69 European Tour Diary Round Up, News and Reviews
Tom’s Sham 69 European Tour Diary: Part 2 - with co-host Smokey
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Irish Songs with Ken Murray
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Dolly Parton’s America
The Cobain 50
Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia