It is taking longer than expected to fetch the next song to play. The music should be playing soon. If you get tired of waiting, you can try reloading your browser.


Please check our Help page for information about troubleshooting Pandora on your browser.
Your Pandora One subscription will expire shortly.
close
Your Pandora One trial subscription will expire shortly. Upgrade to continue unlimited, ad-free listening.
You've listened to hours of Pandora this month. Consider upgrading to Pandora One.
Close
Hi . Pandora is using Facebook to personalize your experience. Learn MoreNo Thanks
Change Skin

We created Pandora to put the Music Genome Project directly in your hands

It’s a new kind of radio –
stations that play only music you like

 
Create an account for free. Register
Now Playing
Music Feed
My Profile
Create a Station
People who also like this

Stiff Little Fingers

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. ~ John Dougan, Rovi
full bio

Selected Discography

Comments

Who is Doh Jougan? Toolbox.
so good
Can anyone rewrite this bio?
Yea...F**k The
Clash
How did this vague, totally biased and absolutely USELESS biography make it here? Oh right because Pandora doesn't actually care about the music. Suck a spotted-dick . If you want to be a Clash groupie, write the Clash bio. Sorry your boss didn't give you the assignment that you wanted so you're going to take it out on a band you probably have never listed to John Dougan, Rovi. A biography is more than a list of dates. Find a new job rookie.
rtterry7
SLF - Still my favorite band of all time!
Bio = Bull$h!t. Clash=sellou t commercial sound. Rock the Casbah? Just terrible.
hannahhaugen 9
I agree F**ck this bio, the clash we're way more commercial f**cks! SLF are hands down one of the greatest bands ever!
Yeah f**k this bio. SLF is better than than the Clash.
ajgilfilen
Yes, The Stiff Little Fingers were *simply* a very good punk band when they essentially set the president for so many hardcore bands that were to follow in the 80's. SLF could be very dynamic and complex, ESPECIALLY in the newer albums. Though maybe never to the extent of The Clash, it shouldn't count against SLF. Anyway, f**k this bio.
i know right, bio is s**t, and harsh.
Sadly, the band's breakup lasted only five years. This Bio needs to be rewritten. It is too subjective and judgmental. I've seen much better Bios.
i dont like you
great
Nobody's Hero is Regrettable? Really. Assmaster
ryanfansler6
Saw them two months ago, still killin it. Top band of its kind, sound and genre. Hands down!
maxjsackett
Whoever wrote this band bio is an idiot. You can't let personal opinions cloud something that other people might use as a tool for getting more information about an artist or band. SLF has a ton of great albums, none of which are lousy.
Out Stiff Little Standing!
SLF boldly forged on despite what the non-creative press thought about them. Burns had much to say, and even if he didn't, people still listen to this day. Live they are one of the best band of punk codgers still hitting the road to date. They proved melody can be place in the most abrasive sounding chords and be extremely heart felt without being weak and boring. SLF!
Listen to KSHON The Roots of Rock n Roll
Inflammable Material is one of my top 10 records of all time. It's A+ record! The music is all Punk Rock (emphasize the "Rock") hooks and chops! Jake's vocals are so fukn cool, he could be singing the McDonalds drive thru menu and you wouldn't give a s**t. Here's the catch; Jake really had something to say. If you had never heard the record and only had the lyric sheet, you would of fallen in love with this band anyway!
One of the best live shows I've ever seen!
Best Band EVER!....Lis t e n i n g since 1984.
"HANX" is one of the best live records ever. Great Great band.
whitbrown51
Hear a lot of thae sound that would become
Husker Du's - especially the drums and bass and song structure.
zachlaperrie r e
Good stuff!
Ram the head into speakers!!!
flynnbm4
Specials, Clash and Stiff little Fingers. My three favorite bands still after all these years.SLF even does a killer cover of Specials Doesn't Make it All Right.
yeah they dont sound like the misfts....

F**KIN SUSPECT DEVICE!
Garciareuben 1 4 - Chux made that comment with his tongue fimly planted in his cheek Or do I need to explain this comment as well?
khemm153
why does pandora think every 77 punk band sounds like the misfits, SLF sounds nothing like the misfits!
garciareuben 1 4
Chux i disagree with you. I think punk is saying fuk it and taking matters into your own hands. not just sitting on your fuking computer writing about what your going to do about the government and how big of b**ches they are. start doing something you hot topic loving fuker.
I saw them live a few years ago. it was my first punk show. somebody threw a bottle at the singer and he called him a wanker...bes t show ever.
amazing music...defi n i t i o n of punk. =)
In the early 80' this band made me love the punk movement and I never looked back! One of my first records was Nobody's Heroes...gre a t bands to down-load Effigies, Naket Raygun, Local H!
The 70's punk bands were punk! not the wanna punkers of today who only play the part on stage and then they go home and wear nice cloths, drive a S.U.V., watch soap opera's on their big azz plasma tv,and have loads of cash... .
The 70's were raw, straight sewage crap,... . f'n mohawk , razor blade scars, drinkin vomit... .
i love this band but the later releases fell off a bit,but oh well and chux you're gonna have me laughing for a long time. and the whole problem with comments like this is that they give the poster the illusion they're opinion matters to anyone
Punk was never about saying "F.U." to the establishmen t . It was designed for kids in the future to write about on the internet. Everyone at Hot Topic knows that.
Dorian, thank you, finnally another punk with some f**kin sense
Hey if you like the band then why should anyone else's opinion matter? Punk is all about saying "f**k you" to the establishmen t and the reveiwers at the All Music Guide are the establishmen t in this case. I don't get why people get upset about a bad reveiw about their favorite band. If you like it then no body should have control over what you like. Unless you only say you like that music because of how much people worship that band, which is very un-punk. SLF rules!
jeff-shaffer
DUGAN'S A JACKASS!! I SAW THE REFORMED LINE-UP AND THEY WERE GREAT!!! I GUESS THEY'LL LET ANYONE WRITE A "REVIEW".
"Dr.John Dougan" from All Music Guide is a jack***. What a horribly inaccurate synopsis of such a great band. Hey Pandora, why is this guy reviewing Stiff Little Fingers: http://frank . m t s u . e d u / ~ r e c o r d / d o u g a n . h t m l

Seriously? This is a joke.
good s**t, classic and non-american
calum.soccer
horrid article
really just hearing them for the first time probably six months ago thanks to Portlands raw power lunch on KUFO, Bozyk, its good and able to be understood, which is sometimes rare for early punk
Brutal write-up!
"...Sadly, the band's breakup lasted only five years...Burn s , hoping to cash in on punk nostalgia... r e l e a s e d a bunch of lousy (mostly live) records..."
Yeeowch.
slf can do no wrong in my big book.
I dont wanna be nobody's hero! I freakin love it. These guys have some absolutely excellent songs.
I love it! awesome Band!! cheers to that!!!
good ol 70s f**kin punk rock live on motherf**ker s live f**kin on

In order to use Pandora internet radio, please upgrade to a more current browser.

Please check our Help page for more information.

In order to use Pandora internet radio, please upgrade to a more current browser
or install a newer version of Flash (v.10 or later).

In order to use Pandora internet radio, please install Adobe Flash (v.10 or later).

[103, 83, 100, 80, 107, 108, 106, 105, 72, 91, 74, 88, 84, 100, 74, 78, 124, 119, 124, 79, 122, 123, 74, 64, 92, 107, 126, 73, 112, 74, 81, 91, 94, 97, 107, 75, 66, 87, 86, 95, 95, 77, 103, 103, 109, 79, 115, 90, 120, 68, 120, 91, 75, 98, 64, 82, 116, 99, 89, 87, 84, 115, 96, 119, 121, 96, 124, 127, 113, 91, 108, 93, 83, 67, 126, 100, 96, 94, 111, 66, 84, 67, 83, 64, 127, 112, 112, 74, 104, 90, 115, 99, 72, 65, 104, 98, 100, 126, 92, 125, 113, 80, 100, 105, 106, 82, 67, 74, 100, 92, 87, 119, 97, 105, 104, 92, 88, 125, 78, 76, 64, 78, 111, 73, 109, 97, 91, 104, 110, 114, 101, 93, 123, 79, 78, 69, 108, 70, 92, 89, 104, 69, 122, 87, 85, 95, 74, 93, 111, 73, 121, 94, 112, 65, 102, 112, 85, 78, 89, 64, 82, 115, 104, 114, 114, 94, 109, 109, 122, 123, 87, 112, 96, 94, 125, 109, 97, 108, 72, 77, 94, 92, 103, 91, 124, 117, 96, 90, 72, 89, 80, 96, 86, 120, 88, 95, 82, 118, 72, 101, 70, 83, 111, 125, 80, 85, 126, 118, 87, 113, 122, 92, 108, 84, 110, 75, 68, 87, 104, 82, 94, 68, 111, 88, 80, 90, 70, 118, 101, 122, 108, 76, 126, 78, 112, 80, 115, 120, 101, 68, 100, 89, 126, 126, 102, 124, 119, 81, 96, 87, 70, 85, 126, 69, 86, 110, 79, 123, 98, 125, 127, 82, 93, 67, 87, 125, 93, 70, 95, 120, 118, 108, 97, 100, 126, 127, 118, 71, 69, 125, 90, 109, 96, 101, 112, 100, 91, 126, 99, 86, 79, 64, 64, 122, 115, 85, 79, 79, 65, 101, 79, 65, 84, 79, 105, 93, 99, 111, 102, 91, 103, 107, 67, 73, 127, 81, 96, 70, 72, 89, 73, 80, 127, 124, 93, 105, 114, 117, 76, 65, 127, 123, 97, 96, 66, 110, 86, 112, 84, 74, 104, 66, 127, 75, 99, 123, 113, 93, 104, 73, 112, 113, 124, 111, 95, 102, 112, 114, 68, 126, 114, 100, 72, 125, 123, 65, 84, 91, 119, 114, 101, 113, 66, 99, 121, 122, 127, 115, 92, 114, 78, 81, 66, 124, 95, 91, 73, 69, 71, 68, 114, 68, 86, 77, 85, 103, 103, 115, 102, 114, 112, 118, 75, 91, 67, 105, 78, 127, 125, 72, 102, 99, 81, 105, 109, 104, 88, 124, 75, 96, 73, 89, 64, 106, 105, 78, 69, 83, 82, 73, 125, 114, 90, 102, 68, 96, 93, 108, 126, 92, 99, 87, 85, 120, 91, 82, 126, 65, 122, 103, 114, 79, 75, 71, 69, 83, 127, 102, 67, 93, 73, 68, 106, 91, 69, 100, 69, 123, 70, 73, 83, 64, 108, 92, 122, 84, 82, 102, 90, 112, 105, 100, 103, 83, 67, 69, 104, 65, 82, 112, 69, 120, 83, 84, 93, 108, 123, 103, 88, 99, 126, 67, 89, 75, 123, 112, 90, 94, 66, 103, 111, 100]