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Big sound from the Little Fingers



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Published Date: 09 October 2008
PUNK veterans Stiff Little Fingers have come a long way since their early days, but are taking a look back at those times - or at least some of the more obscure parts of their history - on their latest tour, which hits Sheffield tomorrow.
Formed in Belfast during 'the troubles', their raucous music and often political lyrics went off like an incendiary device, but by the early 1980s the thrill had gone and they took a five-year break before reforming 21 years ago.

They might not be angry young men anymore - nor living in the now fairly peaceful Northern Ireland - but according to singer and mainstay Jake Burns, there are still plenty of problems in the wider world to get his lyrical teeth into.

Burns has kept the band going through numerous line-up changes and, until recently, was the only original member still in SLF; then Ali McMordie returned on bass, replacing Bruce Foxton, who had been with them for 15 years until he hit on the great idea of reforming The Jam without Paul Weller.

Jake now lives in Chicago after a spell in Newcastle - "There's a woman behind it; there's always a woman behind these things" - but still supports the stricken Toon football team. That must be a nightmare.

"No, it's worse than that. I've had much nicer nightmares."

The other members are spread about the USA and UK, but thanks to modern technology can keep in touch both with each other and the music scene.

Although it is four years ago since they released any new material, namely the not-bad-at-all Guitar And Drum album, the four-piece are still writing songs and aim to get something out in the near future - but in the meantime on this tour they will be delving into some of the dustier corners of their back catalogue to do numbers they haven't played live for ages.

You can still expect the obligatory Alternative Ulster, Suspect Device etc, but Jake is promising surprises.

"When people come up to us after we've played they always say: 'Great show, but why didn't you play such-and-such a song?'

"So this time we thought we'd do something a bit different and went back and listened to the old albums. There's lots of good songs even I'd nearly forgotten and we'll be doing some of them on this tour."

Which songs in particular? "Ah, that would be telling."

So if you want to find out, the place to be tomorrow night is Plug.

Jake says he has fond memories of the many times they have played Sheffield - although never this particular venue - and adds that Jim Reilly, their drummer from 1979-81, was working as a window cleaner in steel city before joining the band.

Although Jake claims they have fans who weren't even born when the band reformed in 1987 - and that on the first date of this tour they had to plead with a venue manager to let some 12-year-olds in to see them - it's fair to say that most have followed the Fingers since the early days and know what they like.

This led to a magazine article which fingered the Fingers as an act who have never changed their formula and are cashing in on the same sound they made three decades ago - punk dinosaurs.

The gravel-voiced vocalist is bemused by such accusations.

"We've never bothered having symphony orchestras or anything like that but I think it's a bit unfair. As long as we've got that energy we still feel valid."



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The full article contains 651 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
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  • Last Updated: 09 October 2008 8:46 AM
  • Source: Sheffield Star
  • Location: Sheffield
 
 

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