Links and Bio's
About Irish Music Forever
Recent Album: Louis Stewart Trio
CD-NOW
Irish Music Network Article
Recent Album: Tinderbox
FORMED: 1977, Belfast, Northern Ireland
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, both were politically inclined, featured pissed-off lead singers, a love for reggae, and 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, reformed 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 decade. ~ John Dougan, All-Music Guide (From the CDNOW Biography)
CD-NOW
Official Web Site
I-music
Recent Album: Celtic Collections
Stockton's Wing was formed by a quartet of All-Ireland champion musicians in 1977 as a progressive band, with an individual style derived from a traditional background. They blend a mix of fiery traditional sets with ballads and folk songs. (Taken from Ceolas profile - Link#1)
CD NOW
Ceolas
Recent Album: Sweeney's Men/Tracks Of S
Sweeney's Men were the first of the modern folk-traditional Irish groups, and had a huge impact on almost everything that followed. In the late sixties, the folk revival in Ireland was chiefly in the hands of the Dubliners and Clancy Brothers, very much into vigorous ballad singing, and Sweeney's Men injected some fresh instrumentals into the scene. The original line up was Andy Irvine, Johnny Moynihan and Joe Dolan, in 1966. After
having recorded some singles and played several gigs, Dolan left and was replaced by Terry Woods in 1967, which became the most famous lineup of this group. Their instrumentation included bouzouki, guitar, banjo, mandolin, tin whistle, harmonica, and concertina. (From Ceolas Profite
- Link #1)
This site
© 2002
Name of Performer/Group Page 39
Louis Stewart Back to Artist List
Stiff Little Fingers Back to Artist List
DISBANDED: 1982
Stockton's Wing Back to Artist List
Sweeney's Men Back to Artist List
This site hosted by FASTQ
Arizona Irish Music Society
