Barbed Wire Love: A People’s History of Stiff Little Fingers

Barbed Wire Love – A People’s History of Stiff Little Fingers is the story of the Belfast punks who burst onto the UK music scene in 1977, their songs and attitude inspired by the politically-charged atmosphere of Northern Ireland. Emerging during the burgeoning UK punk scene, Stiff Little Fingers had indie chart success with singles ‘Suspect Device’ and ‘Alternative Ulster’ and three UK top 20 albums before splitting in 1983.

This book brings together over 500 first-hand memories of the band in concert from musicians, fans, support acts, promoters and music writers. With personal photographs, unpublished band images, memorabilia, anecdotes and first-hand accounts of over 150 gigs in total, readers will get a front row view of the UK punk scene. Contributors include SLF’s original guitarist Henry Cluney, SLF lyricist Gordon Ogilvie, writers & broadcasters Paul Morley, Garry Bushell, John Robb and Stuart Bailie plus TV Smith of punk band The Adverts (‘Gary Gilmore’s Eyes’) along with numerous musicians from the
Belfast punk scene of the late 1970s.

After splitting in 1983, Stiff Little Fingers reformed in 1987 and continue to perform.