Be Stiff: The Stiff Records Story

Dave Robinson was once a roadie to Jimi Hendrix. He also managed Brinsley Schwarz and was behind their ill-fated publicity stunt when he flew journalists to New York to see their gig at the Fillmore East. By 1974 he was managing the Hope & Anchor pub in Islington. Jake Riviera had been road manager for Chilli Willi And The Red Hot Peppers and later Dr Feelgood. In1976 this maverick pair were to launch Stiff Records supposedly on the back of a 400 loan from Lee Brilleaux of the Feelgoods. In fact they never cashed the check. The genius of Stiff was to take old pub rockers that they knew and turn them into new wave stars. Ian Dury Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe were all going nowhere until they were signed the label and reinvented. For a while the major labels didnt know how to respond to Stiff particularly their brilliant marketing coloured vinyl different coloured sleeves for the completest market and their slogans such as If It Aint Stiff It Aint Worth a fuck". Riviera left the label in 1977 to form Radar Records and took Costello and Lowe with him The label signed quirky acts such as Wreckless Eric Devo Rachel Sweet Lene Lovich and more. Many of them were sent on package tours reminiscent of the Larry Parnes tours in the 1960s. They also launched Stiff America to no little success. Robinson signed Madness and The Pogues to the label before it went bankrupt in 1986. However it re-launched in 2006 under new management and is still going strong. Richard Balls has interviewed over 50 artists and Stiff staff to tell a story that is long overdue. Shane MacGowan Lene Lovich Chas Smash Wreckless Eric and more tell what it was like to work for the worlds most outrageous record label. Tony Judge who runs the Be Stiff website has provided lots of rare photos along with badges and memorabilia to make this a celebration of a great record label. Balls other book on the life of Ian Dury sold a hefty 30 000 copies so he has a following.