| Independent labels were no new thing back then as
Chiswick were already in existence but noone took so little so far
using all the power of promotion and gimmix from catchy sloganned T
Shirts - If it ain't Stiff it ain't worth a fuck!' to witty full page ads and virtually old style revues
on the road and even 12 different covers of Durys 'Do it' album by
Barney Bubbles based on various wallpapers!
 Their initial roster didn't exactly look promising
as
being at the vanguard of Punk Rock or any rock come to think of it. The first releases featured
Nick
Lowe (ex pub rockers Brinsley Schwartz), Pink Fairies (aging
psychedelic now more pub rock), Roogalator, Plummet
Airlines. BUT
and its a big but. Stiff opportunely picked up early on some of the
biggest Punk first wave names. They released the the first UK Punk single with
the Damned's 'New Rose' and released two albums before dropping the
band. Stiff released The Adverts debut 'One Chord Wonders' (angering
the band by featuring the iconic Gaye Advert on the cover to help sell the record) and they released Richard Hell's
seminal Blank Generation ep. They also featured records by
Elvis Costello, Motorhead, Ian Dury, Wreckless Eric all of which
were tinged with Zeitgeist and which filled a need when records and
gigs with a bit of attitude and snappy songs
weren't in plentiful supply.
By the end of 1977 you couldn't move in a record
shop without a thousand DIY record label concerns based on Stiff
cramming the racks. Riviera had also gone - one too many arguments
in an increasingly volatile relationship - taking Costello with him
to form Radar Records. Despite this Stiff flourished in the unlikely
form of Ian Dury & The Blockheads who's debut album remained in the
charts for a year and who's classic 'Rhythm Stick' single reached No1. It
didn't stop there as more success followed with Devo, Jona Lewie and
Lene Lovich. Later bands like the Plasmatics, Members and
Tenpole Tudor would have releases and varying success too before the
label would strike gold
with a little known band called Madness.
Arguably and ironically what would help sink the
label would
be signing a deal with major Island in 1983 who took a 50% stake and
then hit money troubles requiring a bale out from Stiff. By 1985
Stiff was on its own again struggling on before being sold to ZTT.
Rightly Stiff has its place in Punk Rock history.
Its attitude & acts both availed itself of, and contributed to, the
musical spirit of the time. |
