Like The Clash’s 1977 debut before it, “Inflammable Material” is a record that’s impossible to divorce from the historical backdrop against which it was created. Born in the thick of The Troubles, Stiff Little Fingers’ debut cuts with razor hooks and even sharper sociopolitical commentary that pinned punk rock’s proud anti-authoritarian leanings to something tangible. Far from sloganeering, “Inflammable Material” bristles with hard, street-born truth, documenting life in a war-torn corner of the world bereft of hope. Jake Burns’ haggard growl aptly captures the record’s anger and desperation, and the band’s marriage of punk rock and early American rock and roll made for songs that were both cathartically fierce and catchy as hell. There’s no fat or extraneous filler to be found anywhere on the 13-track outing, which teems with almost feral political urgency,
Many bands readily act the part, but Stiff Little Fingers live out the strife and blue collar frustrations they sing about. “Inflammable Material” walks the walk, and no record to date has come close to matching its tried-and-true brand of incendiary street punk. Essential Track: “Suspect Device” remains an anthem of disenfranchisement more than 40 years on. Has Burns’ paranoia taken him off the deep end or have the powers that be truly made life this bad?
Originally released in 1979 at the height of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, the album depicted volatile life in Belfast at the time and was met with critical acclaim.
The formats for reissue are a 4CD+DVD deluxe set, a 2LP vinyl edition and a 2CD version. All offer a new remaster, with the 4CD+DVD set adding previously unreleased demos, John Peel Sessions (some never broadcast), an unreleased 1979 concert from Troon and finally a DVD which includes the Rough Trade 1979 SLF promotional film along with concert footage from Friars in Aylesbury originally broadcast on BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test in 1980 and a rare clip of ‘Alternative Ulster’ from the 1979 film Shellshock Rock.
The book-pack presentation features 9,000 words of notes from Stuart Bailie and includes fresh interviews with original band members and manager/lyricist Gordon Ogilvie.
The 2LP vinyl and 2CD editions include the remastered original album on the first disc and add the unreleased Troon live performance on the second. “Inflammable Materials” will be reissued on 27th November 2025, via Parlophone Records.
The Fat Angel Sings 