Stiff Little Fingers - Still Burning: The Story Of Stiff Little Fingers

Nothing suspect about this device

Don Letts’ biography of SLF whizzes through 30 years of the Belfast band with all the aplomb you’d expect. Essentially a series of talking heads tell the tale, interspersed with clips of the group playing live in concert with their contemporary line-up. Jake Burns is eloquent and honest throughout and a cast of characters similarly offer up their insider viewpoints, from Ali McMordie and original drummer Brian Falloon, to semi-legendary manager Gordon Ogylvie and Alan Parker. The hour-and-a-half of the main feature is an enjoyable romp through the years. Refreshingly, each era of the group is dealt with in almost equal screentime. The extras are what will make this a near-essential purchase for the fan. The additional interviews are numerous and lengthy, including further observations from England Under-21s boss Stuart Pearce and The Alarm’s Mike Peters. Forty minutes of the 2007 30th anniversary concert that forms the bulk of the cutaways from the main feature is also presented in its effervescent and sweaty glory. Though it’s billed as the first ever performance of Inflammable Material in its entirety, thankfully there’s no sign of the godawful Closed Groove. We’ll not say anything if you don’t.

Freemantle Media | FHED 2069

Reviewed by Joe Shooman
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