Stiff Records Story Meridian FM
The story of one of the trailblazing and influential independent record labels – Stiff Records Story Meridian.
The fascinating story of one of the trailblazing and influential independent record labels.
LISTEN AGAIN: Part 1: Stiff Records Story… watch this space…
Derek Shelmerdine, author of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled in conversation with Dave Roberts on his Music for Grown Ups show.
Thursday 17 March 2016: on Meridian FM.
8.20 to 9.00 pm (UK)
The Story of Stiff Records
It all started with founders Jake Riviera and Dave Robinson. With a little help from Dr Feelgood’s Lee Brilleaux and his £400 loan. Further assisted by house producer Nick Lowe. In fact, Nick Lowe released the first Stiff single, So it Goes, in August 1976.
The Damned
The early artists included, The Roogalator, The Damned, Richard Hell & Voidoids and the newly formed Motörhead. During the early days, Ian Dury and Elvis Costello brought success to the label.
The legendary first tour, Live Stiff in October 1977 really put them on the map. Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Wreckless Eric and Nick Lowe certainly made there mark. After that, there was a parting of the ways. Jake Riviera left Stiff to form Radar Records and took Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe and Yachts with him. However, Ian Dury & Blockheads stayed and saved the day.
Following on, there was a second Be-Stiff Tour, also known as the Train Tour in late 1978. This tour included, Wreckless Eric, Lene Lovich, Jona Lewie, Mickie Jupp and Rachael Sweet.
After that, Stiff tried their luck in America. They struck a deal struck with Arista for US distribution but it never really worked out. Consequently, Stiff Inc. lost money.
Madness arrived with their first single, One Step Beyond, in October 1979.
By the early 1980s, the artists included, Alvin Stardust, Tracey Ullman and Kirsty MacColl. Meanwhile, Madness called it a day with Stiff in 1984. One of the success stores, they scored 18 Top-20 singles and 6 Top-10 albums during their time at Stiff.
Sadly, Stiff Records came to the end of the line in 1987. They certainly went out with a bang, with debts estimated somewhere between £1.4m and £3.5m.
Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
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