STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
with Ed Tudorpole.

Bedford Corn Exchange, Wednesday 3rd April 2013.

Making their first ever appearance in Bedford, courtesy of The Pad Presents, are STIFF LITTLE FINGERS. They are a legendary punk band who formed way back in the seventies and wrote such honest songs about what it was like to be young and living in Northern Ireland at that time. Be you catholic or protestant, the sectarian conflict affected everyone and SLF captured the full horror. As with most bands of that generation, time has not treated them well and the shock factor so prevalent has dissipated completely. Former original SLF rhythm guitarist Henry Cluney has played acoustically in Bedford. When he was here Henry spoke sadly of the split with his old friend Jake Burns. There was a degree of vitriol. I really liked Henry, but I'm afraid not Jake Burns. On the stage Burns almost looks like an estate agent planning for his retirement. Once so thin and agile, the paunch has replaced the poise and power. He is certainly no Jagger, even if he is much younger. Also making up this twenty first century Fingers are original bassist Ali McMordie as well as guitarist Steve Grantley and drummer Ian McCallum.
The attending age group is, not surprisingly, made up of mainly over forties and it does seem well populated here. As this is the last date of their Up The Gear tour, I thought there might have been more of a party atmosphere, although I see no evidence. Of course, most people have come to hear the 'hits' and the band start with "At The Edge" to a rather muted response, as is "Trail Of Tears" which refers to "Show Me Your Papers". More excitement is generated when "Nobody's Hero" strikes up. A collective sing back of "Be What You Want" is the accompaniment to "What You See Ss What You Get". The loyal fans lap up every moment of it as they wallow in the nostalgia. It's really not so much punk rock as pantomime punk! The newer stuff seems to bring a collective toilet or smoke break. This happens with "Welcome To The Lions Club" which was written "when Blair met Bush" and "the shower of shite" as Burns puts it.
A brand new SLF song deals with the effects of "having bad depression". With great sincerity the frontman hoped that "anyone else suffering soon gets over it". A great champion of the live music scene over the years, Jake took time to speak fondly of the late Joe Strummer and the continuing problems of his homeland. He also explains how "Barbed Wire Love" is connected to "a piss take on the NME". Naturally the old classics come thick and fast and invigorated some mild middle-aged moshing. The ante was raised when the familiar strains of "Suspect Device" started up.
Applause rang around this old building and after a short breather, Stiff Little Fingers returned for two encores. These culminated in their classic anthem "Alternative Ulster", perhaps a reason that so many people still come to support the band.

Opening the show tonight is sometime actor, TV presenter and, of course, musician Mr ED TUDORPOLE. An acoustic person with warmth and humour, his hair is thinning and his eyes bulge noticeably from his wrinkled face. He is very lean and lithe for somebody fast approaching sixty. He is brightly attired with a colourful glittery waistcoat and a shirt that looks to have been randomly tie dyed in places. This man is certainly steeped and raised in punk. Just look at him! Ed is happy to be here and wryly comments "it took all my life to get to Bedford"! This seems to break the ice. He communicates so freely with amusing anecdotes and stories from his past. Armed with just his acoustic guitar, he constantly shuffles round the stage. The songs refer to many subjects including relationships and "when they go down the pan"! He does cheer himself up though when discussing the joys of "shaggin'". ETP explains that there's more to him than punk, even though he was "in the Pistols for a couple of weeks". He did indeed feature in the notorious film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle with them, along with a bizarre cast that included the dear old Irene Handl, the lovely but tragic Mary Millington and the convicted Biggs. Cheers emanate from the crowd when "Who killed Bambi?" was performed. In fact, the poor fella wakes in the night, even now, trying to answer the question "just who did kill Bambi?". Of course Ed has to finish his set with the famous old Ten Pole Tudor hit "Swords Of A Thousand Men" which naturally has a marvellous singalong. A great set and performance from a real character.