Be Stiff

The story of Stiff Records has never been properly told until now. Richard Balls rectifies that by interviewing over 50 people who either recorded for the label or worked on it. The book has been updated to include a ruby coloured cover to celebrate 40 years of the label, along with a new foreword from Stiff stalwart, Jona Lewie.

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Told here for the first time, the complete story of the legendary Stiff Records. Started in 1976, by maverick music entrepreneurs Jake Riviera and Dave Robinson, Stiff changed the landscape of a moribund record industry. Both men were involved in the pub rock scene and their genius was to take un-hip pub rockers, such as Ian Dury and Elvis Costello, and turn them into cool new wavers. It didn't stop there either, with Stiff releasing the first ever punk single (The Damned's New Rose'), in October 1976. Filled with interviews and memorabilia this is the perfect guide to Stiff.'