Stiff Records emerged on the UK music scene in 1976, driven by its innate Pop sensibility and an ability to spot commercial potential where the major multinational record companies feared to tread. The label’s debut single – Nick Lowe’s ‘So It Goes’ (STIFF BUY 1) – was released that August and was soon followed by the UK’s first Punk single, ‘New Rose’ by The Damned.
Within twelve months it had released classic debut singles by artists as diverse as Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, Wreckless Eric and The Adverts, as well as veterans like Motörhead and Max Wall. Stiff would go on to have big hits with Tracey Ullman, Lene Lovich, Rachel Sweet, Kirsty MacColl, Madness, The Pogues, Ten Pole Tudor, The Belle Stars, Dave Stewart with Barbara Gaskin, and Jona Lewie.
Billing itself as “The World’s Most Flexible Record Label”, Stiff had a reputation for provocative and witty marketing, with an appeal that extended beyond fans of the music. Other slogans included the now (in)famous "If It Ain't Stiff, It Ain't Worth a Fuck", along with the vinyl referencing, "In '78 everyone born in '45 will be 33-1/3", the self-mocking, "If they're dead, we'll sign them" and "When You Kill Time, You Murder Success”.
To celebrate the label, they have announced a brand new range of official merchandise adorning their iconic logo and their now infamous slogans on a wide range of t-shirts, bags and pin-badges…
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