Stiff Records

No bands are currently signed on Stiff Records.

Band	Genre	Country	#

Band	Album	Type	Year	Catalog	Format	Description

Description

Founded by Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman (aka Jake Riviera). Initially intending to specialize in "pub rock" by artists such as Ian Dury and Wreckless Eric, the label quickly got caught up in the punk, ska & new wave movements and helped launch the careers of artists such as Elvis Costello, Madness, The Damned, Nick Lowe, The Pogues, Tenpole Tudor and many others.

In 1978, the company entered into a US partnership with CBS, Inc. This created two short-lived labels in Stiff-Columbia and Stiff-Epic. In early Oct. 1979, UK distribution came from Virgin sales force with EMI manufacture and distribution.

In 1984, the label entered a distribution deal with Island Records, with Stiff being fully purchased by Island, but the deal wasn't a success and in 1986 Robinson regained control of the newly independent label.

In 1987, after a serious cashflow crisis, the label went into liquidation. ZTT, whose product Robinson had worked on when in cahoots with Island, bought the label catalogue for a reported £300,000. On ZTT's watch, the label slowly petered out with several albums left in unreleased limbo by the likes of the Belle Stars, Furniture and Dr. Feelgood.

In late 2006, the Stiff brand was relaunched by the SPZ Group (Sarm/Perfect Songs/ZTT) and included new signings and reissues. In Dec. 2017, SPZ sold the Stiff brand, parts of the Stiff recording catalog and Perfect Songs publishing to Universal Music.

Ever the keen marketers, Stiff billed itself as "The World's Most Flexible Record Label". Other slogans were "We came. We saw. We left." and "If it ain't Stiff it ain't worth a fuck."

Jakeman left in 1978 to start Radar Records, taking Elvis Costello and several other artists with him. He also left this label in 1980 to found F-Beat Records and Demon Records. He later sold these businesses and in 1991 was fired by Costello as his manager. He's since retired.

Robinson has a history in the UK music industry going back to his days as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix. He was the manager and co-producer of Brinsley Schwarz and Graham Parker, amongst others. In more recent years he's taken to breeding horses.

Trivia

Labelcode: LC 4764