STIFF LITTLE FINGERS – “Suspect Device” / “Wasted Life” (Rough Trade RT 006) October 1978

Stiff little Fingers “Suspect Device” – After seeing The Clash in Belfast, local hard-rock covers band Highway Star renamed themselves after a Vibrators song and swore into the faith.

Journalist Gordon Ogilvie had attended a couple of their gigs, and handed Jake the lyrics to Suspect Device over a drink in the pub.

Recorded in Downtown Radio’s jingles studio, the track showcases Burns’ fiery, plaintive bark set to an accelerated Gloria-style chord sequence. A mere 350 copies were released on St Patrick’s Day 1978, John Peel became a big fan, and a dose of real danger was injected into the punk body politic. (Mojo)