Jake Burns
{{short description|Irish musician (born 1958)}}
{{for multi|the New Zealand rugby union player|Jake Burns (rugby union)|other people|John Burns (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Jake Burns
| image = Jake Burns.jpg
| caption = Burns, performing with Stiff Little Fingers in 2019
| image_size =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = John Burns
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1958|2|21}}
| death_date =
| birth_place = Belfast, Northern Ireland
| instrument = Vocals, guitar
| genre = Punk rock
| years_active = 1977–present
| label = Chrysalis, Rough Trade, Rigid Digits
| associated_acts = Stiff Little Fingers (1977–1982, 1987–present)
Jake Burns and the Big Wheel (1982–1987)
}}
John "Jake" Burns (born 21 February 1958) is a singer and guitarist, and is best known as the frontman of Stiff Little Fingers, although he has also recorded with Jake Burns and the Big Wheel, 3 Men + Black, and as a solo artist.
Early life
Burns was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and grew up in Joanmount in Ballysillan. Burns's mother was a seamstress, and his father was a machinist in a textile machinery factory/steel foundry, where he was a shop steward, and his socialist views were an influence on Burns. Prior to punk, Burns's musical influences included Rory Gallagher, Dr. Feelgood, Graham Parker, and Bob Marley.
Career
= Stiff Little Fingers =
{{Main|Stiff Little Fingers}}
Burns started off his career at Belfast Boys' Model School with a rock covers band, Highway Star, which consisted of Burns, Gordon Blair, Henry Cluney, and Brian Faloon. Gordon Blair subsequently left the group to join Rudi, and Ali McMordie joined, about the time the band discovered punk.
They were briefly named the Fast, but as there was already a group of that name they changed it to Stiff Little Fingers, taken from the song of the same name that had appeared on Pure Mania, the 1977 album by the Vibrators.
Apart from a five-year gap from 1983 to 1987, Stiff Little Fingers have been active since 1977 to the present day and have released ten studio albums.
= Solo work =
In 1981, Burns made his acting debut in an episode of the BBC's Play For Today series entitled Iris in the Traffic, Ruby in the Rain, written by Belfast-born poet and playwright Stewart Parker, which also featured the rest of Stiff Little Fingers effectively playing themselves as 'The Band'.
After the breakup of SLF in 1983, Burns formed Jake Burns and the Big Wheel. The band consisted of Burns on vocals and guitar, Steve Grantley on drums, Sean Martin on bass guitar, and Pete Saunders on keyboards. Big Wheel recorded a total of three singles, "On Fortune Street", "She Grew Up" and "Breathless". A compilation album, also called On Fortune Street, was released after the band's demise, in 2002.
In 1987, Burns disbanded Big Wheel, and Stiff Little Fingers reformed, because they were "skint and wanted to make a bit of cash to get back to Ireland for Christmas".
From about 2001 to 2005, Burns was involved in a side project with Pauline Black of the Selecter, called 3 Men and Black. This involved Black touring with three male artists from the late 1970s, early 1980s doing acoustic versions of songs they are famous for, and talking a little about how they came to write the songs etc. The line up for the concerts was fairly fluid, and has included such people as Bruce Foxton, J. J. Burnel, Eric Faulkner and Nick Welsh.
On 27 March 2006, Burns released a solo album titled Drinkin' Again.
In 2009, Burns formed a Chicago punk rock supergroup called the Nefarious Fat Cats to raise money for local charities. Notable members include John Haggerty (Pegboy, Naked Raygun), Joe Haggerty (Pegboy), Joe Principe (Rise Against), Scott Lucas (Local H), Herb Rosen (Beer Nuts, Right of the Accused) and Mark DeRosa (Dummy). Mr. Burns also contributed guitar and vocals on a track of the Black Sheep Band charity record for Children's Memorial Hospital, A Chicago Punk Rock Collaboration for the Kids, Vol 1.
In 2016, Burns joined an acoustic "supergroup" formed by Kirk Brandon, of Spear of Destiny called Dead Men Walking which also included David Ruffy and John "Segs" Jennings, both of Ruts DC.
Personal life
Burns lived in London for over ten years from 1978 after Stiff Little Fingers had relocated there. His first wife lived in Newcastle upon Tyne, and after their marriage, he moved to Newcastle, where he lived for 16 years, becoming a supporter of Newcastle United F.C. He is also an avid supporter of the Northern Ireland national football team.
Burns's second wife, Shirley, is American and they have lived in Chicago since 2004. Burns would eventually become a US citizen, partially so he could help vote out Donald Trump.
Discography
= With Stiff Little Fingers =
= [[Jake Burns and the Big Wheel]] =
;Albums:
- On Fortune Street (2002), EMI
;Singles:
- "She Grew Up" (1984), Rigid Digits – UK Independent no. 36
- "On Fortune Street" (1985), Rigid Digits
- "Breathless" (1987), Jive – UK no. 99"[https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/23972/jake-burns-and-the-big-wheel/ Jake Burns and the Big Wheel]", Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 September 2020
= With 3 Men + Black =
- Acoustic (2005), A2E
= With Dead Men Walking =
- Unofficially Official: Live In Bristol 2016 (2016)
= With [[Ruts DC]] and [[Kirk Brandon]] =
- "Kill the Pain" (2017), Westworld Recordings
= Solo =
;Albums:
- Drinkin' Again (2006), EMI
;Compilation appearances:
- Poxmen of the Horslypse: A Tribute to Horslips (2017), Shite'n'Onions: "Warm Sweet Breath of Love"
References
{{reflist|refs=
| first1 = Jake
| last1 = Burns
| author-link1 = Jake Burns
| first2 = Alan
| last2 = Parker
| author-link2 = Alan Parker (author)
| title = Stiff Little Fingers: Song By Song
| publisher = Sanctuary Publishing
| date = 2 August 2003
| isbn = 1-86074-513-X}}
| first = Jim
| last = DeRogatis
| author-link = Jim DeRogatis
| title = This weekend: Bye-bye M.O.T.O., hello Jake Burns
| date = 25 August 2009
| website = Chicago Sun-Times
| url = http://blogs.suntimes.com/music/2009/08/this_weekend_bye-bye_moto_hell.html/
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110813064139/http://blogs.suntimes.com/music/2009/08/this_weekend_bye-bye_moto_hell.html/
| archive-date = 13 August 2011
| access-date = 2 August 2017
| url-status = dead
| df = dmy-all
}}
| title = The Black Sheep Band
| website = Jaded in Chicago |date=22 February 1999
| url = http://www.jadedinchicago.com/2011/04/the-black-sheep-band/
| access-date = 2 August 2017}}
| first = Paul
| last = McBride
| title = Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers
| date = 18 January 2014
| website = The AU Review
| url = http://www.theaureview.com/interviews/jake-burns-of-stiff-little-fingers-chicago-belfast
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170802205243/https://www.theaureview.com/interviews/jake-burns-of-stiff-little-fingers-chicago-belfast
| archive-date = 2 August 2017
| access-date = 2 August 2017}}
| first = Tyler
| last = Vile
| title = Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers Part 1
| date = February 2014
| website = Punk Globe
| url = http://punkglobe.com/jakeburnsinterview0114.php
| access-date = 2 August 2017}}
| first = Tyler
| last = Vile
| title = Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers Part 2
| date = February 2014
| website = Punk Globe
| url = http://punkglobe.com/jakeburnsinterview0214.php
| access-date = 2 August 2017}}
| first = Owen
| last = Jenkins
| title = Owen Jenkins Gets Deep With Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers
| date = February 2014
| website = Punk Globe
| url = http://punkglobe.com/jakeburnsinterview0316.php
| access-date = 2 August 2017}}
| first = Bart
| last = Lazar
| title = Still Punk and political: A Conversation with Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers
| date = 11 September 2014
| website = Newcity
| url = https://music.newcity.com/2014/09/11/still-punk-and-political-a-conversation-with-jake-burns-of-stiff-little-fingers/
| access-date = 2 August 2017}}
| first = Bob
| last = Lee
| title = Eternally Inflammable: An Interview With Stiff Little Fingers' Jake Burns
| date = 3 February 2014
| website = The LA Beat
| url = http://thelosangelesbeat.com/2014/02/eternally-inflammable-an-interview-with-stiff-little-fingers-jake-burns/
| access-date = 2 August 2017}}
| first = David
| last = Roy
| title = Jake Burns on Stiff Little Fingers' 40th birthday bash in Belfast
| date = 2 June 2017
| website = The Irish News
| url = http://www.irishnews.com/arts/2017/06/02/news/-fast-and-hard-jake-burns-on-stiff-little-fingers-40th-birthday-bash-in-belfast-1039934/
| access-date = 2 August 2017}}
| first = Dave
| last = Jennings
| title = Jake Burns from Stiff Little Fingers interview
| date = 3 March 2013
| website = Louder Than War
| url = http://louderthanwar.com/jake-burns-from-stiff-little-fingers-interview-by-dave-jennings/
| access-date = 2 August 2017}}
| first = Dave
| last = Jennings
| title = Jake Burns interview
| date = 11 September 2017
| website = Louder Than War
| url = https://louderthanwar.com/stiff-little-fingers-jake-burns-interview/
| access-date = 20 September 2020}}
| first = Shane
| last = Pinnegar
| title = INTERVIEW – JAKE BURNS, STIFF LITTLE FINGERS – February 2016
| date = 28 March 2016
| website = 100 Percent Rock
| url = http://magazine.100percentrock.com/interviews/201603/167244
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160328100125/http://magazine.100percentrock.com/interviews/201603/167244
| archive-date = 28 March 2016
| access-date = 2 August 2017}}
| first = Stuart
| last = Derdeyn
| title = Stiff Little Fingers still raising rigid digits to the system
| date = 17 October 2016
| website = The Vancouver Sun
| url = https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/music/stiff-little-fingers-still-raising-rigid-digits-to-the-system
| access-date = 2 August 2017}}
| first = Mike
| last = Bell
| title = Belfast punk legends Stiff Little Fingers will go back but embrace change
| date = 21 October 2016
| website = Calgary Herald
| url = https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/music/belfast-punk-legends-stiff-little-fingers-will-go-back-but-embrace-change
| access-date = 2 August 2017}}
| first = Laura
| last = Ansill
| title = Interview: Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers on Songwriting, Bernie Madoff and Audience Faith
| date = 20 February 2014
| website = mxdwn.com
| url = https://music.mxdwn.com/2014/02/20/features/interview-jake-burns-of-stiff-little-fingers-on-songwriting-bernie-madoff-and-audience-faith/
| access-date = 2 August 2017}}
| first = Leona
| last = O'Neill
| title = Stiff Little Fingers' Jake Burns still outraged after 40 years and ready to rock hometown at anniversary gig
| date = 25 August 2017
| work = Belfast Telegraph
| url = https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/stiff-little-fingers-jake-burns-still-outraged-after-40-years-and-ready-to-rock-hometown-at-anniversary-gig-36066459.html
| access-date = 20 September 2020}}
| first = Martin
| last = Strong
| title = Stiff Little Fingers biography
| date = March 2015
| website = The Great Rock Bible
| url = https://thegreatrockbible.com/portfolio-item/stiff-little-fingers-biography/
| access-date = 18 September 2020}}
| first = Louise
| last = Raw
| title = Still rocking against racism, Louise Raw talks to JAKE BURNS
| date = 20 December 2019
| website = Morning Star
| url = https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/still-rocking-against-racism
| access-date = 18 September 2020}}
| first = Darren
| last = Paltrowitz
| title = Stiff Little Fingers' Jake Burns on being a fan of Newcastle United and the Chicago Cubs
| date = 9 November 2018
| website = Morning Star
| url = https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/stiff-little-fingers-jake-burns-on-being-a-fan-of-newcastle-united-and-the-chicago-cubs
| access-date = 18 September 2020}}
| first = Tom
| last = Hawking
| title = The Forgotten Women of Punk: The Selecter's Pauline Black on Anti-Racism, Ska, and the Power of Subculture
| date = 30 September 2015
| website = Flavorwire
| url = https://www.flavorwire.com/540325/the-forgotten-women-of-punk-the-selecters-pauline-black-on-anti-racism-ska-and-the-power-of-subculture
| access-date = 18 September 2020}}
| first = Kate
| last = Werth
| title = Review: 2017.07.31 From Boston to Berkeley tour- Sterling Heights, MI
| date = 5 August 2017
| website = Medium
| url = https://medium.com/shutupandplay/review-2017-07-31-from-boston-to-berkeley-tour-sterling-heights-mi-a1dc907f47d0
| access-date = 18 September 2020}}
| first = Davy
| last = Sims
| author-link = Davy Sims
| title = Fuelled by three decades of three-chord fury…
| date = 19 October 2007
| website = Davy Sims
| url = http://www.davysims.com/2007/10/fuelled-by-three-decades-of-three-chord-fury/
| access-date = 18 September 2020}}
| title = Iris in the Traffic, Ruby in the Rain
| date = 24 June 2009
| website = TV Cream
| url = https://www.tvcream.co.uk/telly/play-for-today/iris-in-the-traffic-ruby-in-the-rain/
| access-date = 18 September 2020}}
| title = Jake Burns quizzed on how he ended up supporting Newcastle United
| date = 1 November 2018
| website = The Mag (UK)
| url = https://www.themag.co.uk/2018/11/jake-burns-quizzed-on-how-he-ended-up-supporting-newcastle-united/
| access-date = 19 September 2020}}
| title = With a combined age of about 240, it's easy to see where 'supergroup' Dead Men Walking got their name.
| date = 6 December 2016
| website = Shields Gazette
| url = https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/review-dead-men-walking-cluny-2-newcastle-362538
| access-date = 19 September 2020}}
| first = Lawrence
| last = Chapple-Gill
| title = Dead Nen Walking ft. Jake Burns, Kirk Brandon and Ruts DC – live review
| date = 20 June 2016
| website = Louder Than War
| url = https://louderthanwar.com/dead-men-walking-ftg-jake-burns-kirk-brandon-ruts-dc-live-review/
| access-date = 19 September 2020}}
| first = Martin
| last = Neal
| title = Rebels with a cause – Theatre of Hate still hold the spear of their own destiny
| date = 6 December 2018
| website = Essex Live
| url = https://www.essexlive.news/whats-on/music-nightlife/rebels-cause-theatre-hate-still-2297189
| access-date = 19 September 2020}}
| first = Jack
| last = Rabid
| title = On Fortune Street
| date = 22 January 2002
| website = Allmusic
| url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/on-fortune-street-mw0000465530
| access-date = 19 September 2020}}
| first = David
| last = O'Dornan
| title = Stiff Little Fingers' Jake Burns: Why I could never really write a love song
| date = 23 August 2019
| work = Belfast Telegraph
| url = https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/stiff-little-fingers-jake-burns-why-i-could-never-really-write-a-love-song-38428167.html
| access-date = 20 September 2020}}
| author = Lazell, Barry
| title = Indie Hits 1980–1989
| year = 1997
| publisher = Cherry Red Books
| isbn = 0-9517206-9-4
| page = 33}}
}}
External links
- [http://www.slf.rocks/ Stiff Little Fingers website]
{{Authority control}}
{{Stiff Little Fingers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burns, Jake}}
Category:British anti-fascists
Category:British rock guitarists
Category:British male guitarists
Category:Punk rock musicians from Northern Ireland
Category:Male singers from Northern Ireland
Category:Musicians from Belfast