They've been on the road for 35 years but Stiff Little Fingers show no signs of slowing down. As they prepare to come to Blackburn as part of a UK tour we put some questions to Jake Burns.

BACK TO BLACKBURN AGAIN. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE PLACE YOU SEEM TO LIKE SO MUCH?

The audience are fantastic. Obviously, we love playing in the Liverpools and Manchesters of this world as well, but there's something special about playing to folk in their own back-yard as it were. That's something we get from a gig like Blackburn.

SLF ARE ONE OF THE FEW TRUE SURVIVORS OF THE ORIGINAL PUNK/NEW WAVE SCENE. HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED IT?

I think because we still enjoy doing it. Although it's obviously our job, it doesn't feel like one. And also, because there's an audience there that still wants to hear us play. As long as those two things are still in place, I think we'll keep going.

DOES IT REASSURE YOU THAT GUITAR BANDS ARE POPPING UP EVERYWHERE?

It's better than synthesiser bands from my point of view, but that's just a personal preference. I'd have to be honest and say that as long as the songs are good then I don't care if you play them on a bin-lid and a banjo!

ANY CHANCE OF A NEW SLF ALBUM ANY TIME SOON?

I'm writing. But, this whole touring mullarkey really gets in the way! With last year being our 30th anniversary, we had so many offers of live work that we're only now getting round to sorting them. So, it's fitting the recording etc. in around that that's the problem at the moment.

ARE YOU STILL GOING TO EMBARK ON THE ODD ALTERNATIVE PROJECT SUCH AS THREE MEN AND BLACK?

I really enjoyed the Three Men experience and I'm still in touch with a lot of the people from that. I'd like to do something similar in the future. At the moment I'm putting together a bar band, just for fun to play old rock'n'roll songs that I loved when I was growing up. That'll just be in Chicago though with some really great local musicians.

HOW ABOUT ANOTHER SOLO ALBUM?

Like I said, I'm having enough trouble finding time to write the next SLF thing so I don't see another solo record on the horizon any time soon!

YOUR CURRENT TOUR WILL SEE YOU OFF TO AUSTRALIA. IF YOU'LL PARDON THE QUESTION, ARE YOU BIG DOWN UNDER?

Nicely put! We've never been there before, so I guess we'll find out in a couple of months.

ARE YOU NERVOUS ABOUT PLAYING TO A NEW AUDIENCE?

Not really. After 30 years of doing this we've reached the point where we know when we're good and when we're bad. So, if we play well and they don't like us, well then I guess they just don't like us! We don't beat ourselves up trying to work out why anymore.

AFTER THE TOUR, WHAT'S NEXT FOR SLF?

As we said, more touring. We have some West Coast dates lined up in America for late April/early May. Straight out to Australia after that. Then a few Irish things in June. A couple of festivals in August. Another UK tour in October followed by a short Italian trip. After that, I'm putting my feet up and waiting for Santa!

  • Stiff Little Fingers play King George's Hall, Blackburn on Friday, March 14. Details from the box office on 01254 582582