This is a continuing story. See the first eight years of our ‘HMHB in the Media’ page here and the second six years of our ‘HMHB in the Media’ page here.
Our page for any mentions of HMHB you see in print, radio, TV, online or just anywhere in the outside world, really…
TAYLO
Not sure where to put this but here is a plug for my new book ‘The Final Countdown’. Although this is mainly a book about following Manchester United in the 80s and 90s there is plenty of HMHB references. From a moody foggy gig at Leeds in 1992, to where the moniker NB57 came from right through to how my Missus became The Fifth Biscuit. Even the title is partly a cap doth to the greatest collab Loop and Nigel ever did as he insists that he was up for playing The Final Countdown as a cover, it was the rest of the band who weren’t keen.
Anyhow, I hope you could take a look and Christmas is coming after all.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BJY9PP9N?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860
27 October 2022
EXXO
Nice one Taylo. Got to wish you well with it, despite most of the content, ‘cos you gave me my abbreviated name too! Love to 5th Biscuit, Ginger Biscuit, Nice Biscuit and any other additions that I’m unaware of.
27 October 2022
TAYLO
Cheers pal. You would probably enjoy our 1992 collapse and my disastrous trip to Anfield.
27 October 2022
Hendrix-tattoo
My copy arrived today Taylo. Can’t wait to read it on the train(hopefully?) to Norwich in a couple of weeks time…
27 October 2022
Kittymcdermott
That’s ace, Taylo – to use some topical vernacular, like. Just ordered a copy. Am really looking forward to the Flixton passages most of all. Looks like a great read. Can I also assume that Brian McClair (“put the casey in the chasm!”) is going to pop up at some point? Thanks, Phil, this is lovely news. And a hearty, “Oooo Frankie, Frankie/Frankie, Frankie, Frankie, Frankie Stapleton” to you and yours.
27 October 2022
TAYLO
Thanks Kitty,
There is definite Flixton content but alas no wobbly puddings in Urmston. I often thought me and Loop should have added ‘In Flixton and in Delph’ to our wedding vows.
You were of course with me when I first met Loop in The Bankers Draft. The same gig you bonded with ’Trainee’ in The Little Chef CQTM
28 October 2022
John anderson
Great stuff Taylo. It’s a wonderful feeling when you finally get a hard copy of the book in your hands. I will definitely check this out, as I covered loads of Man U games as a radio reporter in the late 80s and 90s, including all three legs of the treble.
If I’m not being too intrusive, can I point everyone in the direction of my own book A Great Face For Radio which came out in 2013. The details are below but it’s no longer available on Amazon. I do have plenty of copies I’d be happy to send out for £13 inc p & p in the UK. If you’re interested I’m sure CtSO would pass on my email address or you can let me know via Twitter @GreatFaceRadio.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Face-Radio-Adventures-Commentator/dp/1909178888#_
Thanks and all the very best with your book, Taylo.
28 October 2022
Ferencváros fan
@Taylo: count me in too. Love a United read. Your take on the 1985-86 season will be of particular interest. Started the season as FA Cup holders, won first 10 matches in the league, quality of football reportedly outstanding (though none of it captured on telly because of a dispute with the Football League), Peter Barnes (yes – really), and Jesper Olsen on fire as I remember, Sparky banging in the goals, and Ron Atkinson seemingly secure at the helm. What could go wrong? Looking forward to you telling us all about it.
28 October 2022
TAYLO
Ah yes, the season we came 4th in a one horse race. The most annoying thing is we played scintillating football when the TV Cameras we’re on strike. When they finally returned in the New Year we were plodding with Mark Higgins. Thanks for all your interest guys.
28 October 2022
PAUL F
Did any of these supposedly brilliant performances ever turn up online? The best game I ever went to (and I was at both the Liverpool v Newcastle 4-3s in the 90s) was during that blackout: that year’s Goodison derby. In about 2000, 15 minutes of highlights appeared online (on the late lamented Timbo’s Goals website). It’s now on YouTube. I was gratified that the first 30 seconds of the game, during which Everton kicked off and Kenny Dalglish put Liverpool one up) were exactly as they had been etched on my memory. My brother was in the US at the time, and the game was shown live over there.
28 October 2022
TAYLO
The goals turned up on the end of season VHS, that’s about it. Big Ron spent the Hughes money on John Sivebaek, Peter Davenport and Terry Gibson.
28 October 2022
Chris The Siteowner
Patrick Kidd outs himself by crowbarring in a reference to the band in a piece about Wendy Wimbush in The Times. His attention however needs to be drawn to Rodney Ontong, Vanburn Holder, Five Day Tests, the Barmy Army, etc…
29 October 2022
dr desperate
Left-arm occasionals, keeping wicket for the Quakers, Hedley Verity, U is for the umpire, roll the square Arthur, slower ball…
30 October 2022
Lord leominster
…it’s a cricketing farce…
30 October 2022
John Anderson
Veering wildly away from the line.
30 October 2022
John anderson
Just stumbled across this.
https://www.albumsin200words.co.uk/post/half-man-half-biscuit-back-in-the-dhss
30 October 2022
Lux inferior
Not forgetting ‘I’m a bit Rachel Heyhoe’.
31 October 2022
Fraser
Not directly in the media, but Sureshot have brewed a NEIPA beer called Final Dressing Gown. Also mentions ‘Are these my ultimate pyjamas?’ in the blurb.
https://www.craftmetropolis.co.uk/product/sureshot-final-dressing-gown-neipa/
2 November 2022
BOROUGH surveyor
also…”I’m talking 5-day tests”
(Them’s the vagaries)
4 November 2022
Not bishop brennan
Just finished Taylo’s book – good way to use the Kindle Unlimited sub. As a result recommended to my best friend who has bought it to enjoy as both a muso and United fan (strictly Green &Yellow these days). He also deals with many of the issues you raised Taylo so really wish you well with sales and your well being.
8 November 2022
TRANSIT FULL OF keith
The Biscuit fan on the Only Connect research team has shoehorned one in again.
8 November 2022
gipton teenager
Only on Only Connect just now!
8 November 2022
BoRough surveyor
Just got a mention on Only Connect. OC knows its target audience.
8 November 2022
TRANSIT FULL OF keith
Didn’t get it. Kicked myself.
8 November 2022
EXXO
Blimey. OC on Tuesdays, eh? Cos of the big blokes bumping into each other all the time? Didn’t know ‘cos rarely watch it live these days, as Mrs Exxo likes to pause it and have a good old think. To be honest now I’ve got into the habit I like the pauses too.
Anyway no more spoilers if you can help it. Ta.
8 November 2022
dr desperate
Got it in two! (Though my sister couldn’t help spoiling it by texting me while I was watching Jon Stewart’s ‘Irresistible’ for Mid-terms Night.)
8 November 2022
EXXO
Upon seeing the second image I won’t have been the only one who immediately said “Fish. Or horse. Or biscuit.” and then “Actually if it can be any of those, it can be anything.” And it was me that said no spoilers.
8 November 2022
transit full of keith
Curious as to whether the question setter ever drops in here. I reckon they allow him one reference per series.
8 November 2022
TAYLO
Thanks for reading the book NBB and thanks for the recommendation to your pal. Appreciate that. I have just sent a copy to NB57. He should be getting points really such is his inspiration. I went to a game at Prenton Park with him once. A 1-1 draw with Blackpool. It was that windy that a Bus Shelter blew across the pitch. Then three more Bus Shelters all came at once! He QCTH at that one.
8 November 2022
dr desperate
Eight years this month since the Connections round on OC which began with “A Beatle”, followed by “A Dukla Prague Away Kit”.
9 November 2022
dr desperate
Actually, last night VCM admitted that the final answer could be beast, or horse. She said, “We’ve gone with Biscuit”, but didn’t explain the meaning of the sequence.
9 November 2022
EXXO
That’s what I meant. You aren’t necessarily a HMHB fan by setting that question, though the other HMHB inclusion 8 years ago is circumstantial evidence. Even then, you might just be a general music fan and aware of the band’s existence and a few titles. You could even be someone who thinks “they were an eighties comedy band”.
It may be that whatever the first suggestion had been they would have put it in as the answer and “gone with it.”
We need to know more and perhaps the fact that “HMHB Only Connect” is an actual thing and could be again this Christmas (?) is a way in to correspond with V C-M/producers and find out if one of the elves is truly a fan?
9 November 2022
EXXO
With reference to the OC question, Radmac at about 8.11 this morning made mention in their medium of HMHB getting mentioned in the media.
Which reminds me – I’m hoping the pre-amble of Roger’s report will cover HMHB being on Marc Riley’s T-shirt about 2-3 weeks ago, as I only got a vague report of it from Mrs. E and nobody has yet mentioned on here what any of the clues were were.
12 November 2022
EXXO
Turns out that time flies by, and it was 12 October when Riley wore a shirt depicting HMHB, which ironically would have been available until around 11 November, and which I would have listened to by now had things been a bit less frantic recently. Bronze Biscuit award for anyone who’s a member of any forums, etc, where the clues may have been recorded.
13 November 2022
Ferencváros fan
@Taylo: just spent the last day cantering through your book. It’s a cracking read, and I learnt a lot. I also admire your bravery and honesty in getting everything said that you did. Particularly love your final two chapters. I went through the same experience as you in 2011, right down to the speaking part, so that really hit home. Oh and you ask about first ever hat-tricks. Well I referred to this in another thread a few months ago, but I was lucky enough to see a Denis Law hat-trick in only my second ever match, 4-1 at home to Sunderland during the 1968-69 season. I was nine at the time, and only realised what I had witnessed many years later. Hope there are not too many spoiler alerts going on here. Walk good, and hope to meet you at a gig one fine day.
15 November 2022
EXXO
First hat-trick I can remember witnessing live was Ronnie Moore’s four v. Brentford on a Friday night in 1975. Tranmere riding high and the gates were still low.
When I was allowed to go to Anfield on me own it was definitely Dalglish’s three v. Man City, May 1978.
15 November 2022
TAYLO
Thanks Ferancveros fan, glad you enjoyed the book and glad you could empathise and take comfort from some of the more emotional parts shall we say. Be sure to tell your friends and a nice Amazon review 😎.
As I say in the book my first hat trick was Frank Stapleton v Watford in 84 although I was present when Kevin Mabbutt scored a hat trick at OT for Bristol City, I just don’t remember it!
I was lucky enough to see the Brazilian Ronaldo’s hat trick in 2003 and yes I did applaud. Not so much when Beardo notched 3 at Anfield in 1990.
15 November 2022
BOBBY SVARC
Mine was Frank Worthington in January 1974 during the power cuts, versus Ipswich Town.
15 November 2022
Bad loser
Possibly the most tenuous claim to fame ever: in my first job, I was taught how to do wages by Ronnie Moore’s mother-in-law.
I think the first hat-trick I saw live was Everton v Chelsea in 1984. Kerry Dixon wasn’t playing which was great news at the time. His replacement, Gordon Davies, scored a very good hat-trick.
The last one I saw was Luis Suarez for Barcelona v Real Madrid.
15 November 2022
Alice van der meer
The first I saw on TV was Dominic Cork vs the West Indies. Seen a few live, but all in games I was playing in, so no-one you’d ever have heard of (bar me, and I was neither batting nor bowling on any of them).
15 November 2022
EXXO
Makes me realise I can’t remember when my own first hat-trick was, but the four for Dynamor Landor against Ham River Common in the Cup, Wandsworth Park, October 1988, two with my wrong foot and two with my head, in a 4-2 victory when we’d been behind twice… I’ve got a feeling I might never forget that, and when one day I’ve finally slipped the escort, surely Mrs Exford won’t have to prompt me much to get me prattling about that one.
Glory days.
15 November 2022
Hendrix-tattoo
My first live hat-trick was by Gerry Daly in a four nil thumping of Millwall scoring two penalties.
He also owned a newsagent’s not far from my school. And before you ask Gerry Daly isn’t a German newspaper…
16 November 2022
Paul f
A gag my dad made every time United were on Kick Off in the mid-70s (which seemed to be every week).
16 November 2022
Paul f
My first live hat-trick was my first live game. Terry Mac v Hamburg in 1977.
16 November 2022
dr desperate
Unfortunately, there’s no record of Gerry Ward, the youngest player ever to start a league match for Arsenal, having scored any hat-tricks – otherwise he might have become known as Gerry ‘Hat-trick’ Ward.
IGMC.
16 November 2022
TAYLO
It’s just occurred to me that I got a massive HMHB fact wrong in the book. I said Alan Brazil featured in ‘A Lilac Harry Quinn’ when it is of course ‘Our Tune’. What the fuck was I thinking? (Yes I know that’s a different song). Thanks to those who have read it for not pointing it out. I include NB57 in that! I prided myself on making no factual errors and I get a Biscuit fact wrong. I have failed you all!
26 November 2022
BOBBY SVARC
Don’t worry man, I co-publish a football fanzine and our prove reader is useless too.
27 November 2022
Alice van der meer
Not sure where best to put this – it’s in the 100+ posts members only section of the Great War Forum, so it’s not publicly available (unless anyone here is a member of Skindles Club), so it’s slightly pointless posting it, but it does include just the sort of off-the wall information and obscure history that NB10 and plenty of us here seem to love. Postted with permission, BTW.
“GD’s #ChristmasCountdown #AdventAdventure Day 14
On their journey south Mary, Joseph & the wee donkey travelled through what is now the Central District. In 6 BC it was marshy, uncultivated land. Now it is a mix of productive arable land and small towns and villages. One of those villages was for many years the home of Josef Müller. Born in Tschop in Carpathian Ruthenia (now Ukraine, very close to the junction of Ukraine/Slovakia/Hungary), Josef was conscripted into a Jewish forced labour unit of the Hungarian Army.
In 1942 Josef became an assistant in a hospital which took him away from the regime of terror that the Jewish men had to endure in the forced labour unit. He later escaped from the hospital and swapped sides, becoming a member of the Czech Army in 1943. (Drawing @HolocaustMuseum #58014)
Josef’s parents & one brother were murdered at Auschwitz (2 brothers survived); this inspired him to leave the Czechoslovak Army in 1948 to join the Jewish brigade fighting for the independence of Israel which is how he ended up living in the Central District. In 1944 Josef fought in the Battle of Dukla Pass on the Polish/Slovak border. It’s a fascinating combined arms battle in interesting terrain with some great memorials. If you want a battlefield tour of the action please get in touch.
Over 15,000 Czechoslovakian soldiers took part in the battle which started the liberation their country which had been occupied since 1938. The Battle of Dukla Pass was propelled into the history books and into national Czechoslovakian pride. This pride was so great that in 1956, in honour of the men who fought and died in the Battle of Dukla Pass, the football team ATK Praha changed their name to Dukla Prague.
And so today’s Christmas tune is this absolute classic (possibly the best Christmas song ever) from Half Man Half Biscuit.
https://youtu.be/eBmFuySb_Qw“
20 December 2022
EXXO
Obscurity is very much in the eye of the beholder. What a life though. He died last year aged 101.
20 December 2022
dr desperate
Craig Charles just invited HMHB to appear on his R6M show, “if you’re listening”.
22 December 2022
Chris The Siteowner
Guardian Saturday Quiz for Christmas Eve:
What links:
– Ronna and quetta; ronto and quecto?
– Cinnamon; ice bucket; devious lick; Kylie Jenner lip?
– Ghawar (Saudi Arabia); Burgan (Kuwait); Ahvaz (Iran); Grane (Norway)?
– Carole Hersee; Bubbles the clown; noughts and crosses?
– Hieroglyphic; demotic; hieratic; Coptic?
– Histidine; isoleucine; leucine; lysine (and five others)?
– A Beatle; you; my two front teeth; Dukla Prague away kit?
24 December 2022
Phyllis Triggs
All I want for Christmas is a ticket for the Camden gig. Please, someone, anyone, just the one…!
24 December 2022
Lord leominster
My big sister went to school with Carole Hersee, “the most aired face in British television history.[1]”
“The card [Test Card F] was developed in 1967 by her [Carol’s] father, BBC engineer George Hersee, who started by snapping test photographs of Carole and her younger sister, Gillian; Carole was ultimately chosen to appear on the card simply because Gillian was without two of her front teeth at the time.[2]”
I hope Gillian got what she wanted for Christmas.
25 December 2022
Chris The Siteowner
Cheers to Roger Maddams, 62, from Kent, for getting the latest album into The Times readers’ favourite albums of 2022 – a rare mention in the usual end-of-year roundups.
25 December 2022
EXXO
Answer: they are all lists of connected things.
25 December 2022
nige
Looks like one of the clues in one of the puzzles in todays newspaper supplement was done by a football commentator
Assurance – 6 letters starting with A
31 December 2022
John anderson
Yard Act (who I quite like) have posted on their Twitter feed that one of the comments accompanying their latest Youtube video is: “Half Man Half Biscuit for thick people”.
1 January 2023
BATWALKER
Bit harsh. I quite like Yard Act as well, but don’t see much similarity to HMHB, let alone anything that would warrant such an unflattering description.
4 January 2023
EXXO
I think this one’s a bit like a cross between NB’s “all of our songs sound the same” and some of his stuff parodying the music press (eg “how can you say we sound like Frasier Chorus?”) in that self-deprecation is a trait Smith definitely shares with Mr. B, but at the same time it’s ironic since so many comparisons have inevitably been made between Yard Act and HMHB in reviews, etc, and it’s already a bit of a cliché.
(Not a cliché when I say it though, of course, as I probably first said it before any reviews of Yard Act had been written :-D)
5 January 2023
EXXO
Parodying bands responses to the music press, I meant, of course.
5 January 2023
EXXO
Bands’
5 January 2023
BATWALKER
I still don’t really see it. Both bands use a lot of humour in their work and have somewhat shouty lead vocalists, but I think “Half Man Half Biscuit for thick people” better describes those vaguely Biscuity bands that appeared in the wake of Back in the DHSS (Tribe of Toffs, Fat and Frantic etc).
9 January 2023
EXXO
It’s just a comment someone’s posted about their video, and they’ve tweeted it ironically.
But HMHB have undoubtedly been a major influence on many of the current wave of talky-shouty-jokey-ranty singers, though it’s often hard to separate a HMHB influence from a Fall one of course.
9 January 2023
schoon
Not sure where to put this… Looks like ChatGPT might be putting Nigel out of a job. I asked: ‘in the style of half man half biscuit lyrics write about grafting haddock in the george’
Response:
Verse 1:
Grafting haddock in the George,
Fryer’s on and the oil’s hot,
The smell of fish fills the air,
As the chef works like he’s got the lot.
Chorus:
Haddock, haddock, golden and crisp,
Grafted to perfection, a fish and chips bliss,
In the George, where the menu’s grand,
Grafting haddock, it’s a fryer’s land.
Verse 2:
The batter’s light and the fish is fresh,
The portions are generous and true,
The customers they come and go,
All exclaiming, “This is the best fish stew!”
Chorus:
Haddock, haddock, golden and crisp,
Grafted to perfection, a fish and chips bliss,
In the George, where the menu’s grand,
Grafting haddock, it’s a fryer’s land.
Verse 3:
The George is a local institution,
A place where everyone knows your name,
The staff they’re friendly and welcoming,
And the food, it’s always to blame.
Chorus:
Haddock, haddock, golden and crisp,
Grafted to perfection, a fish and chips bliss,
In the George, where the menu’s grand,
Grafting haddock, it’s a fryer’s land.
Outro:
So come on down to the George,
And try the haddock that’s on the menu,
It’s a taste sensation that you won’t forget,
And you’ll come back again and again, it’s true.
14 January 2023
Not bishop brennan
Just been briefly mentioned on Word of Mouth on Radio 4 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001h49p?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile on a programme about band names. The presenter confessed to never having listened to HMHB when they were discussing band names they liked (or not).
17 January 2023
EXXO
That reminds me that ‘Dickie Davies Eyes’ got a mention from Brian Moore’s actual son on a radio preview of Gillingham v. Leicester the other day. He said his dad wasn’t too pleased with the line (which of course led to the Gills’ fanzine name) but he (the son) reckoned that HMHB was still the best band name ever.
18 January 2023
Chris The Siteowner
A lowly constituent in Mojo magazine’s 50 Greatest UK Indie Records Ever!
21 January 2023
Chris The Siteowner
John Clare, leader of former support act Bomb Factory (Cambridge, 2006) passes away.
22 January 2023
PabloDiablo
This week’s Elis James and John Robins podcast contains some excitement about the Camden gig.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001h3y9?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
23 January 2023
EXXO
If anyone who listens to that can be arsed to specify the relevant minutes that would be useful.
23 January 2023
EXXO
OK, it’s the beginning 10 mins or so only. My heart just sank when I thought I had to trawl through 2hrs 16. Phew.
23 January 2023
Natalie at the back
According to Mrs Natalie at the Back on Radio 5 Ellis and John, Ellis played Awkward Sean. I have no idea who they are but girlfriend said that it was fun.
28 January 2023
EXXO
As there’s no commentability facility on the ‘HMHB on The Chain’ spreadsheet, I’ll point out here that Maconie just said that after playing Art Blakey just now, they would “look favourably on anything On the Buses-related” for next Saturday’s choice.
Whilst I’m not suggesting anything as vulgar as a mass-write-in, it would be a shame if a great record that has never been played on the radio was not mentioned in dispatches, 650 records since the last HMHB appearance on the Chain. Don’t forget to include something attention-seeking and a phone number.
12 February 2023
Alice van der meer
Following on from #65 above, this looks to be the text of the programme (pity about misnaming the multiple porcines in the header, but there)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5r2swMlT3WTPlh0Kdx8yxfV/what-makes-a-good-band-name
20 February 2023
Christie Malry
Bob Stanley gets it wrong in the programme too! He says that they are called Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs and that this is a bad name, but they are actually called Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, which surely is much better.
23 February 2023
Chris The Siteowner
A Dukla Prague tuk-tuk? Pearson definitely in.
1 March 2023
dr desperate
Too late for this year, I’m afraid, the first one in India starts in a month’s time.
See part 5 (‘Pimp My Rickshaw’) for how to achieve Duk-tuk livery.
https://www.theadventurists.com/guides/rickshaw-run-india/#5-pimp-my-rickshaw
1 March 2023
Chris The Siteowner
Radio 4’s current affairs audio collage programme “The Skewer” started last week with clever use of Dickie D’s Es…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001jcc2
2 March 2023
Chris The Siteowner
Obligatory HMHB nods as the great Niall Quinn of this parish marks his half century.
RTE
Limerick Post
5 March 2023
dr desperate
Excellent stuff – the first time I’ve ever had one of my gig reviews quoted in The Limerick Post (AFAIK).
Have a grand time on Friday, Niall, and lá breithe shona duit in a fortnight!
5 March 2023
Parsfan
Is the writer the same Eric Fitzgerald as in The Hitchers?
5 March 2023
EXXO
Anyone travelling from Dublin for this on Friday? Would be good to talk shit on the way.
5 March 2023
EXXO
Happy 60th birthday Roger. Hope it’s a perfectly lovely 7th decade for all 1963 water rabbit babies.
(I can’t quite recall Karen’s adverb/adjective combo from her RadMac request this morning, but perfectly lovely won’t be far off, one trusts).
5 March 2023
dr desperate
Missed that “deddy” unfortunately (though I did get a mention later on for another incorrect Tea Time Theme Time answer).
Happy birthday for Thursday, Roger!
6 March 2023
IRISH NIALL
Thanks to all. The snows of fifty winters eh?
@Dr D. I’ll be Iceland for the breathlá itself as no one told Play Air everyone else charges the cost of a 737 to fly out of Ireland on St Patricks Day (Flight cost alone ruled out Leamington Spa months ago). As for Friday next we’ll have a laugh and a beer for sure. Not sure how the tunes’ll go. We had a crack at Midnight Mass Murder just to add something off TVY and quickly found that rather like Ramones songs and Harmonicas -it’s very easy to play badly and requires skillsets and nuance to play well. Not a full HAHB set (or anyone else for that matter) anyway but we’ll try and record it.
@Parsfan -tis indeed the same Eric. The only place we’re sure enough of a bit of press. I’m genuinely stupified RTE picked up on it. Most unexpected and very welcome publicity. I’m putting it down to it being the weekend BEFORE a bank holiday weekend and things being relatively quiet.
7 March 2023
EXXO
Hope you have a really good one Niall. Being spectacularly pissed up for that 7(seven)-0(nil) on Sunday coincided with hearing about your gig on here, so as you can see (from comment 82 above) I was sure I was going to book a cheeky £20 flight to Dublin on Thursday and get the bus over … then I woke up Monday and had to face up to a few realities …
7 March 2023
IRISH NIALL
@EXXO -I didn’t join the dots on that post at all Exxo. Thanks for even considering it. You’d have been coming a long way for 8 or 9 songs mind. Sundays result left me wondering -whatever happened to that word “Chortle”? They used use it in parentheses in comics like Whizzer & Chips, Buster, Beano etc to denote someone attempting to stifle a laugh.
Chortle was a good word. (chortle) 😉
7 March 2023
dr desperate
Still in use as a comedy website.
https://www.chortle.co.uk/
7 March 2023
transit full of keith
Historian Jonathan Healey is probably a fan. Talking about his book about the English Revolution, The Blazing World, on the Bunker podcast, he mentions groups of Cavaliers after the Civil War putting on displays of public debauchery: “as a way of just annoying the hell out of the puritans in government, … they really are just trying to irk the Puritans”.
12 March 2023
dr desperate
He tweeted last week, “This podcast was great fun, and I think the first time anyone noticed the Half Man Half Biscuit reference in the book”.
The Bunker’s presenter (and “discontent provider”) Andrew Harrison may also be a fan of Elvis Costello and Leon Rosselson/Billy Bragg, as he named the episode ‘Oliver’s Army’, and describes it as JH explaining to him “how their world turned upside down shapes our own”.
13 March 2023
Schoon
Chatgpt is truly amazing part 24.
Explain the song everything’s aor
“Everything’s AOR” is a song by the British post-punk band Half Man Half Biscuit, which appeared on their 1987 album “Back in the DHSS.” bla bla bla… The song’s narrator describes various scenarios in which AOR seems to be the dominant force, from a drive to work (“I’m in my car and it’s got four wheels, / It plays AOR, it’s got power steering,”) to a visit to a record store (“All the record racks, / They play AOR to me.”).
The song also includes references to specific AOR bands and songs, such as Boston’s “More Than a Feeling” and Toto’s “Rosanna,” as well as nods to other musical genres and cultural phenomena.
18 March 2023
BlIGHTED rAY
Kudos to KentOnline for asking chatGPT to write a song about Kent in the style of Half Man Half Biscuit. Points removed however, for referring to them as the ‘Liverpudlian band..” Nigel doesn’t have too much to worry about.
Verse 1:
I took a trip to Kent, the garden of England
Hoping to find some peace, and maybe some enlightenment
But all I found were traffic jams, and endless roundabouts
And a feeling that I’d never find my way out
Chorus:
Oh Kent, oh Kent, the land of the hop
Where the countryside’s lovely, but the traffic won’t stop
Oh Kent, oh Kent, I wish I could leave
But I’m stuck in this county, with no reprieve
Verse 2:
I tried to find a beach, to relax and unwind
But every stretch of sand was crowded and confined
And when I tried to take a walk, I stumbled on some golf
And ended up dodging balls, with a feeling of revolt
Chorus:
Oh Kent, oh Kent, the land of the hop
Where the countryside’s lovely, but the traffic won’t stop
Oh Kent, oh Kent, I wish I could leave
But I’m stuck in this county, with no reprieve
Verse 3:
I tried to find a pub, to drown my sorrows in ale
But every one I visited, was a chain or a stale
And when I asked for local brews, they offered me some lager
And I felt like a stranger, in my own damn culture
Chorus:
Oh Kent, oh Kent, the land of the hop
Where the countryside’s lovely, but the traffic won’t stop
Oh Kent, oh Kent, I wish I could leave
But I’m stuck in this county, with no reprieve
Outro:
So if you’re thinking of visiting, this land of plenty
Just remember my warning, and pack yourself plenty
Of patience and endurance, and maybe a map or two
Or else you’ll end up like me, lost in Kent too.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/what-happened-when-we-went-head-to-head-with-chatgpt-283800/
19 March 2023
schoon
Not only are the lyrics shit but the traffic in Kent is fine. Certainly no worse than most places and far better then London, where ChatGPT probably lives.
20 March 2023
TRANSIT FULL OF keith
Renfield’s Afoot makes its way into Jeremy Noel-Tod’s erudite poetry substack, whatever that is. I may have been responsible for this. https://someflowerssoon.substack.com/p/everybodys-bat-walks
25 March 2023
Hendrix-tattoo
JDOG being played now by Craig Charles…
17 April 2023
EXXO
I assume you sent him a literary masterpiece John, and the producer made him read out just a few lines of it? 😀
17 April 2023
dr DEsperate
You assume rightly, Exxo (though they picked out the salient features).
17 April 2023
dr DEsperate
Bob in Hereford texted Lammo last night to inform the nation that his wife Tandi (?) had heard him playing Ronnie Corbett’s 1970 anti-inflation rant ‘It’s All Going Up-Up-Up’ and mistaken it for a HMHB song. “I think it’s It’s what they would have wanted”, he observed.
22 April 2023
Pirx The Purist
I bought that Ronnie Corbett single (or rather, had it bought for me) when it came out. I was eight years old.
22 April 2023
Nigel
bbc feature about the Wrexham FC open top bus – see the picture of the Declan Swans
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65450337
2 May 2023
POP-TART MARK
Dear Mr Reynolds
Congratulations (on being rich and famous). You look so handsome and rich in your open-top bus. Please do hire them again for your trip to Prenton next season and we will greet you with traditional gifts as you pass famous local landmarks such as the Rockers (Commodores) Bridge. It will make ace TV I am sure.
P-T M
2 May 2023
dr DEsperate
If Woodchurch Station ever gets built the Wrexham skins will be able to travel in on the Borderland line, smashing the windows of the new hybrid trains on the way home.
https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/23437607.hybrid-train-introduced-wrexham-bidston-line/
3 May 2023
dr DEsperate
See D List Paul Ross’s post 27 on the Welly reviews page (which should perhaps be here): Riley’s Anagram Sam puzzle on R6M last night, perhaps one of the last before he’s shunted to the 10 – 12 slot: I AM A BULLFINCH SHAFT. It’s a band.
10 May 2023
D list paul ross
Thanks Doc, I was driving to the Brude (Kneecap rather than Yard Act, since you ask) and just pulled in to spread the word without any time to look into it properly. I only listen to Riley intermittently, I don’t suppose he played a track when he gave the answer?
10 May 2023
EXXO
Ooh I nearly went to that gig cos someone had a free spare. Would have if I wasn’t quite interested in the footy. Did spend the entire afternoon listening to Kneecap yesterday as a result of the offer. Hope it was a great night.
I listen to 6 Music most days but somehow I have missed any news of the changes until now (meant to look them up after Roger Green mentioned it in a report, then forgot). Just googled it after your comment. First when I saw your comment I thought “ace!” cos I’ve been saying for years that Riley’s new indie & alternative music should be in the Peel slot, cos I just hate Gideon Coe’s complacent randomness (under the guise of eclecticism) and general lack of new music in the slot when I need it most.
Now I find that the earlier evening hosts will still be playing the “new music”, but just not as good (because of who they are), and Riley will join Coe in playing random eclecticism, but not as much new stuff, later on. Gutted.
Well played on the anagram though.
10 May 2023
EXXO
@Doc should have thanked you for the heads-up.
@D-L PR Just checked his playlist and yes he played Tommy Walsh’s Eco-house after the reveal (terrible, terrible clues about types of biscuit) – but not the 2010 session version from his own show with “wankeling the zeitgeist.”
10 May 2023
D list paul ross
Cheers @Exxo yes great fun thanks although I am a bit elderly for what was at times an insane moshpit given the number of people there.
10 May 2023
Michael
Just found out that this website is on the UK Web Archive, a snapshot of a variety of websites captured several times a year, managed by the UK and Ireland’s legal deposit libraries. So, all our purple prose, prattlings, and pedantry will be there for posterity.
15 May 2023
Chris The Siteowner
Woo hoo!
15 May 2023
Jetwash the viceroy
Was listening to this week’s Smith and Sniff podcast (basically nonsensical waffle for car nerds) and Richard Porter (former Top Gear script editor, and author of various “car trivia” books) mentioned the Motley Crüe dilemma from Upon Westminster Bridge, so I guess he must be a bit of a Biscuit fan.
17 May 2023
Transit full of Keith
Carl Henry interviewed on YouTube about his various bands, by somebody in the Philippines.
https://youtu.be/REVNNds9T1o
I haven’t watched it all yet, but Carl’s take on his time in HMHB occupies a section somewhere in the middle.
7 June 2023
Chris The Siteowner
Oh great find, TFoK! In case anyone doesn’t have/want the ability to sit and watch YouTube for an hour, I’ve uploaded the audio here.
7 June 2023
Transit full of keith
It would be a heroic task to do one of those Rock Family Trees for HMHB. I’m a quarter through the interview, we’re up to the early 80s, and Carl-connected bands so far include The Dirge, TV12, Dead On Arrival, The Third Man, This Final Frame, Politburo and (hey!) … Thirteen Across.
7 June 2023
parsfan
I’ve just watched the start, will continue tomorrow, but the interviewer, Ann Nazario, does seem to be a fan. She’s posted a couple of videos on YouTube from the Manchester gig last year. Easily found, and obligatory plug, here.
7 June 2023
dr DEsperate
Top, top find, @TFoK!
I’m not sure Ann Nazario was a big HMHB fan at the time of the podcast (she only had the one CD, Cammell Laird Social Club, despite working in a Manc record shop), but she is now – I see she was on the barrier at the Ritz last year.
I don’t think we’ve previously mentioned the Filipino band Half Life Half Death, AKA ‘The Halves’ (which is how I intend to refer to the band from now on), nor yet the pizza of the same name which features in the computer game Good Pizza, Great Pizza. Pleasingly, it’s a wholewheat dough za topped with half mushroom, half pineapple.
8 June 2023
Transit full of Keith
Yes indeed, somebody from the Phillipines, but living here. Who knew Carl’s old band had become big in the Philippines? That whole story recalls the end of ‘This is Spinal Tap’, although thankfully Carl’s drummer survival skills are a cut above. He puts a good word out to the research community of this parish as well.
8 June 2023
dr DEsperate
He does touch on the Tap’s drummological misfortunes, while recounting his replacing the other Carl behind the traps.
Incidentally, I should warn would-be Pete Frames that compiling Rock Family Trees can be a thankless task – I once did one for the Albertos/Sm!rks/Freshies diaspora, and never heard the end of it (“You know I was in Simply Red too”, “He didn’t play sax with them”, etc etc).
8 June 2023
Chris The Siteowner
Help me, I don’t know what to print (or at least the Spectator doesn’t).
And a misprunt in the quote too.
9 June 2023
professor Abelazar Woozle
Just watching the podcast now, I like Carl’s VdGG-related t-shirt!
9 June 2023
dr DEsperate
And his Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band 40th anniversary Tour mug.
9 June 2023
Chris The Siteowner
“Other main acts include ‘Alogte Oho and his Sounds of Joy’ a musician from southern Ghana, ‘VRi’, a trio from Wales performing traditional music and dance, ‘Half Man Half Biscuit’, an English folk band from the Wirral, and ‘Ibibio Sound Machine’, fronted by Nigerian singer Eno Williams, who clash African and electronic elements of sound.”
…and even that paragraph is a long way down the bill.
12 June 2023
Lux inferior
HMHB site owner in the media, rather than HMHB in the media…
@CtSO – were you aware that one of your tweets, pertaining to a Radio 4 announcement concerning that no-good fraud & ne’er-do-well (and massive c*nt) Johnson, made it on to the Yahoo News pages this weekend:
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/bbc-audience-applauds-cheers-being-063720538.html
(Fame at last! – CtSO)
12 June 2023
Chris The Siteowner
Always good to get a mention of the band in the trade press.
14 June 2023
dr DEsperate
Discussion of pretending to be tennis players on R6M’s RadMac show this morning led to Mac referring to the HMHB song ‘Bad Case of Vitas Gerulaitis’.
17 June 2023
dr DEsperate
While Damian Green MP was on Times Radio yesterday talking about getting over-50s back to work, online video of the programme showed him to be wearing his DPAK shirt.
No comment.
24 July 2023
brumbiscuit
You can’t polish a turd…
24 July 2023
Pirx The Purist
“How many of youse lot know…”
…that I’ve just had my first book published?
Well, you do now.
There’s a short-ish chapter about our Four Lads in it. It was written not long after ‘Hub’ came out, but I’ve added a footnote referring to TVY.
Available as a paperback or e-book (.epub format):
https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/nigelstapley
24 July 2023
Chris The Siteowner
That’s brilliant, PtP. Will be reading!
24 July 2023
Transit full of keith
Not really the right page for it, but in the absence of a song page for ‘No Regrets’, it might be worth mentioning that the season ticket of Jamie Reid – who I think did that cool sleeve with the high heeled shoe? – is going spare.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/09/jamie-reid-artist-of-sex-pistols-record-covers-dies-aged-76
9 August 2023
John Anderson
And he was the ex partner of Margi Clarke who sang on No Regrets. I met Jamie Reid briefly in Liverpool once and he seemed like a nice fella. RIP.
9 August 2023
dr DEsperate
Jamie Reid is credited (along with Margi Clarke) with additional lyrics on ‘No Regrets’, the sleeve art is credited to him and Steve Hardstaff.
9 August 2023
biscuitgigs
The HMHB Data Retrieval System has been upgraded.
It now has its own video player. Click/tap the wee “+ inside a camera” icon to add to playlist. Move about the site you can add to the playlist from any page listing videos (so the home page with most recent 20 additions, the live videos pages and the setlist pages.
Cover versions now have their own page.
At home I’ve taken to moving about the songs and covers pages creating a playlist and leaving it to run in the background.
It’s better on a bigger screen, but once you’ve figured out what’s going on works well enough on a phone.
Now that’s out the way, time to start adding more videos (everything I could find back to 2015 so far – 778 performances of 150 different songs).
Cheers
12 August 2023
Sloppy
Fantastic stuff @BiscuitGigs!
14 August 2023
parsfan
I came across a few podcasty type things on YouTube today. People’s reactions to hearing the band for the first time.
The Audiophiles – Joy Division Oven Gloves
Into The Music – Knobheads On Quiz Shows
PopCulture Productions – Restless Legs
gpreactions – Paintball’s Coming Home
I think a couple of them at least do other songs but I’ve not explored any further.
25 August 2023
Chris The Siteowner
A couple of steps from being HMHB-related, but this copied from a Facebook group: “Sadly news has reached us that Annie from Probe (Record Shop) has passed away. She had been ill for a while but it always comes as a shock when somebody who played such a big part in all our lives passes. An ever present in Probe, Annie was much more front of shop than Geoff who later was running the distribution Cartel and Probe Plus Records. Always very stylish in black and leather, she had the look of Chrissie Hynde crossed with one of those great girl garage bands of the 1960’s. She was like the Mum of Probe for all the staff … Condolences to all her family and friends and Liverpool will miss her as will all of us who bought records from Probe.”
30 August 2023
BOBBY SVARC
Yes, very sad news.
30 August 2023
GOK WAN ACOLYTE
Online newspaper The Liverpool Post cites ‘Breaking News’ in its recent article on litter in the city https://www.livpost.co.uk/p/bottled-urine-explosive-vapes-and
30 August 2023
Mark Lane
I am sure this has been noted previously but the band get a fair bit of love in the Elis James and Jon Robins show on Friday afternoons on 5live.
13 September 2023
dr DEsperate
Only Connect spoiler alert…
18 September 2023