“I’m doing OK thanks” – a Summer 2026 Nigel Blackwell update

Here on the HMHB Lyrics Project recently, there have been enquiries from fans about whether the elusive Nigel Blackwell is on track with his recovery after a minor routine op that had caused two gig cancellations. Our regular correspondent Exxo thought he would pass on those enquiries when he recently got the opportunity, and here are the replies. Our thanks to Exxo for his initiative and to NB10 for taking the time out to respond.

Exxo: Nigel, how is your recovery going? Are you on schedule for a return to the stage in Leeds in August?

Nigel: I’m doing OK thanks I think and things are seemingly going to plan as regards the concert in Leeds.

Have you been able to return to a regular cycling routine?

I’ve been on a few bike rides so all OK there, but I’m not doing anything particularly strenuous (haven’t done that for ages). I’m going to Mickle Trafford in a couple of weeks and that’ll be the furthest I’ve been for a while. I’m only a casual cyclist really, I don’t generally do what you might think these days. I haven’t been to North Wales for years. A typical ride would be around the peninsula although I still try to include a few hilly bits in order to ‘feel alive’ as it were.

And during the Tour de France (just started), which I know will take up a lot of your attention over the next three weeks, do you tend to get out for rides more often, or less often?

I go out less when the Tour is on probably. I prefer Autumn and Winter rides. Midweek as well usually. I quite enjoy battling the elements!

We heard you only missed one Tranmere home match around the time of your operation. Don’t you regret not having the excuse to miss more, given how dire Rovers were? And are there any grounds for more optimism about their chances next season?

Ha ha!, indeed. The Rovers have been terrible to watch for the last few seasons and I haven’t got a clue if there’s to be any improvement in 26/27. The Law of Average suggests we should at least have a campaign which doesn’t involve another relegation struggle but isn’t the Law of Average just a made-up thing? To state the obvious, time will tell I suppose.

Somebody asked on the Lyrics Project “are HMHB winding it down?” Hopefully you can reassure him that the only reason there aren’t more (than two) gigs planned for next year is that you wanted to make sure you were fully recovered first?

No winding down as far as I can tell. There are other dates pencilled in which will be announced in due course. Usual situation.

Talking of the frequency of your gigs, there’s been a great collaborative effort on the HMHB Lyrics Project recently to compile a list of “early” gigs, from the years before Gez’ website was there to record things for posterity. When you think back to gigging in 1986 particularly, how do you reflect on the sheer amount that you played? Did Geoff perhaps put too many gigs in the schedule in 1986?

We did seem to play a lot in 1986, but that’s what was expected, I imagine, as the first album was doing well and Geoff did what any other manager would do in the circumstance. Initially, I was OK with it all and it was only when playing live frequently began to take its toll on my throat that I got a bit fed up. I should have just stopped shouting really and trusted the sound engineers in venues ha ha! We were young and naive as well, don’t forget, so we sort of just went along with it all. I have probably become more of a reluctant participant in later years.

Is it all a blur now, or do you have any particularly vivid memories of good gigs you can share from the early days? Any favourite gig memories?

I can recall most of the early days I think and with fondness I might add. We played locally more times than people may realise though often under the radar on cold dark evenings when sensible folk were sitting by the fire. There was one occasion at a place called Ma Bakers on Conway Street in Birkenhead (later became Sherlocks, nicknamed Headlocks by the locals) were there literally about ten people watching, most of whom we knew. I’m sure it was on November 5th, as sparklers were lit if I remember. Another time saw us playing at The Empress Club in New Brighton which had a reputation of sorts as a ‘strictly bikers’ establishment but it all went OK as far as I can tell. Bikers watched Trumpton too!

Is it true that ‘Running Order Squabblefest’ was first inspired by one of the very earliest gigs in Birkenhead, before you even had an album out?

It was, yes, but only years later, I didn’t write the song at that time. The evening was promoted by one of our mates (you’ll know him as Dic Aberdaron) and he wanted to put us top or at least near the top of the bill as we had either just released the first album or were near to doing so. Another band wanted to be ‘headlining’ apparently as they ‘had a minibus of fans coming over from West Kirby’ or something like that and furthermore, the impression was given that ‘we were rank amateurs who couldn’t play very well’ so the night should be rounded off with a ‘proper group’.

Dic to his credit was having none of it, but we weren’t arsed about it, so to save any difficulty we went on second or third (I can’t quite recall for definite) and had a great time whereas I’m not even sure that minibus ever turned up in the end and there was a noticeable exodus from the venue as the ‘proper band’ ploughed on with their insufferable blues jam which I believe is still going on.

You’ll have heard that there’s a new book due out by Steve Hill, about following the band around. What’s your reaction to that news?

Yes, I know of it though couldn’t tell you anything about it. I think it’s just about people who go to quite a lot of the gigs isn’t it? I don’t know if Steve himself is aware, but somebody pointed out to me recently that the publishers are advertising it as ‘a book about the band’ which it definitely isn’t really, as none of us have had any involvement with it whatsoever.

It’s obviously more of a personal thing about some people who go to quite a lot of our shows. We greatly appreciate these people I must add, and hopefully they have some interesting anecdotes of their adventures. Any book ‘about the band’ however will written by myself as ‘I know the most about us, ha ha’. I have told numerous lies in interviews for my own entertainment, so anything attributed to me should undoubtedly be taken with the proverbial pinch of salt.

To sum up, the publishers could possibly have stated a bit more clearly that it’s NOT a biography of the band. I do wish it well all the same and look forward to reading it.

So, similar to your reaction to being included on that new mural in Liverpool?

A crisp tenner to anyone who sprays over my face on that Mathew Street mural which had nothing at all to with me. Murals schmurals. Fortunately, I’m not really recognisable anyway, so I sleep easily in relation to its existence.

The book’s subtitle describes us, the fans, as a “cult.” Do you think that’s a fair description, from your point of view? [don’t worry, that doesn’t make you a cult leader, either way, Nigel.]

Some people at our gigs will maybe only know a few songs, some haven’t seen us for years, others go to nearly every show. Is my boring response to that.

And the best question to end any interview with a top, top songwriter is surely to ask him if has written any songs recently. What sort of topics have been inspiring you to think about putting words to chords recently?

Yes I have. I seem to be following the same old process of slowly writing another set of songs which will hopefully see light of day at some point. Mainly insufferable blues jams so far so that’s something to look forward to eh?

That is truly wonderful news to hear, Nigel. Many, many thanks for your time and may your recovery continue at its own sweet pace. And see you at the Leeds gig!