KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton gig – Friday 7 November 2025
(Reviews only please; pre-gig chat here)
A popular part of the world for hosting HMHB gigs, but a new venue for the band. The Express & Star introduces the location, fronted by KK Downing, former lead guitarist with Judas Priest (click the above for the full article): “The Black Country is the home of hard rock and it’s fitting that it now has a club to celebrate that heritage. It’s equally apposite that (KK’s Steel Mill) is located in the former home of the Star Motor Company, one of the first mass production car companies in the UK.”
Here’s how the evening unfolded…
✉ Letters Sent (53)
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(8 months ago by Persian Rug Vendor)
Alan
The sound was phenomenal.
7 November 2025
Chris The Siteowner
Great gig, but not one for those who wanted a voice left for the morning (CRESTA! MIDGE URE! GREAT BIG WHOPPER!)…
7 November 2025
Coops
Great stuff. Not many venues are wider than they are long!
7 November 2025
Twistedkitemike
Our last outing of the calendar year, and a fine way to finish. Good venue and good sound, and a top-class set-list.
Congratulations to congregational scribe, Roger Green, on reaching his double century this evening. 200 Biscuit gigs not out.
My role is merely to recite the hymn sheet, so here it is, subject to the customary caveat of senility causing E&O: –
Nerys
Broadstairs
Goodbye Sam
Bob Wilson
Awk Sean
Dean Friedman (Slipper refrain)
Birmos
Sealclubbing
Buried Morning
Light Tunnel
Bell Rings
Bane (of Constance)
DPAK
AOR
McCalliog
Monmore
Bliss Hereafter
Terminus
Vatican
Gwatkin
Trumpton
Poss Side Effects
Trad Arr Tune
NSD
JDOG
………………………….
Fred T
Jack National
Mama Weer All Crazee Now (Slade)
Oblong
I can’t think of a better way to spend a Friday evening. Don’t tell the Missus I said that!
Mike…………….
7 November 2025
Stringy Bob
Now that was fuckin awesome
8 November 2025
evil gazebo
Gwatkin ???? Sealclubbing ????? I am beyond jealous!
8 November 2025
IGuana andy
Heartily agree. Great gig and venue. Nice surprises in the setlist. Roll on Manchester in January…
8 November 2025
warden Hodges
Great gig/venue. Up there with the Robin. The trend for covers in encore is showing, something by Buzzcocks at the Ritz Jan ’26? A real treat would be Nigel reading a JCC poem! Early Chrimbo/New Year greetings Biscuiteers.
8 November 2025
Hendrix-tattoo
No doubt the best gig of the year. The boys were firing on all cylinders. They absolutely nailed the Slade cover which was superb Great sound and what a set list.
I also would like to wish Congratulations to Roger for his 200 and not out.
Roll on Manchester….
8 November 2025
Cream Cheese and Chives
Little to add. Great night. Great company. Great show. Appalling predictions. To see HMHB to a backdrop of George Best and the Asda logo-does life get much better?
8 November 2025
Just another lackey
Fantastic show although sadly not as much dancing at the front. Shout out to Chris and Tony plus friends (I can no longer remember more than 2 names it seems). A very pleasant half hour in strange brightly lit pub The Dartmouth Arms talking about HMHB and the amazing Jim Bob
8 November 2025
Sloppy
To echo the other posts, one of the best gigs this year (I say that every time….)
Some surprises in the set list.
Even the support were something a little different and can’t fault the energy from their front man. Shame their sound was awful.
Excellent light show, particularly the great Johnny king on the big screen.
As always, nice to catch up with everyone again.
See you in Manchester (flights permitting!)
8 November 2025
dic aberdaron
love it
8 November 2025
Nicholas Hatton
Seeing Johnny King at the show wasn’t on my bingo card
8 November 2025
Paul W
Great gig, great venue, great support, great energy (nearly 3 hours full on), loved it.
8 November 2025
Stringy Bob
Nigel, can you lend me a fiver?
8 November 2025
Problem chimp
Excellent gig, I’ve spent this morning explaining why I’m showing people photos of The Good Life cast.
8 November 2025
PROBLEM CHIMP
Great set another memorable evening, great cover. Happy that they did Jacks been to the National in the end and loved Monmore. Think they did Record Store Day as well?
8 November 2025
JD OGLOVES
Wow! Where to start? I’m not a big fan of gigs in Wolverhampton purely based on the miserable journey in however we found ourselves in the “designated” car park safely close to the gig. Quick walk to check out the venue then we headed to the Desi Yew Tree for a superb curry (big shout out to the guys at the Desi, the place got very busy very quickly and they seemed to cope pretty well). Great to meet Alan who shared our table and we talked all things HMHB and SLF! Atmosphere at the pub pre gig was brilliant so on to KK Steel Mill, an excellent venue and reasonably priced beers.
As for the gig itself, superb. Nigel was in good form, loved the stars of yester-year on screen, and the brilliant to hear some very old tracks…. starting number I Hate Nerys Hughes set the tone. Love the whole gig but, for me, the last four songs in encore were outstanding, I was hoarse and ready for a beer at the end.
Can’t wait for 2026 and the next gig. Brilliant!
8 November 2025
Lord Teflon
Great gig, of course. The band were on top form.
Wasn’t overly keen on the venue – the wide room, and pillars in the middle.
Stood near the back, the sound wasn’t great – music was good, but the vocals were often muffled.
Big shout out to the group of about 8 guys near us who talked/shouted through the whole gig …. Except for Trumptn Riots (the one they knew?).
Next time save £25 and go to the pub for a chat, eh?
8 November 2025
Alan
Jd Ogloves: No, thank you for accepting a loon on your table. Especially one who later reflected buying a shoplifted rotisserie chicken was something to be proud of! Cresta what were we thinking. Wished Tony happy birthday on Wolverhampton station. Anyone got 2 for manc (mate lacked urgency)? Maybe the premier inn taxi 3 – i ended up heading to the middle of nowhere for cash to pay our curacao driver!
8 November 2025
Fullpelt
Another triumph. Great venue ( a bit like Cardiff’s Tramshed ) and for once, we got there early enough to enjoy the support, get a great spot near the front near a fellow Welshman from Aberdare and watch a great show close up. How many people get to see their favourite band that close? When Nigel dropped his fiver my shout of “PumPund ar y llawr “ sadly went unnoticed. Setlist was fantastic, a pre gig musing about whether the cover song would be Slade was joyfully confirmed. Had a great curry in Jacks cafe bar handily located next to the venue before the gig so went in later and had a great chat with a couple about the gig, the HMHB fans are always good eggs. Said hello to Roger for the first time in a while too. Wolverhampton, still a great night out. One thing I would say is a change to the T shirts at the merch counter is well overdue, I would love to buy one but they’re not so great.
8 November 2025
POP-TART MARK
Well said about the t-shirts. Since Geoff stopped having a tasteful eye on the designs, the main colours are too garish, and even Steve Hardstaff’s wonderful album cover looks rubbish on red. Put it on black!
Every time I meet someone in the yellow/red spray ones I’m gladder then ever I don’t own one.
The Magritte one was an ace design I’d have loved to have owned if decent colours, but again the colours were wrong.
8 November 2025
Hendrix-tattoo
Cheers Alan for the birthday wishes. Sorry I couldn’t chat more with you, Due to my train arriving. Fingers crossed you get tickets for Manchester….
8 November 2025
Proudsalopian
What a great evening. Enjoyed Shanghai Treason, an energetic way to start the gig.
The HMHB setlist was superb. Apologies to all those people near me who were videoing, I have definitely ruined the soundtrack to each and every one of those videos with my “wonderful” singing.
8 November 2025
Munich
Myself & VE travelled from Ireland for the gig and it was so worth it! Excellent sound and the songs were really rocking, brilliant drumming. Nigel in top form as usual and it was 3 hours of tremendousness. 💯% CTS. Pity the lyrics of BW Anchorman aren’t ‘I’m cold and I’m hungry and I’m in Drogheda’ but I suppose it doesn’t rhyme with ‘walk’.
9 November 2025
Gizzard
Absolutely blooming marvellous gig.
I will add no more.
9 November 2025
Hemmed in by the Larch
For those interested in such things, they came on stage to Elgar’s Nimrod (Variation 9 of the Enigma Variations).
9 November 2025
GORDON BURNS
The backdrop screen has already been mentioned. What stuck in my mind was the death stare that Captain Mainwairing appeared to be giving us – more so than normal. This was due to a dead pixel right where his left pupil should have been. Quite unnerving until I realised what was causing it. There are some good pictures of it on the social media.
9 November 2025
HVOSM
On the t-shirts thing, I don’t mind a bit of variety with the colours, but agree the Asimov cover would look great on black. I have a general rule of not wearing the merch of the band I’m seeing, but instead wearing that of a band that’s somewhat adjacent to or referenced by the band that’s playing (or a band that references the band who’s playing). So for HMHB if I’m not wearing the DPAK it’ll be a Joy Division or Sleater-Kinney shirt, and for Pavement it was a Silver Jews one. When I went to see The Fall, I wore the HMHB road sign shirt.
9 November 2025
carrie anne
Roger’s review, from http://www.hmhb.co.uk , with thanks to Gez.
KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton, Fri 7th Nov 2025
Roger Green:
This being my two hundredth HMHB gig. I opened my account at The Leadmill in Sheffield. 2nd February 1986. I don’t know whether that feels like last week. Or does it seem like some pre-historic age? Either way, seeing the band take to the stage and opening up with Busy Little Market Town… That was some moment. And they have provided many such moments since then. Hopefully many more.
Great to see Andy with tales from his luxury flights and holiday around South America, including climbing Machu Picchu. He took a picture of himself on the mountain wearing a Four Lads Who Shook The Wirral tshirt. Like you do.
Bloomsbury Publishers run an imprint called 33 1/3. They produce small, almost pocket-sized books about a variety of albums which have been released throughout the years. One such book looks at Captain Beefheart’s Trout Mask Replica. HMHB get the briefest of mentions, in passing… “BBC DJ John Peel, who helped launch a number of new bands, from Half Man Half Biscuit to The Field Mice on his radio show, also contributed to the cheerleading, sending the record into the UK Top Fifty.” The book also references Blind Lemon Jefferson’s See That My Grave Is Kept Clean. As adapted by HMHB.
We were very sorry to miss Half Mandolin Half Biscuit when they rocked up in Edale. A Wednesday night in October in the Peak District was a bridge too far, but I’m sure we will catch them again soon. Maybe next time they could play a weekend afternoon gig, like they did earlier in the year?
A traffic calming scheme in Birkenhead appeared in the news. The road has been marked with what look like “giant Wotsits”. Now there’s an idea for the next album.
Rest In Peace, Stuart Boam, as featured in Bladderwrack Allowance, and as spotted at the gig in Stockton in 2013. I can remember him playing for Middlesbrough, and he also turned out for his local team, Mansfield Town at Field Mill, as well as managing the latter.
We have just passed the fiftieth anniversary of the little altercation between Francis Lee and Norman Hunter (1st November 1975) as immortalised on Persian Rug Sale At The URC. “Norman Hunter and Francis Lee are going toe-to-toe / Amongst the entrails of the slain.” Have a look for it on the internet if you’ve never seen the original battle.
Some previous HMHB support act news. The Humdrum Express has a new video out, called Masterpiece! (That’s Humdrum’s exclamation mark.) Also, we heard that Zinney from Sonnenberg had a recent medical episode. Get well soon.
We had a grand afternoon in Sheffield seeing fellow HMHB fan Peter Ross plugging his latest book, going by the title of Upon A White Horse, detailing his journeys through the UK and Ireland. An initial flick through suggests it is at his usual high standard. I’ll get stuck into that when I finish Ever Fallen In Love which deals with the life of the late Pete Shelley. There are some fine books round and about.
Also in Sheffield we saw Bow Wow Wow giving it another go. My understanding is that a couple of guys from the original band set up their own rival operation. The band that we saw had Annabella at the front. All good stuff, although they left I Want Candy off the set, along with Chihuahua, their best song to my ears.
Our non-HMHB gig-going continues to chug along. We went to see The Lovely Eggs at The Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. Sounds like they might not be on stage again until 2027. Of course they might not be to everyone’s taste, but there seems to be a fair number of Biscuiteers who also appreciate this band. We met Jo and Nigel from Goole at this show, as well as Cath Aubergine and Nick. And we were aware that Dr Desperate, Postman Tony and Steve A were also going to see them at other venues on the tour.
On the day of our jaunt to Birmingham, we had a tidy journey from Wakefield Westgate. It was reported that there were “animals on the line” near Leeds. It didn’t impact us, fortunately. You just hope that the animals were not affected too much. Horses? Cows? Sheep? Or possibly McCalliog’s hens deep into an investigation? On the subject, apparently there was a punter at the gig who was dressed as a chicken.
No mention of tonight’s show in Metro. Although Deacon Blue got a shout out in the Wolverhampton Express And Star. Following in the footsteps of HMHB, they are playing in Llangollen next July.
Around these parts, HMHB used to appear regularly at Bilston’s The Robin 2. Nowadays they are less settled. The Robin 2 is still operating. A glance online showed that “That’s So 90’s!” were appearing there in direct opposition to HMHB. Tickets still available. We weren’t sure about the apostrophe in 90’s, but no matter. Oh yeah, and I still miss the Major chippy, just up the road.
Our first spotting of a Biscuiteer was Andrew, in the reception at the Premier Inn. He had been for a look round the Wolves ground. Has to be done. There were a few Biscuiteers staying at the hotel. We met Steve and Emmy in the corridor.
Big thanks to Andrew for being our navigator from our digs to the venue. I suspect that Karen, Phil and I would have got lost without the homing device on Andrew’s phone. Having made our way to the Steel Mill, two guys turned up who were looking for The Yew Tree, being the pub where there was a gathering of fans. A lengthy queue (by HMHB standards) formed outside the venue. Alex and Lynn were just behind us, along with a few folk wearing Shanghai Treason colours, being tonight’s support band.
More folk arrived. Gilly, Daisy, Rob, Andy, Kim and John. Then came Tony and Lorna (“It took us fuckin’ ages”), who had driven in from Moseley. Inside the venue, I had a quick chat with Miles on the merch stall, before Chris and Ian from Cardiff, and Steve and Sue turned up. And there was a belated sixtieth birthday congratulation to Postman Tony.
Some fine tunes were to be heard before the bands started. Boredom. Top Of The Pops. News Of The World. Get A Grip. Staring At The Rude Boys.
Then, Shanghai Treason did their set. All good stuff. A bit heavier than you might expect from a HMHB support. And certainly more high-kicking than you would normally see. At the end of the evening, I spoke to a couple of the lads from the band. They are from my part of the world (they describe themselves as “Yorkshire Banjo Punk”). I’ll try and keep an eye on where they might be playing. I also bought a couple of their CDs. In due course, I’ll be annoying the neighbours with them. Thanks to Daisy for showing us her copy of their handwritten set-list.
Bones
Dirty Works
Hangman
Emerald
Gatling
Lighthouse
Gatekeeper
Bullet
Pallbearer
Tenterhooks
Penny
Drowning
Freeman
There were more Hellos. Mo, Welsh John, Brian, Ian Humdrum, Mike (at his 221st Biscuit gig – keeping me in silver medal position, unless someone can tell me different), Chris R and Laure. Sorry if I missed anyone. Howie and Gomez were latecomers. I’m still wondering if it might be best to draw up a sort of school register and then tick names off. It would have been useful to have a similar thing for all the celebs whose photos appeared on the backdrop through the course of the show…
Edward Elgar provided the walk-on music, with the tried and trusted Nimrod, part of Enigma Variations. And the gig had a new feature. The backdrop featured shots of various celebrities, alternating as the show went on. Through the course of the gig there was Patricia Routledge, Pauline Collins, Blanche Hunt from Coronation Street, Clive Swift, Johnny King, Ken Goodwin, Ken Dodd, Poly Styrene, Inspector Cyril Blake, Andrew Irvine, Wilfred Owen, Victor Meldrew, Stirling Moss, Mrs Doubtfire, Mike Reid (accompanied by Nigel shouting “Runaround! Now!”), Ronnie Corbett (with Nigel’s observation that “he always used to wear two pairs of trousers when he was playing golf. In case he got a hole in one.”), Albert Arkwright, the Walmington-On-Sea Home Guard (“Harold Bennett was in Dad’s Army. He also played Mr Grace in Are You Being Served?”), René and Edith from Allo Allo (“I never watched it. I didn’t trust him because he spelled his name as Gorden”), Jim Bowen, the cast of Fawlty Towers, Cilla Black, Barry Sheene, George Best, a collection of Carry On characters, John Candy, Noddy Holder, Greggs, Ozzy Osbourne, Nora Batty and finally the Goods and the Leadbetters from The Good Life.
Nigel got a bottle of water out of a Morrisons carrier. “I’ve got a Tesco club card in my pocket,” he said. “We went to the Greggs on Cannock Road. There was a dog grooming place nearby called The Hairy Dogmother. This reminded Nigel of a grooming place near to them on The Wirral called Oh My Dog.
There was a technical issue on the stage. “Can Carl have a bit more of Karl in his monitor?” It means something to somebody. Nigel referred to his bottle of Harrogate water. He went to a hologram exhibition once in Harrogate but didn’t go in Betty’s Tea Rooms. At first the band had bottles which were flimsy, and the tops wouldn’t screw back on. “They were probably made by this next character,” he said, before the band struck up with Awkward Sean.
A couple of five-pound notes dropped out of Nigel’s pocket. “I go to an ATM which still throws out fivers,” he said. “They only have the Queen’s head on the notes because that way, you can’t count ‘er feet.” (That joke possibly works better verbally, rather than being written down).
“Anyone in from Wakeley Hill?” asked Nigel. “Do you know John?” When Ken Goodwin appeared on the screen at the back of the stage, Nigel said Goodwin’s stock phrase “Settle down now.” He said the two greatest comedians are Ken and Stewart Lee. He told Ken’s joke about the dead horse in Piccadilly Gardens. Best to look it up on Google rather than explain it here. I’m Getting Buried In The Morning was introduced as “A song about being on Death Row. Just to cheer things up a bit.”
The only celebrity spot of the evening was “Denise Lewis, ladies and gentlemen. Did you sort out that air fryer? Just leave everything on 200 degrees for twenty minutes.” Monmore Hare’s Running was given a brief introduction… “This is a local song.”
On at least one previous occasion, Nigel has told a joke about a conspiracy theorist going to heaven. It’s another one I’m likely to get wrong… This was followed up with a couple of tried and tested lightbulb jokes. How many folk singers does it take to change a lightbulb? 100, one to change it, and the other 99 to sing about how good the old bulb was. How many A&R people does it take to change a lightbulb? Can I get back to you on that one…? You don’t get this with Newton Faulkner or Tim Minchin, we were told.
Nigel wished Postman Tony a Happy Birthday. One of those landmark numbers. Wish we could have been there for the celebrations, but we are on the wrong side of the hills.
When the band first started, Neil began to keep a scrapbook, but he gave up after about three weeks. The only things in it were photos from a 1984 gig at the Little Theatre, Birkenhead.
The caravan guitar came out for the encore, but only lasted for the first song, Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus. Apparently, it’s very uncomfortable to play the instrument. He thought the band might stop on the A483 on the way home and bury it using Neil’s shovel. When Nigel mentioned Wrexham, there were boos from the crowd. He said he wasn’t that bothered about the rivalry, and he thought that Arfon Griffiths was a good player.
The final HMHB gig of a year is usually a bit later than this. Perhaps 7th November was a bit too early for a rendition of It’s Cliched To Be Cynical At Christmas. Maybe at Manchester, eh?
Karl had already promised his set list to someone else, so I can’t check whether or not that fits with what was actually played. But this is how it went…
I Hate Nerys Hughes (From The Heart)
She’s In Broadstairs
Goodbye Sam Hello Samaritans
Bob Wilson Anchorman
Awkward Sean
Record Store Day
The Bastard Son Of Dean Friedman
The Best Things In Life (slippers bit)
Birmos In The Cowshed
Sealclubbing
I’m Getting Buried In The Morning
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel (Is The Light Of An Oncoming Train)
Every Time A Bell Rings
The Bane Of Constance
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
Everything’s AOR
McCalliog And His Hens
Monmore Hare’s Running
The Bliss Of The Hereafter
Terminus
Vatican Broadside
The Unfortunate Gwatkin
The Trumpton Riots
Possible Side Effects
We Built This Village On A Trad Arr Tune
National Shite Day
Joy Division Oven Gloves
And in the encore…
Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus
Jack’s Been To The National
Mama Weer All Crazee Now
Oblong Of Dreams
More greetings at the end of the evening to Graham Le Taxi, Wayne and the guy in the Nervous Twitch tshirt. It was another fair toddle after the show for the Biscuit Walking Club. Thanks again to Andrew for navigating. That’s it then for 2025. See everyone again in 2026.
9 November 2025
Hendrix-tattoo
That was super dooper, Roger. You’re a national treasure….👏👏👏👏
9 November 2025
Floreat ultonia
Thanks all for detail. I live locally but missed for health reasons
9 November 2025
Floreat ultonia
In reply to post 26 some County Louth lyrics
Cold and hungry stranded by the Boyne
Can’t board abus there I’ve got no coin
9 November 2025
EXXO
For those who weren’t there, it needs to be emphasised that the novelty of the slideshow potential behind them was something NB had become aware of “ten minutes before the show,” and said he had thought “why not?” and just had time to tell the slideshow operator (I hope he was called ‘Bob’) a few random ideas. it might have been longer than 10 minutes of course as NB would naturally underplay everything, but it wasn’t meticulously planned. So some were his heroes, many of them local, many of them comedy, some were irrelevant images chosen by association by some ‘Slideshow Bob’ who was a bit too keen and didn’t discriminate between shite & good comedy, and some were that operator’s spontaneous comments on what was being spoken about on stage. So when NB dropped two fivers from his pocket (probably reaching for the toothpick in his arse again, someone shouted), there were fivers on screen a minute later, when NB showed his ASDA bag (“show us yer crisps!”) there was an ASDA bag ninety seconds or so later: it was different, yes, but you didn’t miss much if you weren’t there.
I didn’t notice Stirling Moss if he was there in the slide show, Roger, but did notice Juan Miguel Fangio with the Argentine ensign on the rear fin of his silver Maserati/Ferrari/Whatever it was (I might know, but that’s not cool so will pretend I don’t). I thought it might be Stirling Moss for a split second, till I saw the flag and thought about the flashy car. Stirling Moss was a pall-bearer at the apparent GOAT’s funeral in 1995.
Thereby lies the other main problem with the slide-show. It was an entertaining novelty for a while, but if it happened regularly, or even thrice, all the shouting out would become tedious. Some of us had an automatic reflex to shout out about the ones we loved, the ones who perhaps are not often honoured on the rock ‘n’ roll stage. When someone sang “one Sandy Irvine, there’s only one Sandy Irvine,” well played to the woman who turned round and congratulated him sarcastically on his counting ability (although he was pleased that this drew NB’s attention to who was then portrayed behind him, and NB then introduced young Sandy to the audience). When that audience member did the same for Wilfred Owen, she thought better of it, and NB then asked Neil if he should recite some Owen lines over Neil’s doom-laden strings, but the bassman wasn’t arsed.
Then, because many of the images had not been chosen by NB, but were just random eighties shite by association from the person operating it, you get people shouting about crap like ‘Allo, ‘Allo or ‘One Foot in the Grave,’ which NB said he’d never really even seen, or booing the images of ‘Carry On.’ Alright once, but too much pantomime potential, and has the potential to reinforce the clichéd outsider’s view of HMHB as the post-punk Grumbleweeds or Barron Knights. It was a gig with a couple of agreeable differences from the norm, but I doubt either will be repeated. On a personal note, both of those differences (the nature of the support act and the slideshow) contributed to the relatively late finish time, compared to recent gigs, and my legs are still aching as a result from the dash to the station.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget the walk-on and opening of this show. Nigel sat down on the drum riser, really contemplative, perhaps about those who have passed, waiting for the sublime harmonies of ‘Nimrod’ to fate, and rose to his feet rather unsteadily, before a brilliant new working of the intro to an outstanding version of ‘Nerys Hughes.’
Outstanding gig all round, and superb reportage as ever from Roger, for which much gratitude and hat-tips. As ever I shall have to do more than cap-doffs, eye-contact, smiles, nods, thumbs etc to answer your roll-call next time. And, no I don’t think any fans are ahead of Mike C. on his 221 not out now, and I bet he’s glad he’s counted. I know I haven’t, and can only wildly guesstimate at c. 165-170. I started 3 days behind you in 1986, but I bet I was ahead of you for a good few years from spring 1986 onwards. What a ride, as our opening batter Greasby Shark (who started 1/11/1985) recently commented.
10 November 2025
Johnny Kwango
@Exxo
Defo was Stirling Moss, sir; please see:
https://www.goodwood.com/grr/race/historic/sir-stirling-moss-to-be-honoured-at-westminster-abbey/
11 November 2025
dic aberdaron
yeah! that pic too………..(in b&w)
11 November 2025
EXXO
OK, thanks. In Fangio’s car, though?
11 November 2025
EXXO
Turns out yes, it was in Fangio’s car at the 2011 Fangio-themed Goodwood Festival of Speed. Soz yes I got drawn from Moss’ face to Fangio’s flag and then mis-remembered the face after.
11 November 2025
Johnny kwango
First lot of videos from Friday night (I hope this is the appropriate place to post this message). Will endeavour to add further videos tomorrow.
I Hate Nerys Hughes + She’s In Broadstairs
https://youtu.be/asDELiLNRJY?si=uctHms8xMKRuIF7_
Goodbye Sam, Hello Samaritans
https://youtu.be/0VJp_imPaVU?si=eJq8mwAPFYoImOE_
Record Store Day
https://youtu.be/-zleYiHTqb4?si=0NdzwKksJQ0HEzGy
Dean Friedman + Best Things (Slipper)
https://youtu.be/H8zM4Rpd45I?si=5O2iLuw0bbf8BG5j
Birmos In The Cowshed
https://youtu.be/9Vd0BNirVhk?si=lpeaQtNI_W3S4kWL
Sealclubbing
https://youtu.be/5smuDnZ_QMY?si=eWpX8ZZBVk2ht1-1
TLATEOTT (ITLOAOT)
https://youtu.be/tUmn3HnKeAI?si=BsRBghD9DleFzJkp
The Bane Of Constance
https://youtu.be/_hVAFeySg-s?si=6dyYgztAYyR4Cel9
Any issues please let me know – ta.
11 November 2025
Tony Taylor
#11 Just Another Lackey – lovely to meet you, Sarah. It was another great night, as seems to be the overwhelming consensus. Slightly disappointed NB didn’t ‘spot’ a notable Wolverhampton citizen in the audience – my pre-gig guess was 70s footballer Steve Kindon, if you remember!
11 November 2025
eric t'viking
A Slade song, and Barry Sheene – it’s like my youth revisited…
Gutted that I missed out on that one, but glad to read everyone enjoyed it.
11 November 2025
EXXO
I trained Steve Kindon’s lad as to be an English teacher, about 25 years ago. Lovely lad, credit to his legend of a dad.
Around that time, I also trained Sally from Cinerama (anyone from the old HMHB yahoo group will remember I went on about this somewhat obsessively at the time).
11 November 2025
POP-TART MARK
@Munich (26)
Here’s one, pronouncing “Drogheda” as many locals do, “DRAW-duh,” so rhyming with “order,” etc.
“I’m cold and I’m hungry and I’m lost near Drogheda
I’d declare my genius if I could find the border.”
13 November 2025
Floreat ultonia
Drogheda means Bridge Ford more or less. Dundalk is nearer the border
13 November 2025
dr DEsperate
“I’m cold and I’m hungry and I’m in Dún Laoghaire
I’ve gotta walk but I feel so waoghaire
Oh Mr. Laoghaire, I feel so draoghaire
Where be my karma, man?”
13 November 2025
Johnny kwango
All remaining videos now uploaded. Full list reproduced here for ease of use. As ever, any issues please let me know. Fred Titmus was automatically bumped to “Age Restricted” …
I Hate Nerys Hughes + She’s In Broadstairs
https://youtu.be/asDELiLNRJY?si=uctHms8xMKRuIF7_
Goodbye Sam, Hello Samaritans
https://youtu.be/0VJp_imPaVU?si=eJq8mwAPFYoImOE_
Record Store Day
https://youtu.be/-zleYiHTqb4?si=0NdzwKksJQ0HEzGy
Dean Friedman + Best Things (Slipper)
https://youtu.be/H8zM4Rpd45I?si=5O2iLuw0bbf8BG5j
Birmos In The Cowshed
https://youtu.be/9Vd0BNirVhk?si=lpeaQtNI_W3S4kWL
Sealclubbing
https://youtu.be/5smuDnZ_QMY?si=eWpX8ZZBVk2ht1-1
TLATEOTT (ITLOAOT)
https://youtu.be/tUmn3HnKeAI?si=BsRBghD9DleFzJkp
Bane Of Constance
https://youtu.be/_hVAFeySg-s?si=6dyYgztAYyR4Cel9
McCalliog And His Hens
https://youtu.be/Pp1L1uKEk5k?si=rGviaOxCJ0O_m41k
Monmore, Hare’s Running
https://youtu.be/DZvZOqZOShM?si=NRZ-i3dwY7uRZ9-g
The Bliss Of The Hereafter
https://youtu.be/t0iDzadd5d8?si=bQjnTb7c6Eo7a3sj
Vatican Broadside + The Unfortunate Gwatkin
https://youtu.be/xsx-So7pXoo?si=H7ZpUrLfp0HbFiCE
The Trumpton Riots
https://youtu.be/-z-P349AKqk?si=uw_N7pYfxNLR8Qz6
Possible Side Effects
https://youtu.be/Q4tqkAwAKIs?si=AHQpnqgoS92b97Ic
Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus
https://youtu.be/zrz8vO9Rx6o?si=vLxCFZ_uoLFt5ese
Mama Weer All Crazee Now
https://youtu.be/DGNa_MIHR7E?si=Sgfji4C2yS89pZ9X
13 November 2025
twistedkitemike
@Problem Chimp #18.
You are quite right, they did do RSD. Well spotted. I was getting weary at that stage and an error was inevitable.
Lucky, Roger is totally reliable and I would never doubt his and his team’s recall.
Mike……………….
13 November 2025
Transit full of Keith
Watched the Birmos in the Cowsheds video, can’t unsee Ken Goodwin’s Carl Henry tie.
13 November 2025
DEMIBISQUEE
Elgar was a Wolves fan btw, if it has not already been mentioned.
There was less choice in those days mind you.
Soooo glad I didn’t make that connection and spoil my perfect hero to zero, LFC style competition trajectory.
13 November 2025
Pirx The Purist
“No spellcheck or any such dudbright
Could help a young Saxon from Nudbright.
He thought he would davie
When he heard of Milngavie,
So he ran off to live in Kirkcudbright”
13 November 2025
JED THE HUMANOID
Well for a first HMHB gig that was right up there. My very first gig was Slade in full uniform with a gang of schoolmates so what a treat to hear them played. New venue as well the only reasons previously to visit Wolverhampton have been the away end at the Custard Bowl and the West Park Parkrun. I consumed the new album on repeat and then chose around 20 earlier tracks in the hope that I might be familiar with half of the set having seen the comments on here and knowing that on this occasion Setlist FM would not be my friend.
Loved the gig, the energy, the crowd and the atmosphere and Shanghai Treason weren’t bad. The screen was an added bonus and hopefully I’ll be better prepared for a gig next year.
Bizarrely I’m making my first ever trip to Birkenhead tomorrow to see Anna B Savage.
19 November 2025
Persian rug vendor
I’ve just seen this Epiphone Airscreamer Trailer Park Troubadours Airstream Guitar on Ebay for £465.70, I wonder if Nigel is trying to offload his, he didn’t seem very impressed with it!
1 February 2026