Half Man Half Biscuit

Career Outline

 * Half Man Half Biscuit are a completely uncategorisable band, often lumped in te 'indie' category but encompassing a wide variety of styles from country to folk and even grindcore, but always with a keen sense of parody and centred around Nigel Blackwell's pin-sharp lyrics and uncanny ability for earthy satirical humour. They were formed in Birkenhead in 1983: complete knowledge of the background to their songs involves, basically, being British, a devotee of UK daytime TV (in particular children's programmes of the 70s and 80s), a football fan (they are fanatical fans of Tranmere Rovers FC and once turned down an opportunity to appear on Channel 4's legendary show 'The Tube' in order to attend a Tranmere fixture), and the willingness to have 60s rock classics subverted in the cause of laughter.2.jpg
 * Members were/are: Nigel Blackwell (vocals, rhythm guitar); his brother Simon Blackwell (lead guitar), replaced by Ken Hancock; Neil Crossley (bass); David Lloyd (keyboards), who left in 1993; and Paul Wright (drums), replaced by Carl Henry. Eschewing the temptations of the music industry, they split in 1986 (so that Nigel could go back on the dole and spend more time watching daytime TV), only to reform in 1990, publicly announcing this on the Peel Show. They have recorded for the same label, Probe Plus, throughout their career.

Links To Peel

 * John's love for the band is well-known: he once said that the programme received more requests for their songs through emails and messages than any other group.

Lists

 * Half Man Half Biscuit: Festive Fifty Entries
 * Half Man Half Biscuit: Sessions
 * Half Man Half Biscuit: Show Appearances (Excluding Sessions)