Half Man Half Biscuit - Avoiding Proper Work

Half Man Half Biscuit are my favourite band. I have celebrated their last two albums by setting myself writing challenges, including writing ten offal-related stories ahead of their Urge For Offal LP.

The band were turned down by Tony Wilson's Factory Records and seemed destined to remain unsigned, until they were given a contract by local record store owner Geoff Davies. All 13 Half Man Half BIscuit albums have been release on Davies' Probe Plus label, a label happy to put up with Nigel Blackwell's aversion to promoting his records, including on one occasion turning down slot on Channel 4's The Tube as he had tickets for a Tranmere Rovers home game.

Davies would often man the merchandise stand at the band's gigs, and this shirt was one I bought off him at a Cambridge gig a few years ago. In July this year Davies announced that he is retiring, after 40 years, 76 albums and 36 singles Probe Plus has released it's last title.

A glorious forty years spent avoiding proper work (and on at least one occasion the bailiffs). May he long enjoy his retirement.