Nige Tassell
@nigetassell.bsky.social
Paperback writer. Latest book – Truly Gifted Kids: A Book About A Band Called Prefab Sprout Five stars – Mojo 'A beautiful thing' – Tim Burgess 'Charming, compassionate and utterly entertaining' – Mirror 'A terrific book' – Mark Ellen
I think autocorrect has changed the McAloon religion, but I know what you mean.
Mark Mckay@markmckay71.bsky.social · yesterdayBecause of @nigetassell.bsky.social excellent book Truly Gifted Kids I’ve been listening to a lot of Prefab Sprout lately. The album that I’ve enjoyed the most is Protestant Songs. I loved it when it came out and I think it might be my favourite.
Rare session version of Appetite played on 6 Music earlier. 57 minutes in. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Craig Charles - The weekend's nearly here... So it's time to Down Tools! - BBC Sounds
Craig is giving YOU permission to start the party early... That's right, let's Down Tools.
bbc.co.uk
RIP Richard O'Sullivan. Such sad news. This is what Lawrence said about the great man (plus @junkshopper.bsky.social) in the NME in 1992. Listen to Denim's version of the Robin's Nest theme, which was written by Richard, at: ▶️ youtu.be/NarL1RXtvBI
We once wanted to quote a lyric from a Sting song in an episode of Veep. Just one of our characters saying one line. We decided against it when the licensing (for lyrics and no music) came in at $48,000. That’s over ten years ago.
Blake Morrison on what it cost him (not his publisher) to include lines from pop lyrics in his 2007 novel South of the River.
It's been eons since I've written a review on Goodreads (because come on), but I wrote one for @nigetassell.bsky.social's "Truly Gifted Kids: A Book About a Band Called Prefab Sprout." Looks like you have to be signed in, though. www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
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“Wow, a small plane must have crashed into the World Trade Centre.” Great piece, about 9/11 and the weird and confusing seventeen minutes between “accident” and “attack”.
Garrett M. Graff@vermontgmg.bsky.social · 5d agoHistory says the 9/11 attacks began at 8:46 a.m.—but that's not how most, from NYC officeworkers to the President, experienced it. Instead, the "attack" begins at 9:03, when we saw the second plane strike. I wrote abt the fascinating 17 minutes in between: www.nationalgeographic.com/history/grap...
Just finished @nigetassell.bsky.social book on my old loves Prefab Sprout. A love letter I enjoyed gate crashing. Best thing about it is digging out those wonderful records. A lovely book about a great band. @wendredasmith.bsky.social
The book's been on its travels – Croatia, Tasmania and now Nashville. Albuquerque anyone?
A few of my babies there.
Ian Collings@bookamatic.bsky.social · 5d agoFor those that follow the sort of clubs that have decided to have a “quiet one” on Transfer Deadline Day, might I recommend the fantastic “BOOT SALE” by @nigetassell.bsky.social It’s got all the twists, turns and trivial to fill the gaps left by our clubs’ lack of £££’s #Booksky #DeadlineDay
For those that follow the sort of clubs that have decided to have a “quiet one” on Transfer Deadline Day, might I recommend the fantastic “BOOT SALE” by @nigetassell.bsky.social It’s got all the twists, turns and trivial to fill the gaps left by our clubs’ lack of £££’s #Booksky #DeadlineDay
Alex Jones@alexnljones.bsky.social · 5d ago👀 A closer look at #itfc’s possible #PremierLeague squad following Stuart Watson’s transfer deadline day update… 👇 www.kingsofanglia.com/sport/ipswic...
In Three Weeks… @graemethomson.bsky.social on TALK TALK Only a few tickets left www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1993603354...
GRAEME THOMSON: In Another World: The Four Seasons Of Talk Talk
Talk Talk through the lens of acclaimed author Graeme Thomson. High quality album playback of Laughing Stock, Q&A and signing.
eventbrite.co.uk
Just finished this morning. @nigetassell.bsky.social did a tremendous job with this book! It feels conversational and familiar, without leaving out crucial detail that Sprouts nerds would miss. I’m planning a full discography relisten soon, and this will be my guide.
chad mo b there@chadmobthere.com · last wk.Ten chapters in and loving it! Strongly recommend to any Sprouts fan. If you’re in the US, Blackwell’s offers free shipping - mine came in a sturdy cardboard mailer via USPS.
I’m halfway through this wonderful book by @nigetassell.bsky.social that pulls off the fantastic trick of telling me loads of things that I didn’t know without stripping away any of the mystery surrounding Paddy McAloon and Prefab Sprout #MusicSky #BookSky
@nigetassell.bsky.social Per fi ha arribat#trulygiftedkids ! Amb moltes ganes d’endinsar-me dins del llibre… Llarga vida als #prefabsprout Li posarem música de fons… youtu.be/xFrFe2yvtQQ?si…
Refreshing to read a rock biography where the excess that brings everything to a halt at the peak of the band’s success turns out to be an addiction to cycling.
If you've bought, read and liked Truly Gifted Kids, aside from buying another copy for the Sprout fan in your life, please leave a review online. They REALLY make a difference. Thank you.
Prompted by autocorrect, who fancies a game of Make An Indie-Pop Musician More Suburban? I'll start with David Hedge.
Truly Gifted Kids is just outside the Top 100 bestsellers on Blackwell's chart. Feel free to help it to get down among the double figures. Free shipping worldwide! blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
Truly Gifted Kids
A celebration of a much-cherished pop group and a long-overdue companion to their unique musical output.
blackwells.co.uk
A double header treat focused on writing the biographies of Talk Talk & Prefab Sprout - both with infamously private, reclusive front men Join authors @nigetassell.bsky.social and @graemethomson.bsky.social at #Louder2026. 12.15pm Sat 14 Nov Manchester Tickets: tinyurl.com/y583xuhf
He’s got his thumbs up so it’s all going to be FINE!
I honestly can't recall a more succinct, on-the-nail summation of Paddy's craft than that by Kim Wilde in The Quietus.
