Nigel Proktor

Nigel Proktor first met Howard Devoto in 1979.  In King George’s Hall, Blackburn. In his hometown. Howard was performing. Nigel had paid good money to watch.  He was 17. Howard 27. Simple Minds kicked off proceedings that night.  It remains one of the best gigs he has seen . . . and he’s seen a fair few over the years. Nigel and Howard promptly went their separate ways thereafter. Only to reconnect under Malcolm Garrett’s roof in Shoreditch, London in 1988.  Nigel then designing records sleeves and Howard concocting book ideas.  Later, recording Luxuria’s second album, Beast Box, in Dave Formula’s Strongroom Studio in the same joint. They parted again only to rejoin in 2008, readying themselves for the 2009 Magazine reunion shows. Howard was again performing, but this time Nigel was taking care of business. Which he does to this day from his base camp at the foothills of The Shard in London Bridge.