Hell Fire Books is David Barraclough and Nigel Proktor.
DAVID BARRACLOUGH
David has worked in publishing for over thirty years, always in the area of popular culture. Largely music, film and TV, but also art and design and graphic novels.
He spent the last 15 years at Omnibus Press, becoming Publishing Director for the company.
During that time David worked with many highly respected film-makers and musicians. Just a few highlights would include Stan Winston, Patrick Macnee, Peter Cushing, Ian Hunter, Don Powell, Wayne Hussey, Thunder, Barry Adamson, Robert Forster, Sylvain Sylvain, Brian and Eddie Holland, Jimmy Webb, Steve Diggle, Graham Fellows, Rick Buckler…
He has also had two books on film (Movie Record Breakers and Hollywood Heaven) published and contributed to a number of publications, so understands the process from both the publisher’s and the author’s perspective.
NIGEL PROKTOR
Nigel started his professional trajectory in the mid-eighties as a record sleeve designer, working alongside Malcolm Garrett as part of the influential Assorted iMaGes design studio.
He worked with Eurythmics, David Bowie, Brian Eno, Duran Duran, Hugh Cornwell, Sinead O’Connor to touch upon a few.
Thereafter his journey took him deeper into other facets of the music industry including publishing, promotion, film, radio and television production, and artist management.
He has been taking care of business and nurturing the legacy of Howard Devoto and the other members of Magazine since the turn of the century.
He currently also advises John McKay (Siouxsie and The Banshees), Andy Blade (Eater); Mark Laff (Generation X); and all the Buzzcocks (bar Steve Diggle) on navigating the pitfalls and building upon punk rock legacies.
The genesis –
David and Nigel first worked together in 2021 on the authorised biography of John McGeoch – the influential post-punk guitarist of Magazine, Siouxsie & The Banshees and Public Image Ltd. – written by Rory Sullivan-Burke.
The Light Pours Out Of Me was published as a hardback, alongside a special limited edition, signed by the author and key contributors and contained within a slipcase alongside an exclusive 7” vinyl record.
The slipcase sold out in two weeks. The standard issue hardback was reprinted and went on to sell 8000 copies. It now is available as a paperback and an e-book. ‘A hit’ in publishing terms.
These numbers were achieved in no small part by galvanising the Magazine, Siouxsie & The Banshees and Public Image Ltd. fan bases across all social media platforms, and generating a formidable press campaign.