Neil James Thompson is a professional contemporary songwriter and media personality, who first became hooked on the craft of writing great songs in the 1970s.
He has since appeared on TV, and on radio on many occasions and has presented one-man theatre shows.
It all began when he was at home bored as a fourteen-year-old. He decided to check out his parents record collection hoping to find something to capture his attention:
I came across a Hollies album and put it on the turntable – it instantly had an effect on me, I felt inspired and uplifted and I knew I’d found something that I wanted to do: songwriting!
Firstly, he started writing pages and pages of lyrics, the logical next step was to take up guitar and over the years that followed was now writing lyrics and music. New ideas were born as bass guitar and keyboard playing were added to his musical CV.
The songs I write come from my two writing personas: Mr Blackflock and Mr Shakesby.
When I write I can never be sure who will be directing my inspiration. Mr Blackflock is the dark persona, and as a result the songs that are ‘received’ or channelled through him are often sad, sometimes angry, evoking a veritable storm of deep, swirling emotions.
On the other hand, songs that come through Mr Shakesby are more positive and uplifting; offering hope and light. Just to make things more complicated there are songs where these two mysterious gentlemen collaborate and share the writing credits