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In Memoriam: Nidge Blitz (-2007)

Contributed by dbapunx. Posted by aubin on Monday, February 12, 2007 at 10:00 AM (EST)

Nidge Blitz, founding guitarist/songwriter from long-running British punk/oi! act Blitz was tragically killed on Friday night. According to numerous reports, Nidge was struck by a car and killed on a highway outside of Austin, Texas. Nidge and his bandmates were in the midst of a 21 day tour, with just two days left.

The booking agents responsible for the tour had this to say in his memory:

We cannot speak highly of Nidge enough. He had no interest in the 'business' of punk. He was never concerned about how much money the band was getting paid nightly. He was more concerned with details like if the show was all ages and that the ticket price wasn't too high. He loved playing for the fans and it's a shame that his life has been cut so short, he will be missed.

Blitz enjoyed success in England in the early 1980s and more recently their music was covered by both Rancid and the Distillers.

Our deepest condolences to Nidge's family, friends and fans.

News (63 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. Seriously.

Someone (February 12, 2007)

ahh, fuck.

Dante3000 (rich) (February 12, 2007)

Woah...They literally just came through here a week or two ago and I passed on the show. That's a real tragedy.
-Dante

2+ Replies

MikeStupid (February 12, 2007)

Same here. Now I really regret doing whatever the fuck else I did that night.

RIP

mnx12 (February 12, 2007)

Yeah, I just barely saw them too. A little strange...really sad

Someone (February 12, 2007)

Drivers in Texas suck so bad. It's not surprising that someone got run over.

4+ Replies

Someone (February 12, 2007)

ditto.

Someone (February 12, 2007)

From what I understand, he was running onto the highway completely wasted.

Someone (February 12, 2007)

you took the words right out of my mouth.

Someone (February 12, 2007)

Well, first of all, there are bad drivers EVERYWHERE , so don't go blaming it on us Texans. Second of all, he WAS completely wasted and tried to cross an on-ramp for I-35, and since it's really short and comes right off 6th street (where Emo's and all the other "legendary" Austin stuff is), he probably didn't even have time to think before he got hit. It's definitely tragic, but could have easily been avoided. I-35 passes OVER 6th street, and there are plenty of crosswalks and sidewalks there that he could have taken. Being from somewhere outside of Austin and drunk, it's understandable. It's just too bad it had to happen.

Someone (February 12, 2007)

Yeah, that's what I heard.

Someone (February 12, 2007)

It's best to blame everything on Texas.

Someone (February 12, 2007)

seriously, fuck texas. it's nothing but flat land with ugly white trash chicks.

Someone (February 13, 2007)

Dude, I moved to Texas from Florida...you wanna talk about fuck one of the states?? FL is flatter AND more white trash.

Someone (February 14, 2007)

Fuck texas, keep your excuses to yourself. stick to horses and leave the cars to people from the north.

Someone (February 14, 2007)

I moved from NY to Austin after 30 years and let me tell you it is the best. NY is always gonna be home, but until you've visited TX there is no way you can fly the 'it's flat and full of white trash' banner...there are mountains and a lake 20 minutes from my house, the women are all tattooed, intelligent and amazing, the movie theater serves beer and shows free horror movies every week at midnight, and there are 70 music venues in 12 square blocks, all with free parking, mostly all ages and $2 beers in the clubs. All of that aside, I haven't even come close to seeing or being in a fight at a show here in the past 16 months. People actually support the punk shows, and my house costs 65% less than a house up north for double the size. Long story short, people should travel more before talking shit about things they know nothing about. The reason I missed Blitz that nig

show rest of comment

Someone (February 15, 2007)

This message paid for by the City of Austin propaganda committee.

JTAltercation (February 20, 2007)

how's that NY snowing treating you, buddy? Bet you're missing the alamo drafthouse about now.
- Chamber of Awesome Commerce

Someone (February 21, 2007)

There's Austin, and then there's TX. Austin is more like California. Once you leave Austin, then it's all YEEEEEEEEEEE HAWWWWWW.

If you want to talk about Flat, go to Oklahoma. O_o

Austin is a "big small town" not a big city. So we got crazy big city drives and small town slow-non-paying-attention drivers. You think drivers are bad here, go to Houston or Los Angeles. At least we use turn signals and don't jump from the far left land ALLLL the way to the far right lane.

Someone (February 12, 2007)

it's a shame

wearestillalive (February 12, 2007)

Punk just died a little. RIP and goodbye.

joeg (February 12, 2007)

what a tragic way to die. rip dude.

Someone (February 12, 2007)

One of the greatest punk bands ever! This is a sad day. R.I.P.

Someone (February 12, 2007)

And the kids on the streets
and the kids everywhere
all i gotta say is the kids don't care

Someone (February 12, 2007)

What's up with Texas and people dying?

1+ Reply

Someone (February 24, 2007)

my thoughts exactly

Someone (February 12, 2007)

You really hate to see things like this happen to people like Nidge. I've never really listened to Blitz other than maybe one song, but he sounded like the kind of person that there needs to be more of. Terrible. RIP.

-r3venge therapy

Someone (February 12, 2007)

this sucks shit. fuck.

dbapunx (February 12, 2007)

Texas is The Reason?

1+ Reply

Someone (February 12, 2007)

obviously

ilikepunkrock (February 12, 2007)

Look at what it says on punk & oi in the UK:
"Nidge from Blitz was tragically hit by a car and killed whilst trying to cross a highway in Austin, Texas USA on Friday night following a show.
Ironically, Nidge was unable to make the States last year due to being caught and punished for drinking and driving."

RIP to a man who wrote one of the greatest punk songs ever "New Age."

1+ Reply

ilikepunkrock (February 12, 2007)

When I hear.... the sound of concrete and steel
I sense a rythm, that science can't feel
I feel the beat.... of our hearts as one
I hold your colour, when my vision is gone
This power is something but the force is blind
Transmitted through a network, of your own kind
As minutes tick away.... and days become years
I know this old feeling, it's a substance in my tears

Someone (February 12, 2007)

I will be pouring out some of my Old English tonight for this man, Rest In Peace.

Someone (February 12, 2007)

Ow3ed

2+ Replies

JoshCBFL (February 12, 2007)

Oweed?

Bummer on this news. He seemed like a pretty cool dude, and one of the forefathers of punk rock. RIP dude...guess you gotta go sometime.

Someone (February 12, 2007)

I agree on the bummout part, but forefathers of punk rock??

JoshCBFL (February 12, 2007)

They've been around since about 1982, so I think they deserve that title. They have had a major influence on many bands over the years.

JoshCBFL (February 12, 2007)

Also, I know by "forefathers" you're more thinking Ramones, The Clash, Sex Pistols, etc....

mCLz (February 12, 2007)

that sucks. r.i.p. man

is it just me or the amount of musicians who were killed lately happened to get hit by a car.

1+ Reply

YasserBossin (February 12, 2007)

yeah, it certainly seems that way, especially since taht one dude from social d died the same way

Someone (February 12, 2007)

Rip

JayTee (February 12, 2007)

Well that fuckin' sucks.

Someone (February 12, 2007)

Guess this means they won't be playing "Someone's Gonna Die Tonight" anymore.

Ike_Ness (February 12, 2007)

RIP Nidge. Sucks that I never got to see Blitz play.

1+ Reply

ilikepunkrock (February 12, 2007)

The one time I saw them play it was a classic, the music they made just rocks.

feeeding5000 (February 12, 2007)

Well, at the very least, I'll never forget the warriors. (Warri-arri-ors!).

Someone (February 12, 2007)

he will be missed . . . RIP

Someone (February 12, 2007)

my band played with um 2 weeks ago at showcase. man im gonna miss that dude. he was really down with everything

Someone (February 13, 2007)

That's fuckin crazy. I saw the last show I guess. Drove down to Austin from Dallas Friday night to see the show.. glad I did.
Sad

1+ Reply

Someone (February 13, 2007)

You guess right, I doubt he will be able to play the remaining dates.

Someone (February 13, 2007)

people dont blame Texas and dont even say punk is dead a little you faggot yes Nidge made a mistake by crossing a high-way when he was drunk i come from Wisconsin and idk how Texas is but dont blame it or the drivers i was just as upset as all of you guys when i herd on saturday night and i know how you feel i saw them in Chicago Monday the 5th time goes by fast when your having a good time and your thinking you want to see them again and you would think nothing like this would ever happen

this is a tragic lose not just to his family and friends but to the people he inspiried and people that listened/liked Blitz

Nidge you WONT be forgotten man
all the free beer in Heaven see you when i get there later!
Rest In Peace bro

1+ Reply

dbapunx (February 16, 2007)

what the fuck?

Someone (February 14, 2007)

all of you who are bitching about forefathers and drivers are fucking rediculous...youre missing the point......a good man died and yea it sucks how it happened but instead of bitching why dont you keep on the subject....the man is gone and its a tragedy.....and we will all miss him....punks, people who just liked blitz, kids who loved them and never got to see them play.....that really sucks ass....i cant believe there are actually still people who complain and argue about the forefathers of punk......i thought that ended a long ass time ago....but with every century and new batch of douchenozzle are born....

RIP
cheers!!

Someone (February 14, 2007)

Hi,

If there's anything that people want to say to Nidge's family, I could pass on the message? (as i am going out with his niece)

I know they are really hurting at the moment, and so would appreciate anything that could be said.

Email any of your comments to cheshire_chappers@hotmail.com, and i'll be sure that the family will get them. With thanks.

Nathan Chapman

1+ Reply

Someone (February 22, 2007)

i was the drummer for blitz for the german tour and american show in 1992.nidge was the best bloke you could ever meet.i am fucking gutted .R.I.P nidge you were the best.i will never the gigs we did and the times we had

Someone (February 14, 2007)

"He had no interest in the 'business' of punk."

That's why he spend countless hours spamming fan's pages on MySpace with adverts for his T-shirt sales. And that's not to mention the whole "reunion" concept. I wish he had lived long enough for the other former members of Blitz to sue him.

Someone (February 15, 2007)

omg like i said before with every new generation a new batch of douchenozzle is born.......stop complaining about a dead man idiot.....so what if he sent advertisements to your myspace....obviously he had to sell shirts and other merch to get the band to tour over here......you need money .....im sure they werent planning on carrying their equip. on their backs and jogging over here......good lord.....let him rest in peace already......stop bad mouthing a dead person

cheers!!

Someone (February 20, 2007)

R.I.P:(:(:(. the best song "New age"

Someone (February 22, 2007)

i was the drummer for blitz for the german tour and american show in 1992.nidge was the best bloke you could ever meet.i am fucking gutted .R.I.P nidge you were the best.i will never the gigs we did and the times we had

Someone (February 22, 2007)

i was the drummer for blitz for the german tour and american show in 1992.nidge was the best bloke you could ever meet.i am fucking gutted .R.I.P nidge you were the best.i will never the gigs we did and the times we had

Someone (February 22, 2007)

i was the drummer for blitz for the german tour and american show in 1992.nidge was the best bloke you could ever meet.i am fucking gutted .R.I.P nidge you were the best.i will never the gigs we did and the times we had

Someone (February 24, 2007)

gutted, used to drink with nidge in my local in new mills. deepest sympathy to all his family.

Someone (February 25, 2007)

Don't drink and drive. No shit! especially in Texass! oi fuckin' oi mate!

Someone (February 25, 2007)

who cares punk is dead anyways

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