A Southport band is releasing a new single this month which features the voice of Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Bobhowla will release ‘Tainted: Revisited’, a song inspired by the infected blood scandal, on Friday 30th October 2026.
The single incorporates the Prime Minister’s voice, which they secured with his full backing.
People can hear the track during a gig from 8pm this Friday (8th October 2026) at The Warehouse Arts Centre on West Street in Southport town centre.
Bobhowla features singer-songwriter Howard Doupe alongside guitarist, John Brindle, and bassist, Graham Fletcher-Hill.
Howard Doupe said:
“Bobhowla will be releasing Tainted at the end of October – it has acquired a rather extraordinary new dimension since it was first recorded.
“I wrote Tainted in 2022, a song inspired by the Infected Blood Scandal.
“I have haemophilia myself and am part of the infected blood community, so the subject behind the song has always been very personal to me.
“The original recording incorporated Andy Burnham describing what happened as ‘a criminal cover-up on an industrial scale.’
“Before releasing it, I contacted Andy’s office and sent them the finished song to ask permission to use his contribution.
“Andy listened to it himself and his office subsequently replied: ‘Andy has listened to the recording and is happy for you to use it. He wishes you all the best.’
“Four years later, I’ve returned to Tainted and revisited and reworked it.
“The new version, Tainted: Revisited, will be released on Friday 30th October 2026.
“Andy’s contribution remains exactly where it was. The rather remarkable difference is that the voice on the recording now belongs to the Prime Minister.
“It’s an unexpected twist to a song that remains hugely important to me, particularly because the infected blood community’s fight for justice and compensation is still continuing.
“Before the release, Bobhowla are playing The Warehouse Arts Centre in Southport on Friday 9th October 2026, where we’re planning to give Tainted: Revisited a pre-release live outing.
“It means people in Southport will get the chance to hear the revisited song three weeks before it’s officially released.”
Howard hails from Southport and loves being part of the live music scene.
He has been an ardent campaigner on seeking justice for the infected blood scandal, which has been active for many years.
He said: “I was born and bred in Southport, and have lived here most of my life and enjoyed a few years studying in Liverpool.
“Although I have been involved in writing and performing for over 20 years, this band only formed around 2019.
“We’ve put out a couple of albums so far, the most recent last year called ‘What You’ve Lost Isn’t Failure’ on Liverpool label 9×9 Records.
“Personally, I suffer with haemophilia. As a community as a whole, we have been immensely caught up in the whole scandal due to blood and blood products that were contaminated with a variety of viruses’ from the late 1970’s through the 1980’s.
“A simple search online will lead to many news articles on the scandal and the public inquiry that reported its findings last year.
“I have been campaigning alongside many others over decades, which started back in the 1980’s – primarily just for recognition!
“Since the inquiry was announced by Theresa May’s Government, after years of pressure from campaign groups and a change in political will, campaigning turned to getting wider public knowledge out there.
“Now, its final hurdle really is the actual distribution of the allocated entitled compensation to all infected and affected groups within society.
“It’s a process that has sadly stalled over the past 12 months – despite funds being allocated by the Government.”
For more details about Bobhowla visit: www.bobhowla.band or Follow them on Facebook: (20+) Facebook
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