For Cheryl and Nigel, a punk rock love song

Cheryl Squadrito & Nigel Bennett

“Radio 1982″

On a no-school snow day in late 1982, Cheryl found the name of her favorite punk band’s management office on the back of their album cover and called directory assistance.

“I’m a journalist from America and I’d like to interview the band,” she told the Members’ London publicist. Lead singer Nicky Tesco answered Cheryl’s questions and her first piece of music journalism ran in the Ridley (High School) Raider. Then Nicky, with his spiked hair and gobs of charisma, invited Cheryl to see the band in New York.

In March 1983, Cheryl’s older brother and his wife took her to the Iroquois Hotel. Meet-up plans were vague. At her sister-in-law’s suggestion, Cheryl hopped on the elevator and waited for the Members to board. The doors opened. The guitarist stepped in.

“Oh! You’re Nigel Bennett from the Members!” Cheryl said. Nicky was late, as usual, said Nigel. They chatted as they waited in the lobby for the singer. Cheryl’s brother snapped a picture of Nigel, guitar slung over his shoulder, and Cheryl, looking every bit the starstruck 15-year-old she was.

Cheryl and Nigel had one more chat in the ‘80s, when the band played in Trenton.

Three decades passed.

“Working Girl” – and Guy

Nigel, who is now 66, remained with the Members until they disbanded in 1983 and sometimes performed with them after their 2007 reunion. In 1989 he joined the Vibrators, whose hits include “Automatic Lover,” “London Girls,” and “Baby Baby.” He has one daughter, Melody, 27, from his first, 13-year marriage, which ended in divorce.

In 2011, Cheryl posted some vintage Members photographs, which led to her and Nigel becoming friends on Facebook. She travels to London yearly to work on projects with a friend in PR and see old friends, and in 2012, she and Nigel met for Indian food – the first time they’d seen each other since 1983. They caught up, reminisced, and laughed their heads off.

Nigel had mailed Cheryl a demo of his first solo album, Truth Or Consequences. She loved it. “Do you want me to manage you?” she heard herself ask. “I think I can get you a record deal.” To her shock, Nigel accepted. Cheryl negotiated her first deal with Zip Records. She also handled negations for his second album, Another Bump in the Road, for which Nigel made a June 2016 trip to Philadelphia and New York for a photo shoot and publicity.

“Romance”

It was during that trip that Cheryl and Nigel realized they had feelings for each other beyond friendship. He invited her to a movie – The King’s Speech. “I hadn’t been on a date in 17 years and here I was on one with a musician whose music I admired,” said Cheryl. “I was a nervous wreck.”

“We had such a great time and I wanted to be with Cheryl as much as I could,” said Nigel. Four or five times a year was all they could muster, considering their full lives on separate continents. “I was touring a lot, and it is quite a hard job to tour, but I had to keep doing it,” Nigel said.

They quickly fell in love. After a couple of years, Cheryl wanted a commitment that Nigel felt he couldn’t make, given their circumstances. “I dated a couple of other people, but no one was even remotely as interesting to me as Nigel,” she said.

Nigel dated no one else.

On a visit here in January 2020, Cheryl surprised him with a gigantic birthday party – cake, ice cream, and all of his American friends. Six weeks later, the pandemic hit.

“Solitary Confinement”

The pandemic ended the Vibrators and Nigel worried it would also end his relationship with Cheryl. “I know we’re lucky – some people got very ill or died. Businesses and livelihoods folded. But not being able to see her was immensely difficult.”

In July 2021, there was finally a way: While air travel remained closed between the U.S. and England, English people and Americans could travel to Ireland. A mutual friend – a rock star from Dublin - loaned the couple a cottage on his estate. It was a nearly perfect 10 days. Their love and chemistry remained strong and even the weather seemed magical – sunny and 80 degrees.

“I thought for sure he was going to propose to me,” said Cheryl. “I was shocked that he didn’t.”

There was another woman Nigel missed terribly during the pandemic: his daughter. Melody lives in Australia. Shortly after Cheryl returned to Haddonfield, Nigel called to say he was moving to Adelaide.

It was impossible to have the relationship Cheryl wanted with Nigel on opposite sides of the planet. They broke up. “It was the lowest of lows for me – as hard as my divorce,” Cheryl said.

Nigel was also heartbroken. His daughter had her own life to live. And so, he quickly realized, did he – with Cheryl. “I phoned Cheryl and I begged her to have me back. And she said yes,” he said.

“Not right away, I didn’t,” adds Cheryl.

“Flying Again”

In early 2022, Nigel flew to London, where he attended the funeral of band mate and friend Nicky Tesco, who had unexpectedly died at age 66. Then Nigel flew to Philadelphia.

Although grieving for their friend, the couple found their magic had held.

“Every day I fall in love a little bit more,” Nigel said. “I love her smile, I love her enthusiasm. I love her sense of humor. I love the fact that she’s always there for me, that she always has had my back. I also love the way she looks – I fancy her like crazy. Life is the best it’s ever been.”

“He’s got the biggest heart of anybody I’ve ever met,” said Cheryl. “We have such good laughs together. I think he’s hot. He adores my kids and he loves my cooking.”

In November 2022, Nigel flew back to Philly and took Cheryl to Parc for her birthday. At dessert, he knelt and held out a ring. “I never want to be apart from you again,” he said. “You’re the love of my life. Will you marry me?”

She said yes, and the entire restaurant applauded.

Cheryl was especially busy with work, which includes teaching two classes – music marketing and media and building a business brand – at Temple. Planning for their Dec. 28, 2022, wedding was Nigel’s solo gig. Cheryl’s friends had roles: Daniela Galdi was ordained to lead the ceremony at Haddonfield Borough Hall. Cindy Lefler baked two wedding cakes. Tina Markoe’s photos were her wedding gift.

Cheryl’s daughter was maid of honor. Nigel’s friend Steve Lillywhite, a music producer whose clients include U2, was his best man. Afterward, 29 guests joined the couple for lunch across the street at the Oriental Pearl Chinese Restaurant.

They honeymooned for two days at the Warwick Hotel in Center City, then began filling out a phonebook-sized stack of papers for Nigel’s citizenship.

“The Sound of the Suburbs”

The couple lives in Haddonfield with dog Brindy. Nigel is working on his third solo album. Cheryl’s students are helping to rebrand him in America – he’s been an enthusiastic participant in their effort to make him TikTok famous.

Once his citizenship is realized, the couple plans to split their time between Haddonfield and London. Sooner, Nigel wants to visit New York and stay at the Iroquois, where, on the elevator, the couple first met.