In fact Im not sure what it actually is, stream of consciousness myth making? You can't see the joints. That point is quite obvious name-dropping a politician in a dark line that was actually censored by the BBC upon play in 1980. He seems to be very happy. He embodied its ethos before the concept even existed. There is the PE teacher Mr Durcan who arranged for arguing students to duke it out, Marquess of Queensbury style in the ring after school. We both just love words. You can no more take the politics out of Kathe Kolwitz, Sue Coe, or Brecht than you could take the words out of poem. There is the local thug Lemonhead, an embittered nutter who spends his time camped out on waste ground taking potshots at passers by with a sniper rifle. In fact, theres a lesson to be taken from these 36 hours: he may announce lifes many depressing elements, but he also aspires to address them through some commentary and a spot of dark humour. Confidentials Manchester, Dublin weekend: history, seafood, literature and shiny chests. Mmm!. In 1988, he made an appearance in two UK adverts for Sugar Puffs, taking second billing to the Honey Monster. Poem Solutions Limited International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct,London, EC1A 2BN, United Kingdom, Discover and learn about the greatest poetry ever straight to your inbox, Discover and learn about the greatest poetry, straight to your inbox. 1. [22], 2015 saw Clarke present a documentary on Thomas De Quincey's Confessions of an English Opium-Eater in the BBC's second series of The Secret Life of Books. His life and career spans a big timescale, and with his constant demons this is no mean feat. John Cooper Clarke. John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is an English performance poet who first became famous during the punk rock era of the late 1970s when he became known as a "punk poet". He was known for his phrasing. John Cooper Clarke is a poet and musician who was most popular during the late 70s/early 80s but has had widespread success in recent years. Some extracts taken from an interview with Punk Poet - John Cooper Clarke. The gutturally nasal Northern machine gun verse of John Cooper Clarke, as full of vitriol as it is humour and irony, is as inimitably his own as the black hairspray explosion and 28 inch waist black drainpipes still omnipresent in his 70s (70s!). Often referred to as "the bard of Salford",[9] he usually refers to himself on stage as "Johnny Clarke, the name behind the hairstyle". A Music War, in which he performed his poem "Health Fanatic". He explains in an interview . The worlds defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking whats new and whats next since 1952. I think Mr Clarke was given too much freedom with this meandering diary with a tendency to show off. [1] In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he released several albums. In the 1800s, poetry was perhaps akin to rock n roll, with its proponents being declared mad, bad and dangerous to know. I am but I don't like to analyse it too much. They've all turned into takeaways, secondhand shops, estate agents. Dr John Cooper Clarke's 2019 autobiography, named after his most famous poem I Wanna Be Yours, (Macmillan), is a groundbreaking piece of literature. A lesser known Clarke number but amongst his most literary and witty, Are You the Business? I'll mither my daughter to Goggle [sic] them on her Skyper. So glad Majorca is on the list utter genius and my favourite! [2] He lived in the Higher Broughton area of the city and became interested in poetry after being inspired by his English teacher, John Malone,[3] whom he described as "a real outdoor guy, an Ernest Hemingway type, red blooded, literary bloke". [10], Clarke appeared in a 1982 music documentary compilation Urgh! I remember him from the 70s and from assorted TV appearances. After a show at The Boardwalk in Sheffield, Clarke was approached by a young musician called Alex Turner who had studied him at school, and whose band were about to become megastars. Clarke lost much of the 1980s to a heroin addiction, when he lived in a flat in Brixton with Nico, the late singer and muse of the Velvet Underground; he dislikes any attempt to glamorise that. Simple yet utterly perfect, Evidently Chickentown is a stark depiction of a location so grim that Clarke can only adequately express this by using a stream of continuous expletives. John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is an English performance poet who first became famous during the punk rock era of the late 1970s when he became known as a "punk poet".He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. John Cooper Clarke's age is 73. 100 Paintings from the Collections of the National Trust showcases works by some of the most renowned European artists of all time, cared for by the Trust and housed in its properties. Come my old age, my nursing home will have a very different soundtrack to the Hits of the Blitz that the grandparents favoured. Id consider killing you if I thought you were alive. I can write blank verse, but where's the groove? was John Cooper Clarke, a skinny punk from up north, from whose mouth down south this poem poured forth. Leading line: If you like your coffee hot, let me be your coffee pot. He shot to cultural prominence in the Seventies, producing and performing poetry that tackled real-life matters with zero fear and total vibrance. Throughout the 60s, he was a member of a comically inept beat combo whose Spinal Tap-style career is worthy of its own book. In Majorca, he offers a playful perspective from Spains crowded holiday resorts, noting its hysteria but also kind of embracing it. The name of a group is important and that one is unforgettable. But I'm glad they don't. Around this time, he performed on stage with several punk and post-punk bands and continues . I bought this book because I like his poetry. Benjamin Zephaniah Writer. "Evidently Chickentown" (recited by Christopher Eccleston) is featured in the made-for-television film Strumpet. Pest is ostensibly about someone urinating in public but really is Clarke delighting in his mastery of the English language. John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is an English performance poet who first became famous during the punk rock era of the late 1970s when he became known as a "punk poet". JCC will be joining Squeeze on their UK tour - tickets available from Gigs and Tours. One of my all time favourite memoirs. Yeah, I think you can learn to be a poet to a greater or lesser extent. The debate on bringing back the death penalty was rumbling on when Clarke wrote down his observations on what the result of this might be. Nico and Clarke famously lived in south London together in the 80s. She writes about her world, same as I write about mine.". TWAT."". Each performance seemed unique., Clarke got to know Arctic Monkeys in their early days at the Boardwalk in Sheffield. I was tempted to count all the words in Pest and see what percentage of them actually began with P, but realised in the nick of time what kind of a nerd that would make me. Please continue to help us support the fight against dementia with Alzheimer's Research Charity. John Cooper Clarke, poet, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury he would want with him if cast away to a desert island. They drive the book, his difficult life and the mean spirit which is probably not his true self. Some of the toughest guys I ever knew were all vying for attention with million-dollar words, the slickest of rhymes, and ever more arcane vocabulary, Clarke recalls. is a barrage of questions from the subtle to the absurd, each one laugh inducing and perfectly crafted. I was born one year after JCC and about three miles from where he was born, so it was pretty obvious this was going to resonate with me. Keywords Fashion GQ Style Magazine. It's Working Men's Club. I Married a Monster from Outer Space is a top ten MUST. I was going to preface this by saying its not really a poem, but it would be better to say it isnt a poem at all. Especially detailed are the account of his early years in a display that threatens to derail his story. His set is characterised by lively rapid-fire renditions of his poems, usually performed a cappella. A newspaper is answerable to libel laws for a start.. I Wanna Be Yours explores the feelings of love and want, cleverly articulated by Clarke wishing to be the everyday things that come into close physical contact with the object of his affection, such as raincoats, vacuum cleaners and coffee pots. He toured with Bill Nelson's band Be-Bop Deluxe in 1978 and was signed by Epic Records, who issued the studio album Disguise In Love, produced by Hannett, in 1978. [2] Rabid also released his debut LP O est la maison de fromage'? [2] He returned to live performance in the 1990s, appearing again with Suns of Arqa in 1992 at The Witchwood in Ashton-under-Lyne. They have done me so much good those lads. His only prose work is I Wanna Be Yours, a memoir. new Brix Smith track from her forthcoming Valley Of The Dolls album, Manic Street Preachers may be a classic band but its a new generation of fans who should be listening, John Robb announces book tour to go with his upcoming book The Art Of Dakness the History Of Goth, Video: Living Body release live session for new single CONSUMER, Everett True plays The Fall : music writer announces solo show playing songs of legendary post punk band, The Velvet Hands: Sucker Punch album review, From Bonham To Buddha And Back: by Clementine Moss book review, Dark Mark Lanegan: Confessions Of The Night Porter Iman Kakai-Lazell book review, Wild Billy Childish & CTMF : Failure Not Success album review, The Slow Readers Club: The Library, Barrow in Furness live review, WATCH THIS : Essential Logic video premiere for new single Sky Rocket, WATCH THIS! He was the original punk. Her run of success on the British TV show Opportunity Knocks led both Clarke and his mother to believe that he could make a living at poetry.[8]. He enjoys cooking at home too, although hes a one pan guy. Despite a pretty grim situation occurring He kicked me in the balls and said something profound you cant help but laugh at his lines, because they paint an entertaining picture. Series 15: Episode 1", "Pointless Celebrities Next on BBC One", "BBC Radio 4 Desert Island Discs, John Cooper Clarke, poet", "BBC Two Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, Series 9, Episode 7", "John Cooper Clarke: The punk poet whose time has come again", "John Cooper Clarke Post-War Glamour Girl / Kung Fu International CBS UK S CBS 6541", "Movie Highlights | Interviews, Quizzes & More", "Various Short Circuit Live At The Electric Circus (Vinyl) at Discogs", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Cooper_Clarke&oldid=1142709900, People associated with the University of Salford, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "Pity the Plight" (2012 Ill manors album Plan B), This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 23:42. 2023 He first encountered Mark E. Smith when the late singer was a schoolboy, and Clarke ended up becoming an unofficial uncle to the future Fall frontman you know, the type of uncle who doesnt give a fuck what you get up to, as he puts it. But truth be told, you cant escape the rough turbulence of its profanity and that fact does well to showcase the frustration of living in a satellite-style town. [citation needed]. Australian Premiere/UK] THE POPEYE, FEB 27, 2023. Best line: Did Bob Marley like the odd smoke? I didn't want to work for a living when I was a teenager. I listen to it on a Friday to see if I'm on it.. [] challenging as the juggling fiends of fate have seen several must sees on at the same time; i.e. Its onomatopoeic innit? He eats out a lot more these days than in the throes of his well-documented drug addiction where he survived on sugary cakes and pastries. The band's Alex Turner has said he is very fond of Clarke's work and takes inspiration for lyrics from his poems. It's 'mom' upside down. John reckons literacy has always been important in Manchester, the birthplace of The Manchester Guardian. It is not Clarke that embraced punk, however, but the other way around. John Cooper Clarke Wiki & Bio Home Activity About Blog IQ Token FAQ John Cooper Clarke: If I might start this off, I'm a late convert to your work, Grian! Perhaps the reason why people hold this particular poem in such affection is because of the Beasley Streets that we all know, the fully furnished dustbins that lurk in provincial Northern towns or London outskirts. How many people would take a scene like this and craft a poem from it? [13][14] He described this period of his life: "It was a feral existence. Ive worked with the best of them, but The Fall I would watch night in, night out, Clarke remembers. 9.50 GBP. On a 1980s Australian tour, meanwhile, his encore consisted of cover of Lady Godivas Operation with none other than New Order as his backing band. If youre wondering how to deal with someone elses problems, the solution is right in this piece of poetry. John Cooper Clarke's memoir 'I Wanna Be Yours' - the big talking points Features John Cooper Clarke's bracing new memoir 'I Wanna Be Yours' - the big talking points The veteran poet. I've never been one of those people that writes poetry as a means of self-expression alone. I chose the audiobook version, and who wouldnt given his unique style. I knew nothing about Clarke but had listened to his interview for Desert Island Discs. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. Kae writes in a kind of language that I don't really use, addressing a public that I have no knowledge of. His unique poetry was put to music by producer Martin Hannett and a band of Mancunians The Invisible Girls. I used to think trees were dirty, because when I was a kid in Salford you'd climb them and come off filthy, it was like you'd been up a chimney and even if you got a stretch of park you just had to scrape the grass and there were, like, cinders underneath it was horrible[5], His first job was a laboratory technician at Salford Tech. "With charm you've got to get up close." Login Sign Up. I got into it Michael Gove style, learning it off by heart without even understanding anything about it. He's like Edward Scissorhand's older and more sensitive brother. Any amateur review cannot do justice to the genius of JCC, so I just urge you to read it! Those are the places they were playing - not pubs. Beasley Street [16][17], Clarke was the subject of a BBC Four documentary, Evidently John Cooper Clarke, in May 2012, screened as part of the BBC's Punk Britannia season. None of them were licensed. I know he likes his food, saying in a recent Guardian interview that the only foods he wont eat are flapjacks, falafel and tripe. British punk poet who set lyrics of rebellion to the music of lesser-known bands. It refers to macaronis who were kind of pre-Beau Brummel dandies from 200 years ago. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. We have a small favour to ask. I wasn't a punk, but a signed-up drippy hippy, and the music I was into then Pink Floydian and trippy, but I rushed out quick and bought his Gimmix single, though with safety-pinned punks I had to mingle. 10.00 GBP. Dr John Cooper Clarke's 2019 autobiography, named after his most famous poem. He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. A light hearted look at songs that could have been famous, this is Clarke at his most whimsical as he lists songs with titles that are almost familiar, such as Some Enchanted Afternoon and Greasy Kind Of Love. Part One, Picture of the Month: Where Manchester began. Finally, we get back onto the subject of Radio Four and another shared love:Im Sorry, I Havent a Cluewhich has survived many personnel changes from the deaths of Willie Rushton and Barry Cryer as well as long time presenter, Humphrey Lyttelton making way for Jack Dee. I think I've got that. Features 30 new poems, including the favourites; I've Fallen In Love With My Wife and Get Back on Drugs you Fat F*ck. They were all Coca Cola and amphetamines. Credit: Getty Images. Leading line: People mention murder the moment you arrive. When I phone John Cooper Clarke at his home in Colchester, hes been listening to Radio 4s obituary show, The Last Word. Like a lot of Brits, he has a clear dislike of someone, but, unlike a lot Brits, he manifests that into angry, firing verses that make for a condemning rant. (For adults and teenagers). [23] He has appeared as a guest on the comedy panel show Would I Lie To You? About John Cooper Clarke. Lifestyle. John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is an English performance poet who first became famous during the punk rock era of the late 1970s when he became known as a "punk poet". Whenever I cite Pam Ayres as being an influence on me - which she was because of her success - it would always be met with laughter. He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly.His recorded output has mainly centred around musical backing from the . Unusually, I was more interested in reading this biography for the company the man kept, rather than the man himself. [1] In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he released several albums. Authors; . Dr John Cooper Clarke's 2019 autobiography, named after his most famous poem I Wanna Be Yours, (Macmillan), is a groundbreaking piece of literature. The reasons the Beasley Streets exist is judged to be political, with one of the poems strongest lines directed at Keith Joseph, then described as the architect of Thatcherism; Keith Joseph smiles and a baby dies in a box on Beasley Street.