9.50 GBP. His wife Evie, whos French, is the better cook. I thought he had a lovely voice, you know? He has such a striking and inimitable presence, it's like seeing a Tim Burton character come to life. In the 1800s, poetry was perhaps akin to rock n roll, with its proponents being declared mad, bad and dangerous to know. Punk poet John Cooper Clarke upset some of his fans with 'transphobic' content at a gig in Sheffield (Photo: Getty) Posting on Twitter, he said: "Walked out of @official_jcc gig. I was surprised that the reviews and descriptions made no mention of Clarke's addictions. Apart from the revolution, its another working day.. He's met the fish man on the way. 9.50 GBP. Idiot. Click the button below to see the extras you get! He would approach a song as though it were a poem and then he would decide how to sing it. Are you happier now than you have ever been? Famous fans include Ben Drew, aka the aforementioned Plan B as well as Alex Turner and his Arctic Monkeys. He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. Salford poet John Cooper Clarke has certainly led a fascinating life and documents it in - a lot of - detail in this memoir. The term I'm looking for here is the common touch. At first, theyre known as The Mafia, an unquantifiably bad blues covers band, who play their first gig with matching full-on metallic-Christmas-tree-decoration gold hairstyles after buying the wrong shade of dye. A relatively simple yet typically colourful condemnation of an unnamed individual; all the best components of Clarkes work are found here. What can I say, the 70's and 80's were a weird, weird, gloriously outrageous, wonderfully fun, utterly ridiculous era. The language is old fashioned - even for me. Wise words from punk poet John Cooper Clarke, Kurt Cobain's sunglasses taught a whole generation of kids how to be cool, Mark three years without David Bowie by listening to his best songs, James McAvoys lowkey watch is a people's champion, Meet the men paying to have their jaws broken in the name of manliness, 10 of the best GQ-approved first watches money can buy. JCC goes into . At the same time, you had people like Wordsworth, waxing lyrical about the Lake District. [2] His first releases were on Tosh Ryan and Martin Hannett's independent label Rabid,[7] starting with the EP Innocents in October 1977. Clarkes episode of being beat up on a Saturday night outside a takeaway is translated into a playful (and ironic) piece here, proving that he isnt scared to admit his human downfalls post-night out. Poetry and I have a difficult relationship. Many have acknowledged that: The Sopranos used his song rendition in season six and its even cropped into school curriculums (I met it in the classroom at 15 years old). I Wanna Be Yours by John Cooper Clarke Famous fans include Ben Drew, aka the aforementioned Plan B as well as Alex Turner and his Arctic Monkeys. His set is characterised by lively rapid-fire renditions of his poems, usually performed a cappella. I Don't Wanna Be Nice "One of the more upbeat compositions made to accompany Clarke's poetry, the delivery of the recorded version of "IDon't Wanna Be Nice' veers startlingly close to a sung melody. Hes even on the GCSE curriculum these days! His recorded output has mainly centred around musical backing from the Invisible Girls, which featured Martin Hannett . In the early 1900s, poetry was taken seriously enough that it was part of the Olympics. I'm not usually one for autobiographies and thinking about it now, I think maybe the only proper autobiographical writing I've read is Simone de Beauvoir's Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter. British punk poet who set lyrics of rebellion to the music of lesser-known bands. I've got to check them out. I didn't want to work for a living when I was a teenager. How many people would take a scene like this and craft a poem from it? It's kind of Dickensian. February picture of the month: the extremes of city life. ", John famously set his poetry to music when he signed to Rabid Records - not my favourite way to consume his poetry, I have to tell him and he agrees, saying he just couldn't think of a good argument against it. John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet, who first became famous as a "punk poet" in the late 1970s. I was watching a programme about Motown. Sinatra's a case in point. Clarke was born in Salford, Lancashire, in 1949. You never meet an artist who isn't a fan [of Mark]. Maybe it's a limitation in me. His unique poetry and delivery style was recorded and put to music by legendary producer Martin Hannett. Through his poetry he engaged with disaffection and grit a decade before the punks picked up their pens, with more wit than Joe Strummer could dream of. I know he likes his food, saying in a recent Guardian interview that the only foods he wont eat are flapjacks, falafel and tripe. I put it down to the smoking ban. None of them were licensed. Evidently Chickentown wouldnt have achieved its master status had it not been for Clarkes repetitive fucking (words only, dont worry). Unfortunately, the latter half is a repetitive and often boring account of all the numerous ways of taking heroin at various times and locations. I Wanna Be Yours, (Macmillan), is a groundbreaking piece of literature. That point is quite obvious name-dropping a politician in a dark line that was actually censored by the BBC upon play in 1980. Around this time, he performed on stage with several punk and post-punk bands and continues to perform regularly. I believe that all poetry is meant to be heard.. One of. Ellie-Jo meets Heather Linnitt in Chorlton to check out the modern vintage marvel that is Jonathan Schofield and the epic tale of Manchester architecture, Jonathan Schofield gazes down from an impossible angle at the 'old city', In January 2018 Clarke appeared as a contestant on an academic version of BBC One's Pointless Celebrities partnered with historian Suzannah Lipscomb; they reached the head-to-head round. John reckons literacy has always been important in Manchester, the birthplace of The Manchester Guardian. S lycklig ver att vara samtida med John Cooper Clarke. [18], In July 2013, Clarke was awarded an honorary doctorate of arts by the University of Salford in "acknowledgement of a career which has spanned five decades, bringing poetry to non-traditional audiences and influencing musicians and comedians." He hastens to add that he values newspapers hugely and doesnt like to see any newspaper collapse. They're already selling a range of poisons. addiction and then the massive comeback as major poet he enjoys today. [13][14] He described this period of his life: "It was a feral existence. Dont worry, we wont ask who. "With charm you've got to get up close." Login Sign Up. Come my old age, my nursing home will have a very different soundtrack to the Hits of the Blitz that the grandparents favoured. John Cooper Clarke rose to fame as a 'people's poet' in the 1970s, and is one of Britains best known spoken word artists (Photo: Paul Wolfgang Webster) By Louise Rhind-Tutt October 13, 2017. The sartorially suave punk poet grew up in the Higher Broughton area of Salford, opposite the Rialto Picture House where he spent a lot of time immersed in the movie world that inspired much of his work. An exercise in acute alliteration that saw such excessive use of a plosive P that Clarke advised the first 16 rows of his audience to watch out. The lists of people he knows and has worked with is impressive, from Bernard Manning to Gil Scot-Heron, from The Clash to Nico, from Plan B to Chuck Berry to list a very few. It's a good example of going in the opposite direction, rather than trying to fit in with the yoot'. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! Each performance seemed unique., Clarke got to know Arctic Monkeys in their early days at the Boardwalk in Sheffield. "Ten Years in an Open Necked Shirt (film)", John Cooper Clarke performs Beasley Street at Hammersmith Palais, "John Cooper Clarke interview: 'Poetry is not something you have to retire from', "John Cooper Clarke On Life In Higher Broughton", "John Cooper Clarke: 'It's diabolical how poor I am', "Plan B's Ill Manors set to hijack charts in Olympics opening week", "John Cooper Clarke honoured by University of Salford", "Does Rock 'N' Roll Kill Braincells?! In memory of Bernard Nyland who has finally got to The memoir all obsessives of the self-professed Bargain Basement Baudilaire have been waiting for. How often do you see a poet's memoir these days! On this rare occasion that Clarke took a writing trip away from socialism, he proved his leading status as a hopeless romantic. With Lauren Laverne. [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. Best line: "The fucking scene is fucking sad, the fucking news is fucking bad, the fucking weed is fucking turf, the fucking speed is fucking surf" Kung Fu International "In which I get beaten up" says Clarke as introduction to this poem on its live recording. Much later down the line, now a successful performance-poet, he spent time as the de facto frontman of The Invisible Girls, a band assembled to provide musical accompaniment that included an eye-watering number of bona fide legends including Buzzcocks Pete Shelley, Joy Division and New Orders Stephen Morris, The Falls Karl Burns, 10ccs Paul Burgess, Be-Bop Deluxes Paul Nelson and the Durutti Columns Vinni Reilly. Best Poems does not have poems published by this Poet yet. I love a miserable comedian. Now you get children in them so you can't even swear in a pub anymore. I'm annoyed at myself for finishing this book so quickly but I couldn't bloody help it ! Fascinating for anyone interesting in recent history, music history, fashion and pop culture. Dr John Cooper Clarke's 2019 autobiography, named after his most famous poem. I can see the worth of a Martin's meat and potato pie. The band's Alex Turner has said he is very fond of Clarke's work and takes inspiration for lyrics from his poems. 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 has a great deal of respect for the tabloid hack who puts themselves in danger for a good story. The term poetic is often used to describe all manner of art: movies, paintings, photographs. He never does the same song the same way twice. The most striking thing about hearing this poem performed live is the staccato call-and-response nature of the delivery. So hes still out there wild mane and grungy tailored look intact soon set to embark on his 2019 British tour. 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. 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. He might consider himself relegated to the realm of the old fashioned but at 73, John Cooper Clarke is as relevant and influential as ever. He is considered a major figure in punk poetry and punk literature . The constant use of the word fucking functions as a hammer, used to drive the points home. I do recognise that there's a lot of the hack in the way I write poetry. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he released several albums. I wanted to enjoy this more, having seen JCC twice,once in his heyday when he was more poet than standup or celebrity,the second time he was slower,less shocking. I remember him from the 70s and from assorted TV appearances. Its lines are pretty abrupt and evoke a lot of cynicism Im not your psychoanalyst and Disgust is just his dumb disguise first spring to mind but thats what Clarke is all about. The 2023 GQ Food & Drink Awards shortlist. It is essentially just one joke stretched across a poem, but it showcases Clarkes sense of humour perfectly. May he rest in peace. John Cooper Clarke: a poet with a fondness for the f-word The influential English punk poet is still full of piss and vinegar after five decades By Liisa Ladouceur Apr 9, 2018 Gerald. One of his more upbeat musical compositions accompany this one, the delivery of which veers startlingly close to a sung melody. Often referred to as "the bard of Salford",[9] he usually refers to himself on stage as "Johnny Clarke, the name behind the hairstyle". In his younger days, Clarke spent 36 hours in prison for supposed car theft, despite there being no concrete evidence against him. JCC will be joining Squeeze on their UK tour - tickets available from Gigs and Tours. He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. I didnt want the 15+ hours of this to end, and had I the time, Id listen to it again right away. 2nd May 2020. 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. 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. I've never heard anybody with an Ordsall accent in employment in MediaCity.". But really it is another example of Clarke having fun with the written word. Best line: Im not your psychoanalyst, Id rather talk to mice.. I am but I don't like to analyse it too much. One of his more playful numbers, this tale of take away violence at the hands of an embryonic Bruce Lee was released as a b-side to single Post War Glamour Girls in 1978, and its light hearted nature echoes the nightclub circuit in which Clarke cut his teeth before the punk era. You go outside if you like fresh air that much.. In this autobiography he is engaging and pretty honest (irritating as well). In July 2019 Clarke was the guest for BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. I want to talk to John about eating and drinking out. 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. In 1988, he made an appearance in two UK adverts for Sugar Puffs, taking second billing to the Honey Monster. There's a reason why John Cooper Clarke was dubbed the first "punk poet": his words have long delivered an honest exposure of urban Britain. Since my main imperative was now the acquisition of ever-increasing amounts of heroin, there was always something better to do than write poetry. I was on drugs. Its what we all talk about in everyday conversation, but Clarke converts it to gritty poetry. [10], Clarke appeared in a 1982 music documentary compilation Urgh! . Extra charming, in fact, because I clandestinely downloaded the audio book to hear the great poet's self-defined adenoidal Mancunian Yiddish and Cockney slang-laced voice reading his life to me. I digress. Nothing ages you more than trying to look like you're 'down with all that'. How so? The Road to Mandalay by Rudyard Kipling. Very sonorous, a kind of mezzo baritone. 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 it is extremely dark but, given that it looks at the worst excesses of slum dwelling, how could it not be. But unlike any other art forms, everybody gives it a go. "Two ugly sisters from Fordham Took a walk one day out of boredom On the way back A sex maniac Jumped out of a bush and ignored 'em." John Cooper Clarke 8 likes Like "I don't have any lifestyle advice." John Cooper Clarke 5 likes Like "Hooker goes up to a Yorkshireman and sez: "Will you sleep with me for a 100?" JCC goes into fascinating detail about his early life in Manchester leading up to punk superstardom, drug addiction and then the massive comeback as major poet he enjoys today. I will say that I did miss some sort of lead up to his performances. So playing to my strengths, I thought, I'm gonna make a living doing this. The worlds defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking whats new and whats next since 1952. Australian Premiere/UK] THE POPEYE, FEB 27, 2023. Best line: I pleaded for mercy, I wriggled on the ground. The combative stage persona he developed with his formative gigs at Bernard Mannings Embassy Club meant that shows in front of these viscious, drunken, delinquent, blocked-up punks held no terrors for me, and his sharp stage get-up was perfectly suited to the scene. 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. I knew nothing about Clarke but had listened to his interview for Desert Island Discs. The second The Luckiest Guy Alive, came 35 years later. Last time he came to Manchester he enjoyed a bit of zhuzhed up marrowbone at The Bull & Bear but dont worry, hes still a man of the people, I'm a fussy eater but I'm not snobbish about it. When I saw the book in my local bookshop on Christmas Eve, I grabbed it. I never really understood that. Every single person that visits Poem Analysis has helped contribute, so thank you for your support. Poetry with swearing in it.. He also charts his struggles with heroin addiction in the 1980s. Get that monkey out of there!". I grew up with much the same memories: UCP cafes, meat and potato pies, running home on a Friday night to watch Ready Steady Go, and the Twisted Wheel and Jigsaw clubs in Manchester. But I don't want to overanalyse what I do. SNAP, CRACKLE & BOP CD. Leading line: If you like your coffee hot, let me be your coffee pot. This one is all about violence. Best line: The boys are on the wagon. Crucially, he found the humour in these situations and used this extensively in his verse. John Cooper Clarke - Haiku. Give it a name. He believes The Guardian now pushes a narrow set of beliefs, insisting he was always more of "a red top guy. Introduction to the English rock singer and poet, Sir John Cooper Clarke, and reading of two poems "I wanna be yours" & "I've got. He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. They were speaking my language. The rest is history. I didn't get any encouragement. the girls are on the shelf. [6] He began his performance career in Manchester folk clubs, where he began working with Rick Goldstraw and his band the Ferrets. His unique poetry was put to music by producer Martin Hannett and a band of Mancunians The Invisible Girls.Seminal tracks such as Beasley St and Evidently Chickentown featured on the album Snap Crackle and Bop, one of 4 hit 70/80s album releases. anarchic punk poetry John Cooper Clarke is . When will Manchester City achieve European Champions League glory? "[19] His poem "I Wanna Be Yours" was adapted by Arctic Monkeys and frontman Alex Turner for the band's fifth album, AM, released on 9 September 2013. So why pick on cigs? Berry showed him how to write songs. Not all of his groups were such a shambles, however. I'll give you an example whereby I've tried to stay true to myself while dealing with the modern world. 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. Hes done a great deal and drops a lot of names. John Cooper Clarke is an English poet who is regarded as a "punk poet." He became famous in the late 1970s and released several albums. You could still smell the polycell. Among poets, John Cooper Clarke is the closest thing to a rock star our contemporary times can offer. 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. John Cooper Clark is a performance poet who first became famous in the late 1970s. John is warm and effortlessly funny and before I hang up, he agrees to have a glass of wine with me next time hes in Manchester for his two (now almost sold out) shows at The Bridgewater Hall. 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]. Keywords Fashion GQ Style Magazine. This poem may be tailored towards a past decade, but its atmospheric despair still rings today. Best line: Dancin In The Daylight, Singin In The Smog, You Aint Nothin But A Hedgehog., All Selections by Banjo you can find his authors archive here. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. All the things that didn't use to be crimes. We both just love words. Then right at the end, in 2004, hes buying crystal meth. I Wanna Be Yours, (Macmillan), is a groundbreaking piece of literature. Enter the Dragon, exit Johnny Clarke. A newspaper is answerable to libel laws for a start..