Well, he admits, I got drunk with another fella whod just brought up a previous paella. This may have been the artists worst nightmare, but at least he saw the funny side of it. Another speciality is clothing and fashion, something he takes very seriously. John Cooper Clarke, punk poet and the Bard of Salford is in danger of becoming a national treasure. He also cites poets like Charles Baudelaire, Arthur Rimbaud and Edgar Allan Poe among his chief inspirations, but even more influential in his early days were figures such as Muhammad Ali, with his swaggering rhyming trash talk, and Edwardian music hall star Billy Merson. The 73-year-old poet was born in England, United Kingdom. He is considered a major figure in punk poetry and punk literature . John Cooper Clarke is an English punk poet who became famous in the late 70s and recorded I Wanna Be Yours in 1982.. I mean, he is in my house, but in general houses. John Cooper Clarke has always been adjacent to musicians, but in I Wanna Be Yours he recounts his many attempts at forming bands of his own. When I asked about the last time he said his favourite word wow, he says it was in response to his wifes confit duck. 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. The first, Ten Years In An Open Necked Shirt was released in 1983. Wait hang onit IS that crazy singer! A fat book by a thin man that I felt didn't get to the heart of the matter, and I was left not knowing if I like him, knowing he wouldn't give a fuck about what I think. Crucially, he found the humour in these situations and used this extensively in his verse. Theres a reason why John Cooper Clarke was dubbed the first punk poet: his words have long delivered an honest exposure of urban Britain. Keywords Fashion GQ Style Magazine. At the same time, you had people like Wordsworth, waxing lyrical about the Lake District. I wanted to like this book, I'm a fan of John Cooper Clarke's work and have seen him on stage a couple times and loved his shows. Around this time, he performed on stage with several punk and post-punk bands and continues to perform regularly. Around this time, he performed on stage with several punk and post-punk bands and continues to perform regularly. From music hall and working mens clubs to punk and post-punk, whether as an observer or participant, Clarke has done it all. 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. Perhaps an indication of what would have happened if John Cooper Clarke shunned poetry to sing in a band, the artful defiance and proud cynicism of a friend in need is a friend in debt creates one of Clarkes most compelling creations. Few artists could draw such vocal and heartfelt appreciation from a set as diverse and rich in talent as Steve Coogan, Alex Turner, Stewart Lee, Pete Shelley, Craig Charles and Wilko Johnson, the list goes on. John Cooper Clark Offers 3 Simple Words on Heroin: "Don't Do It". . (Play Loud)". It was hand to mouth. 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. I've just realised that now after all these years.. His recorded output has mainly relied on musical backing from the Invisible Girls, which featured Martin Hannett, Steve Hopkins, Pete Shelley, Bill Nelson, and Paul Burgess. A fan of the show for 60 years, he described it as having "all the finality of a suicide note, without the actual obligation of topping yourself". The worlds defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking whats new and whats next since 1952. Not all of his groups were such a shambles, however. I Wanna Be Yours is out now via Pan Macmillan. It's an alarmingly ridiculous idea. Australian Premiere/UK] THE POPEYE, FEB 27, 2023. They were all Coca Cola and amphetamines. JCC will be joining Squeeze on their UK tour - tickets available from Gigs and Tours. This developed from him stealing prescription amphetamines at school in the 50s and robbing pharmacies for opiates as an adolescent to eventually succumbing to heroin addiction under the pressures of celebrity, a habit that would eventually have a crippling effect on his work. 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', was John Cooper Clarke, a skinny punk from up north, from whose mouth down south this poem poured forth. [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. Dr John Cooper Clarke's 2019 autobiography, named after his most famous poem I Wanna Be Yours, (Macmillan), is a groundbreaking piece of literature. John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet, who first became famous as a "punk poet" in the late 1970s. The veteran poet befriended Arctic Monkeys in their early days and knocked about with some fascinating non-famous characters. He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. Best line: The pandemonium prompted the police, who patrolled the precinct in panda cars, to pull up and peruse the problem, while pickpockets picked pockets in pairs.. Poetry has never been regarded as a reliable engine of wealth. Each performance seemed unique., Clarke got to know Arctic Monkeys in their early days at the Boardwalk in Sheffield. The Road to Mandalay by Rudyard Kipling. Part One, Picture of the Month: Where Manchester began. In fact it is extremely dark but, given that it looks at the worst excesses of slum dwelling, how could it not be. Best line: If you like your coffee hot, let me be your coffee pot. 14.00 GBP. "With charm you've got to get up close." Login Sign Up. John reckons Jack has done a terrific job of maintaining Lytteltons air of lugubrious resignation. is a barrage of questions from the subtle to the absurd, each one laugh inducing and perfectly crafted. Get that monkey out of there!". Best Poems does not have poems published by this Poet yet. Clarke's recording of "Evidently Chickentown' was also used in the penultimate closing scene of one of modern TV's most famous and respected television shows, "The Sopranos". I think she's great. This one is all about violence. It's 'mom' upside down. 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. The often divisive production that Martin Hannett brought to John Cooper Clarke's poetry works to best effect here, complimenting the dark undertones and careful alliteration of 'in an X certificate exercise ex-servicemen excrete'. John Cooper Clarke shot to prominence in the 1970s as the original 'people's poet'. There was little of the 'poet in the making' insight. Any amateur review cannot do justice to the genius of JCC, so I just urge you to read it! Have you got a sense of humour? But I'm glad they don't. I want to talk to John about eating and drinking out. In the early 1900s, poetry was taken seriously enough that it was part of the Olympics. That point is quite obvious name-dropping a politician in a dark line that was actually censored by the BBC upon play in 1980. John Cooper Clarke punk poet, bard of Salford has had a chequered life, from growing up in post-war austerity Britain, through hardcore drug abuse, to being a kind of national treasure. He hastens to add that he values newspapers hugely and doesnt like to see any newspaper collapse. 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. The punk . Subscribe to Louder Than War and help keep the flame of independent music burning. Thats terrible. Among poets, John Cooper Clarke is the closest thing to a rock star our contemporary times can offer. [26] He has also been a panellist on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Site by. With a song, you can hold notes on. First book of 2021. So why pick on cigs? The second The Luckiest Guy Alive, came 35 years later. 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. Im holding you to that, John. 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. Hailed as Manchester's 'punk poet', he is a key figure of the punk rock era in the UK, from his biting prose to his famously Messy Hair. Credit: Getty. Dr John Cooper Clarke's 2019 autobiography, named after his most famous poem. These days, hes a showbiz guy who often brings his Mancunian wit to daytime TV shows like Eight Out Of Ten Cats Does Countdown, filmed at MediaCity - where he bemoans the irony that you cant buy a newspaper. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! 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. I'm seeing the value of pubs now because they've been banned. 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. He still performs, and appeared on AM on "I Wanna Be Yours." Anything else would be madness. Introduction to the English rock singer and poet, Sir John Cooper Clarke, and reading of two poems "I wanna be yours" & "I've got. But hes never mannered. They have done me so much good those lads. The second, post-Pistols half of I Wanna Be Yours sees Clarke encountering just about all of the great, good and downright grim of 70s and 80s music Elvis Costello, Gil Scott-Heron, Nico, Mark E. Smith, Richard Hell, Linder Sterling and legendary NME scribe Nick Kent to name a few but its the obscure local characters, the figures skulking around the peripheries, that are the most entertaining. In his younger days, Clarke spent 36 hours in prison for supposed car theft, despite there being no concrete evidence against him. Grab one of the last remaining tickets for John Cooper Clarke at The Bridgewater Hall here. 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. None of them were licensed. In which I get beaten up says Clarke as introduction to this poem on its live recording. 1. His life is as extraordinary as youd expect and had me wondering if it is actually a privilege to be working class. 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. anarchic punk poetry John Cooper Clarke is . 5. Somewhere between a narrative film, a series of music videos and a documentary, the film features interviews and performances by Clarke and Linton Kwesi Johnson among others. Pest is ostensibly about someone urinating in public but really is Clarke delighting in his mastery of the English language. Here we present some of his best work, which will go some way to explaining why he has become, of all things, a national treasure. Dont worry, we wont ask who. For all the ludicrous stories of drug-smuggling and evading the police, there are some truly harrowing moments. Its at this point Clarke, then a local favourite in the working mens clubs and casinos of the North West, transforms in an instant into the nationally known poet laureate of punk hes still venerated as today. "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?! John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is an English performance poet, who first became famous as a " punk poet" in the late 1970s. John Cooper Clarke Wiki & Bio Home Activity About Blog IQ Token FAQ Their common problem is that theyre not someone else. I didn't want to work for a living when I was a teenager. 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. I put it down to the smoking ban. Its notoriously difficult to pin down why, but we agree that a song is not a poem. I also recommend his love show! Nico and Clarke famously lived in south London together in the 80s. Much older than Johnny Rotten, Pete Shelley and co. (or at least the only one not lying about his age), he always loathed the hippies. I've got MediaCity to thank for introducing me to the genius that was Sean Locke. The term I'm looking for here is the common touch. The first half of the book acts as a social history of Salford and Manchester in the 50s and 60s and it's a fascinating read and it flew by. John Hegley Poet. He might not be a pub man but John loves a good restaurant. Best line: I pleaded for mercy, I wriggled on the ground. Best line: Poverty and pollution have all swept away. Weve all either experienced or observed one sat by the pool in what looks like a plastic hotel, looking on to the hysteria of other families as they squabble to make full use of water inflatables, alcohol, dinner specials of the day and just the overall package deal that theyve paid for. Then right at the end, in 2004, hes buying crystal meth. 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. Clarkes time spent sharing a Brixton flat with actor and songwriter Nico, while both were deep in the mire of serious heroin addiction, is well-documented. 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. He is a wonderful writer and storyteller but I would have swapped the first 100 pages about his childhood for a longer reflection on his most recent years. John Cooper Clarke. I'm annoyed at myself for finishing this book so quickly but I couldn't bloody help it ! I chose the audiobook version, and who wouldnt given his unique style. When I saw this show listed in the Fringe guide I initially thought "that's funny this guy has the same name as that crazy UK singer. I Wanna Be Yours by John Cooper Clarke is many things. JCC goes into . JCC goes into. If youre wondering how to deal with someone elses problems, the solution is right in this piece of poetry. 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. 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 July 2019 Clarke was the guest for BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. Hes even on the GCSE curriculum these days! It's a good example of going in the opposite direction, rather than trying to fit in with the yoot'. You can finesse the way you approach any part of the song. 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. Benjamin Zephaniah Writer. And, no, I will not burn my copy of "Ou est la Maison de Fromage," for I love you live and solo as you are best heard. The 2023 GQ Food & Drink Awards shortlist. Anybody with a pen and a piece of paper can do it. His musical albums include Snap, Crackle & Bop; Zip Style Method; Disguise in Love; and Walking Back to Happiness. 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.