he followed with my fat friend fell down the stairs last night..we thought eastenders had finished early.. not bad for a sickly Salford boy punk poet, who regularly appears on 9 out of ten cats enjoy cool countdownjust say graphic reference to hard drugs some will find difficult.. thanks John ever in Aylesbury there is a bed here always as room as kids are off to university my mind of man although many music differences, read it as in his own style has never left any associates out to dry and his will nice on the andy warhol factory goings on..lips willed although offers millions ever when doing at time.. solid.. spoiler.. just as good now freed from chain of addiction.. excellent narrated by himeslf he even second guesses you..as I say no matter where you are born, your dreams are valid.. thanks Johnny boy, your london mate..my life mirrowed yours without the talent and adventures..but now clean and boys working towards phd.. but I get slated I believe anything really worth knowing can never be taught, and if I was educated I would be a fool.. but spell I hear you.. a must listen..love to alo. I listened to it as an audiobook, and Clarke is so engaging and skilled at storytelling that this book could've been twice as long and it still wouldve felt like no time at all. Hes done a great deal and drops a lot of names. Nothing ages you more than trying to look like you're 'down with all that'. What it sounds like is the most important part of any poem. It involved people that are much younger than myself in the gangster world of East London. I Wanna Be Yours is out now via Pan Macmillan. I asked him what they were called, and he said The Arctic Monkeys. When I asked about the last time he said his favourite word wow, he says it was in response to his wifes confit duck. The name of a group is important and that one is unforgettable. [12], Clarke released Zip Style Method in 1982, but thereafter performed his live act less frequently, spending much of the 1980s mired in heroin addiction, living in a "domestic partnership" with singer and fellow addict Nico. When I phone John Cooper Clarke at his home in Colchester, hes been listening to Radio 4s obituary show, The Last Word. [6] He began his performance career in Manchester folk clubs, where he began working with Rick Goldstraw and his band the Ferrets. Poems covered in the Educational Syllabus. They drive the book, his difficult life and the mean spirit which is probably not his true self. I'll mither my daughter to Goggle [sic] them on her Skyper. John's 2018 poetry collection The Luckiest Guy Alive. We practised at home, and got to be pretty good, Clarke claims. 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. It couldn't be more accessible. The 73-year-old poet was born in England, United Kingdom. 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. Why pull the ladder up? I knew nothing about Clarke but had listened to his interview for Desert Island Discs. [citation needed]. I can see the worth of a Martin's meat and potato pie. I didn't get any encouragement. His book choice was Against Nature by Joris-Karl Huysmans, his luxury item was a boulder of opium twice the size of his head and his favourite track was "How Great Thou Art" by Elvis Presley. The result of that time was this a piece of poetry that feels more like a piece of meditation. 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. 9.50 GBP. Upon receipt, Clarke commented: "Now I'm a doctor, finally my dream of opening a cosmetic surgery business can become a reality. The projected track list included The Beat Goes On by Sonny and Cher, Love is Strange by Mickey and Sylvia, Welcome Home by Peters and Lee, I Just Want to Stay Here by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorm, and Thanks for the Memory by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross. "Don't do it.". The 2023 GQ Food & Drink Awards shortlist. JCC will be joining Squeeze on their UK tour - tickets available from Gigs and Tours. But, yeah, actors just sound like twats when they get all high and mighty trying to shame talk TV hosts, I give you that. Fascinating for anyone interesting in recent history, music history, fashion and pop culture. Above a pretty upbeat musical backdrop, his abrupt dictation is all the more compelling. Apart from the revolution, its another working day.. 7 alternative places to go for Valentine's Day in Manchester, Department: the most beautiful shop on Barlow Moor Road, Manchester Architecture: A History. I've got MediaCity to thank for introducing me to the genius that was Sean Locke. The worlds defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking whats new and whats next since 1952. In addition, he published two poetry collections, Ten Years in an Open Necked Shirt and The Luckiest Guy Alive. Part One, Picture of the Month: Where Manchester began. I mean, crikey! Even his musical tastes were mine in those early days; Dylan and Captain Beefheart. Are You the Business? Beasley Street [15] That same year, Clarke featured in rapper Plan B's feature film Ill Manors and subsequently the Ill Manors album. John reckons Jack has done a terrific job of maintaining Lytteltons air of lugubrious resignation. Best line: If you like your coffee hot, let me be your coffee pot. 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. Felt wrong listening to it at my usual 1.5 speed so I set it at normal pace and 15 hours in John's company later I'm going to start again at the beginning. Meet the men who get turned on hearing about their partners sexual past, Simone Rocha is the incumbent Cool Guy brand, An entirely accurate ranking of the 15 best comedy films ever, Print copies & Digital access for only 1. In Majorca, he offers a playful perspective from Spains crowded holiday resorts, noting its hysteria but also kind of embracing it. There's no pubs where I live anymore. anarchic punk poetry John Cooper Clarke is . So glad Majorca is on the list utter genius and my favourite! Kae writes in a kind of language that I don't really use, addressing a public that I have no knowledge of. He really wasn't limited to any sub-genre. For me it will be The Clash, The Slits, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Blondie, Siouxsie and the Banshees and of course, The Saints. Clarke also recorded a song with the band entitled "Dead Man's Shoes". WONDERFUL NEW VIDEO FROM SPARKS for new single The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte, Dark Star: Out Flew Reason album review, Watch This! John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is a British performance poet from Salford, Lancashire. 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. It's not a place for a first date, is it? He's like Edward Scissorhand's older and more sensitive brother. Please check for alternative titles or spellings. 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 the late 1970s and early 1980s, he released several albums. Goldshaw began handling Clarke's affairs, and the two toured with the Mescaleros and several times supporting the Fall. Enter the Dragon, exit Johnny Clarke. For all the ludicrous stories of drug-smuggling and evading the police, there are some truly harrowing moments. It's 'mom' upside down. Pest Manchesters hidden musical treasures: who knew? Lifestyle. John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet, who first became famous as a "punk poet" in the late 1970s. Trochaic pentameter is an uncommon form of meter. 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 never relies on style. Surely a poet of the music world, if ever there was one, and one whose impact on left-field arts is impossible to overestimate. 2023 Louder Than War. John Cooper Clarke, poet, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury he would want with him if cast away to a desert island. So witty and clever, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of fashion, music and pop culture. 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. [2][9] Clarke toured with Linton Kwesi Johnson, and has performed on the same bill as bands such as the Sex Pistols, the Fall, Joy Division, Buzzcocks, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Elvis Costello, Rockpile and New Order (including at their May 1984 Music for Miners benefit concert at London's Royal Festival Hall). Along the way we get treated to some of John Cooper Clarkes finest writing and maybe as we gained a poet, we lost an author. Each performance seemed unique., Clarke got to know Arctic Monkeys in their early days at the Boardwalk in Sheffield. What can I say, the 70's and 80's were a weird, weird, gloriously outrageous, wonderfully fun, utterly ridiculous era. Credit: Getty Images. Best line: The boys are on the wagon. "[15] In 1987, he performed live (on crutches owing to a broken ankle) at the Albany Empire in London with Suns of Arqa, recorded two tracks ("Libera Me" and "The Truth Lies Therein") for their album Seven, and featured in the music video for the latter. John Cooper Clarke up against Damo Suzuki and Georgia Ruth. Was Jesus Christ a decent bloke?. 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. Website. 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. His only prose work is I Wanna Be Yours, a memoir. Any amateur review cannot do justice to the genius of JCC, so I just urge you to read it! Failure to hang yourself justified the axe.. This book was not for me there were too many references to other muicians, which for some people would be of interest, but not me. If nothing else, I Wanna Be Yours stands as a thrilling document of some of musics most exciting moments of the last century. Follow us on Vero for exclusive music content and commentary, all the latest music lifestyle news and insider access into the GQ world, from behind-the-scenes insight to recommendations from our Editors and high-profile talent. 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. 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. But Clarke is one of a kind, and with this piece he redefined traditional ideas of poetry altogether. John Hegley Poet. Im holding you to that, John. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he released several albums. Among the revelations of I Wanna Be Yours, however, is the fact that the two distinctly voiced flatmates came extremely close to recording an album of duets under the name Nico And Johnnie. From the emergence of rock n roll in the late 50s; The Beatles and The Stones; the rise of Northern Soul at the Wigan Casino; mid-70s dub reggae; punk rock; and Manchesters immortal Factory-led post-punk scene in the 80s, Clarke saw them all. Running parallel with Clarkes rise to fame is a descent into serious drug addiction. He also charts his struggles with heroin addiction in the 1980s. Part of me dies under my overalls. Come my old age, my nursing home will have a very different soundtrack to the Hits of the Blitz that the grandparents favoured. Media City ain't Ordsall any more than The Vatican City is Rome, he says, The modern priestly class of show-business is kept apart from the hoi polloi of Ordsall. Click the button below to see the extras you get! Leading line: Its a sociologists paradise. 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. John Otway is not exactly a household name. [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." 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. Salford poet John Cooper Clarke has certainly led a fascinating life and documents it in - a lot of - detail in this memoir. Around this time, he performed on stage with several punk and post-punk bands and continues to perform regularly. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . In July 2019 Clarke was the guest for BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. His career has been more as a performer, though he insists that its important to write the poems down, saying, You've got to learn the words somehow. 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 . One of his more upbeat musical compositions accompany this one, the delivery of which veers startlingly close to a sung melody. Idiot. 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. After a 40 odd year career, its perhaps surprising that John Cooper Clarke has only actually released two books of poetry. Discombobulated youths, confined spaces Clarke gets it all spot on. 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". The term I'm looking for here is the common touch. His wife Evie, whos French, is the better cook. Read More. I'm seeing the value of pubs now because they've been banned. He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. Earning the epithet of Punk Poet, John Cooper Clarke managed to somehow ride the zeitgeist of punk as a poet while looking like a skinny, burst Bob Dylan. was John Cooper Clarke, a skinny punk from up north, from whose mouth down south this poem poured forth. The book is a sure fire cure for insomnia. His recorded output has mainly centred around musical backing from the Invisible Girls, which featured Martin Hannett . I love playingWheres Wallywith poems find the metaphor, spot the simile detour relationship never really went beyond that which is strange because I love music and essentially lyrics are just poems to music. 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. 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. 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. The shock and awe of those times would not seem to be particularly fertile ground for a poet to thrive in, but, hidden in the depths of Salford, a young poet was getting ready to do exactly that. 2nd May 2020. Beasley Street is one of John Cooper Clarkes darker poems. Its onomatopoeic innit? Written in the style of what I did on my holiday, liberally sprinkled with old man type groovy speak, eg natch kinda. Think about it; the North Pole is no place for the higher primates. Clarke often seemed to bear beats in mind when writing and performing, possibly indicating there is a frustrated rock star hiding under the poetic exterior. A brief summary of his concerns: political turbulence, tacky holidays, people you cant help but hate, walking down streets of squalor and being a hopeless romantic. Unfortunately, the latter half is a repetitive and often boring account of all the numerous ways of taking heroin at various times and locations. Best line: Im not your psychoanalyst, Id rather talk to mice.. I chose the audiobook version, and who wouldnt given his unique style. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Simple and timeless, it addresses the realities of raw feelings as Clarke expresses a desire to be the electric heater youll get cold without. The only two things I disagree with him on are a) Genesis (dude, you've confused them with the Grateful Dead--that's the band with the 30 minute guitar solos) and b) that an artist should never avow their politics. I didnt want the 15+ hours of this to end, and had I the time, Id listen to it again right away. First shown: 05/02/1979If you would like to license a clip from this video please . What made it easy to remember was the sonorous language of poetry. I saw people like John Lee Hooker, The Animals, The Who. Ten Years in an Open Necked Shirt In Johns fantastic memoir,I Wanna Be Yours, he talks a lot about his friend, the lateMark E Smith. British punk poet who set lyrics of rebellion to the music of lesser-known bands. They're already selling a range of poisons. Evidently Chickentown wouldnt have achieved its master status had it not been for Clarkes repetitive fucking (words only, dont worry). 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. That's the one thing I miss about living in Manchester. With kind-of-terrible, kind-of-hysterical comments Like a nightclub in the morning, youre the bitter end every claim is unleashed like a bomb. [1] In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he released several albums. And today he turns 70. His set is characterised by lively rapid-fire renditions of his poems, usually performed a cappella. Beasley Street- a punk poem by John Cooper Clarke Far from crazy pavements - The taste of silver spoons A clinical arrangement On a dirty afternoon Where the fecal germs of Mr Freud Are rendered obsolete The legal term is null and void In the case of Beasley Street In the cheap seats where murder breeds Somebody is out of breath (Sept. 26, 1888 Jan. 4, 1965) Famous Poets; Langston Hughes; Carl Sandburg; John Keats; Walt Whitman; I always thought, who would like this? 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. She writes about her world, same as I write about mine.". He kicked me in the balls and said something profound. The memoir all obsessives of the self-professed Bargain Basement Baudilaire have been waiting for. Poetry with swearing in it.. John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is an English performance poet, who first became famous as a "punk poet" in the late 1970s. Poetry and I have a difficult relationship. For decades it was seen as corny. He never does the same song the same way twice. As he reveals in his book of the same name, we have the compilers of the 1990s GCSE English syllabus, who included three of Clarkes poems, to thank for it. The relationship that tabloids have with their readership is not a didactic one of master-pupil. 1. Bit of a bizarre analogy, certainly, but totally exposed and kind of tragic. meet Salomey Maloney. 'It will provide some much-needed employment in a depressed area'. Donnie Sutherland on Sounds and After Dark:John Cooper Clarke reading his poem 'Twat' on Australian show After Dark in 1982.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donn. About John Cooper Clarke. He would approach a song as though it were a poem and then he would decide how to sing it. May he rest in peace. [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. Especially detailed are the account of his early years in a display that threatens to derail his story. [2], Clarke has attributed his early success in part to the influence of the English poet Pam Ayres. Poet Laureate of Punk, fashion icon, TV and radio presenter, social and cultural commentator. There was little of the 'poet in the making' insight. Best line: Did Bob Marley like the odd smoke? John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet, who first became famous as a "punk poet" in the late 1970s. He shot to cultural prominence in the Seventies, producing and performing poetry that tackled real-life matters with zero fear and total vibrance. I always loved I married a monster from out of space big bug eyes and a death ray glare, feet like water wings purple hair. February picture of the month: the extremes of city life. 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 Clarke is an English performance poet, who first became famous as a "punk poet" in the late 1970s. Now I can add John Cooper Clarke's I Wanna Be Yours to make a list of two. John Cooper Clarke is a different breed of the poet. With so much to see, its inevitable that we would [], 1984. I do love a circular conversation.. Four of Clarke's five lots made a loss, giving a total loss of 233.54. [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've all turned into takeaways, secondhand shops, estate agents. You heathens! Discover John Cooper Clarke famous and rare quotes. 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. Having an idea to write such a poem is one thing, but to create such a masterfully crafted text is quite another. With a song, you can hold notes on. A clear favourite among artists and a clear favourite for all ill-fated lovers. (I Married A) Monster From Outer Space(I've Got A Brand New) Track Suit23rd36 hoursA Distant RelationAction ManApart From The RevolutionAre You The BusinessArts N' CraftsBeasley StreetBelladonnaBronze AdonisBunch Of TwigsBurnleyConcussionConditional DischargeCycle AccidentDay My Pad Went MadDay the World Stood StillDrive She SaidDumb Row Nico and Clarke famously lived in south London together in the 80s. addiction and then the massive comeback as major poet he enjoys today. I asked him what they were called, and he said The Arctic Monkeys, Clarke remembers. Clarke's poem "Out of Control Fairground" was printed inside the Arctic Monkeys' 2007 single "Fluorescent Adolescent" CD. At the same time, you had people like Wordsworth, waxing lyrical about the Lake District. Bob Mortimer has taken on the role of John Cooper Clarke. '''Twat"", one of his most famous poems. And yet they voted for Tony Blair., Whoever went in a pub for the good of their health? The book is also an at times bleak account of his descent into heroin addiction, always written with a lightness of touch, but never swerving in its mission to bare all. If it's got some kind of lasting value, you say it's poetic. If youre wondering how to deal with someone elses problems, the solution is right in this piece of poetry. 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". After 20 years of performing the same material, Clarke re-established contact with guitarist Rick Goldstraw, who had founded Blue Orchids and played with The Fall and Nico. John Cooper Clarke's age is 73. (For adults and teenagers). 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. [1] He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. The constant use of the word fucking functions as a hammer, used to drive the points home. Time for an eyebrow raise Clarkes language rage is in full force 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. The soundtrack of your life often reflects the time when you were a teenager, when everything sears into the memory, embeds itself deep in the psyche and remains with you. Im relieved. This poem may be tailored towards a past decade, but its atmospheric despair still rings today. 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. A lesser known Clarke number but amongst his most literary and witty, Are You the Business? I know he likes his food, saying in a recent Guardian interview that the only foods he wont eat are flapjacks, falafel and tripe. His working class roots are clear and make a fascinating tale. I cant prove this, because sadly there is no recorded evidence, but youve gotta believe me.. johncooperclarke .com. It is far from gratuitous, take the swearing out and the poem would cease to function as such. I digress. Children. He hastens to add that he values newspapers hugely and doesnt like to see any newspaper collapse. 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!). 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. From music hall and working mens clubs to punk and post-punk, whether as an observer or participant, Clarke has done it all. Immediately were giggling like old pals. Suspended Sentence 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. On Sale Best line: Theyd hang you for incontinence and fiddling your tax. There's a bit where I'm in it, reciting Chickentown in an Irish Pub but I wrote this poem especially for it called Pity The Plight of Young Fellows. It doesnt say much, but it goes to great lengths to say it. It's Working Men's Club. 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. 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. 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.

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