A native of Salford, Clarke and his trademark spiky bouffant have performed on the same bill as legendary Manchester bands like the Fall, the Buzzcocks, and Joy Division (as well as many other bands); managed to place Snap, Crackle & Bop, an album of his verses set to music, at #26 on the U.K . 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. A book that I did not want to end, so I tried to eke it out rather than devour 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. He currently resides in England, United Kingdom. Sometimes a band hit . 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. [4] He also duetted with Reverend Jon McClure at a Reverend and the Makers concert at London's Spread Eagle, performing the poem "Last Resort", which would later be released as the B-side for the band's single "Heavyweight Champion of the World". 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. A Music War, in which he performed his poem "Health Fanatic". is a barrage of questions from the subtle to the absurd, each one laugh inducing and perfectly crafted. It draws on his childhood perceptions specifically, the poverty he came across on the streets of Salford while Britains backdrop was entirely Thatcherite. Evidently Chickentown . I think I've got that. 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. I loved what they did with [my poem] I Wanna Be Yours. 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. . 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. I asked him what they were called, and he said The Arctic Monkeys, Clarke remembers. 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". But I don't want to overanalyse what I do. Read More. What made it easy to remember was the sonorous language of poetry. 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. Some extracts taken from an interview with Punk Poet - John Cooper Clarke. Beasley Street- a punk poem by John Cooper Clarke There was a cut off in the 80s where people like me were just rendered completely old fashioned. 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. I was not equipped psychologically to deal with any of this new reality, he writes. 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. Credit: Getty. Looks like Clarkes not the only one feeling entrapped this is a classic piece of poetry. Everybody else has been teachers, librarians or whatever. 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. He's like Edward Scissorhand's older and more sensitive brother. Johns thrilled that people too young to remember punk rock may have discovered him on a compulsory basis when his poems were added to the GCSE syllabus in the 90s. When I phone John Cooper Clarke at his home in Colchester, hes been listening to Radio 4s obituary show, The Last Word. When you hear his version of Lost In Music you realise that even when Sister Sledge did it, it was always a Fall tune.. 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 It is an immensely engaging memoir that fizzes with wit, and it is simultaneously a chronicle of a lifetimes worth of extraordinary culture. See Jim Moir aka Vic Reeves paintings for evidence of how broad his impact still is. The band's Alex Turner has said he is very fond of Clarke's work and takes inspiration for lyrics from his poems. (I Married A) Monster From Outer Space (I've Got A Brand New) Track Suit 23rd 36 hours A Distant Relation Action Man Apart From The Revolution Are You The Business Arts N' Crafts Beasley Street Belladonna Bronze Adonis Bunch Of Twigs Burnley Concussion Conditional Discharge Cycle Accident Day My Pad Went Mad Day . His only prose work is I Wanna Be Yours, a memoir. The most striking thing about hearing this poem performed live is the staccato call-and-response nature of the delivery. Leading line: They packed us into the white hotel. Fortunately, Clarke did. By 1978, he was opening for the Sex Pistols and the Buzzcocks, and . Throughout the 60s, he was a member of a comically inept beat combo whose Spinal Tap-style career is worthy of its own book. Bit of a bizarre analogy, certainly, but totally exposed and kind of tragic. They were speaking my language. Well bet that when you listen to its leading lines, youll naturally prescribe a name in your head. John Cooper Clarke: Fans walk out of Sheffield gig over 'transphobic John Cooper Clarke on Apple Music The saddest of all, however, is when he realises that an emaciated, greasy heroin dealer is in fact Chet Baker, once jazzs handsome, charismatic Prince of Cool, now a shadow of his former self. Twat So playing to my strengths, I thought, I'm gonna make a living doing this. Clarke was born in Salford, Lancashire, in 1949. Linton Kwesi Johnson Poet. 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. I was eagerly anticipating this and got it within a few hours of release; went for the audiobook version because JCC has one of the most characterful and listenable voices in showbusiness. He laughs as he remembers The Vault, a room many pubs had with a dartboard, no carpet and no women - a room where swearing was allowed. 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!). Take a tip from John Cooper Clarke 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. An odd staple of many wedding ceremonies, I Wanna Be Yours was the first John Cooper Clarke poem to make the GCSE syllabus in 2002, and introduced a young Alex Turner to the art of the well crafted verse. 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. Benjamin Zephaniah Writer. 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. 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. However, I laughed out loud and thoroughly enjoyed the book once he started performing. The term poetic is often used to describe all manner of art: movies, paintings, photographs. Best line: Poverty and pollution have all swept away. Are you happier now than you have ever been? Does Rock 'N' Roll Kill Braincells?! - John Cooper Clarke - NME The result of that time was this a piece of poetry that feels more like a piece of meditation. 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. His unique poetry and delivery style was recorded and put to music by legendary producer Martin Hannett. One of. I will say that I did miss some sort of lead up to his performances. Hes even on the GCSE curriculum these days! What kind of poet is John Cooper Clarke? 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. (Play Loud)". 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. I mean, crikey! That poem I wrote for Plan B for the movie Ill Manors. Endless name dropping and lists of songs, even ad jingles. You heathens! One of his more upbeat musical compositions accompany this one, the delivery of which veers startlingly close to a sung melody. John Cooper Clarke was born in England on January 25, 1949. The poem is also the inspiration behind the single's video, in which clowns brawl. In fact it is extremely dark but, given that it looks at the worst excesses of slum dwelling, how could it not be. 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. Yeah, I think you can learn to be a poet to a greater or lesser extent. His recorded output has mainly centred around musical backing from the Invisible Girls, which featured Martin Hannett . Another speciality is clothing and fashion, something he takes very seriously. 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. Not all of his groups were such a shambles, however. In this autobiography he is engaging and pretty honest (irritating as well). They have done me so much good those lads. Apart From the Revolution John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is an English performance poet who became famous during the punk rock era of the late 1970s when he became known as a "punk poet". Each performance seemed unique., Clarke got to know Arctic Monkeys in their early days at the Boardwalk in Sheffield. John Cooper Clarke - Poems Enter the Dragon, exit Johnny Clarke. I'll give you an example whereby I've tried to stay true to myself while dealing with the modern world. Even his musical tastes were mine in those early days; Dylan and Captain Beefheart. meet Salomey Maloney. We are still experiencing political turmoil, after all. He kicked me in the balls and said something profound. It refers to lines of verse that contain five sets of two beats, the first of which is stressed and the second is unstressed. John Cooper Clarke | Penny's poetry pages Wiki | Fandom 14.00 GBP. It's kind of Dickensian. Give it a name. British punk poet who set lyrics of rebellion to the music of lesser-known bands. Twat (certainly not Clarkes first or last foray into the four letter realm) is one of John Cooper Clarke angriest yet somehow most charming poems. So why pick on cigs? From music hall and working mens clubs to punk and post-punk, whether as an observer or participant, Clarke has done it all. Features 30 new poems, including the favourites; I've Fallen In Love With My Wife and Get Back on Drugs you Fat F*ck. Looks like you might have an AdBlocker on. Each day repeats on easy, cheesy, greasy, queasy, beastly Beasley Street. All mixed up with drug taking anecdotes. 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. 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. [] challenging as the juggling fiends of fate have seen several must sees on at the same time; i.e. Kung Fu International 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. Upon receipt, Clarke commented: "Now I'm a doctor, finally my dream of opening a cosmetic surgery business can become a reality. Credit: Getty Images. Unfortunately, the latter half is a repetitive and often boring account of all the numerous ways of taking heroin at various times and locations. 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. Authors; . You call the shots, I wanna be yours. Around this time, he performed on stage with several punk and post-punk bands and continues . To me, it depends on the artist. He was comparatively old - in his late twenties - by the time punk hit, but he looked and sounded every inch the punky malcontent, and he . I think Mr Clarke was given too much freedom with this meandering diary with a tendency to show off. 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. His life is as extraordinary as youd expect and had me wondering if it is actually a privilege to be working class. Failure to hang yourself justified the axe.. John Cooper Clarke is a phenomenon: Poet Laureate of Punk, rock star, fashion icon, TV and radio presenter, social and cultural commentator. 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. The language is old fashioned - even for me. 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. When I saw the book in my local bookshop on Christmas Eve, I grabbed it. He was known in his pomp as the punk poet. Kae writes in a kind of language that I don't really use, addressing a public that I have no knowledge of. Surely a poet of the music world, if ever there was one, and one whose impact on left-field arts is impossible to overestimate. His working class roots are clear and make a fascinating tale. Simple and timeless, it addresses the realities of raw feelings as Clarke expresses a desire to be the electric heater youll get cold without. Site by. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. Best line: I pleaded for mercy, I wriggled on the ground. What's the difference? 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. [1] He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. I got into it Michael Gove style, learning it off by heart without even understanding anything about it. With more and more millennials beginning to search for political clarity through poetry, sales of Clarkes work are currently soaring high. . Confidentials Manchester, Dublin weekend: history, seafood, literature and shiny chests. Clarke writes about his English teacher, Mr. Malone, with affection. John Cooper Clarke | John Peel Centre for Creative Arts In memory of Bernard Nyland who has finally got to 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. Feral Five: Truth Is The New Gold video premiere. John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is an English performance poet, who first became famous as a " punk poet" in the late 1970s. 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. 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. John Cooper Clarke Net Worth He shot to cultural prominence in the Seventies, producing and performing poetry that tackled real-life matters with zero fear and total vibrance. The name of a group is important and that one is unforgettable. 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. Nothing ages you more than trying to look like you're 'down with all that'. Instead we get perhaps John Cooper Clarke's hardest hitting poems. Introduction to the English rock singer and poet, Sir John Cooper Clarke, and reading of two poems "I wanna be yours" & "I've got. You can no more take the politics out of Kathe Kolwitz, Sue Coe, or Brecht than you could take the words out of poem. In. I remember him from the 70s and from assorted TV appearances. I didn't want to work for a living when I was a teenager. Theres a whole wide world in those two words; it calls up an emotional response. 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. 9.50 GBP. 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. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. The frog dies and nobody laughs. I couldn't put it better than the late Baz.. This the man who first taught him that poetry should be heard, not read, and who managed to transform his classroom into a hothouse of proto-rap battles. 4. Cooper Clarke spent some time in the 80s sharing an apartment in Brixton with notorious femme fatale Nico - famous for singing in The Velvet Underground with rock legend Lou Reed. Where was the editor? For decades it was seen as corny. John Cooper Clarke's age is 73. I mean, crikey! Four of Clarke's five lots made a loss, giving a total loss of 233.54. He has a great deal of respect for the tabloid hack who puts themselves in danger for a good story. Then right at the end, in 2004, hes buying crystal meth. 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. They have one daughter, Stella.[15][29]. I Wanna Be Yours Poetry with swearing in it.. The most surprising influence of all, however, is the agony aunt section of his mothers Womans Own magazine, one of the first places he fell in love with the written word. 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. "Don't do it.". Cant find it anywhere :-(. Leading line: Its a sociologists paradise. He embodied its ethos before the concept even existed. I can only think of one instance where a poem has become a song. This is perhaps a reflection of his upbringing in Salford which he describes in a way that highlights the fact that it is a dirty, grimy area this can often inform his poetry. His life and career spans a big timescale, and with his constant demons this is no mean feat. His wife Evie, whos French, is the better cook. I bought this book because I like his poetry. 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". We have a small favour to ask. "Finding your perfect reading is like finding the most comfortable but beautiful pair of shoes you have ever worn. Rhythm machines at the ready, his cultural performance is about to kick off Theres a real sense of artistic perception when Cooper Clarke is on stage, because he doesnt just stand there and read lines of words. They drive the book, his difficult life and the mean spirit which is probably not his true self. British punk poet who set lyrics of rebellion to the music of lesser-known bands. John Cooper Clarke shot to prominence in the 1970s as the original 'people's poet'. And yet they voted for Tony Blair., Whoever went in a pub for the good of their health? Lets just say its a lot. Top 10 John Cooper Clarke Poems - Louder Than War Clarke's poem "Out of Control Fairground" was printed inside the Arctic Monkeys' 2007 single "Fluorescent Adolescent" CD. Part of me dies under my overalls. 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. JCC featured on BBC Radio 4's Chain Reaction in August 2011 being interviewed by none other than New Order's Peter Hook. Article What is Baroque? I like learning about poetry, the nuances and the cleverly picked phrases. 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. I think it was on Sky Arts. Ten Years in an Open Necked Shirt by John Cooper Clarke - Goodreads It also contains the line 'Keith Joseph smiles and a baby dies, in a box on Beasley Street'. 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. Wise words from punk poet John Cooper Clarke - British GQ Leading line: Youre fucking lost and fucking found, stuck in fucking Chickentown. 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. The memoir all obsessives of the self-professed Bargain Basement Baudilaire have been waiting for. Beasley Street (John Cooper Clarke) | Jon Kutner 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. In Majorca, he offers a playful perspective from Spains crowded holiday resorts, noting its hysteria but also kind of embracing it. I knew nothing about Clarke but had listened to his interview for Desert Island Discs. I've never heard anybody with an Ordsall accent in employment in MediaCity.". John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is an English performance poet, who first became famous as a "punk poet" in the late 1970s. Watch John Cooper Clarke perform 'I Wrote the Songs' from his new Discombobulated youths, confined spaces Clarke gets it all spot on. "What a great name! I don't know why more people don't do it. 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. [21] In October 2020 Clarke published an autobiography which took its title from his poem I Wanna Be Yours. Among poets, John Cooper Clarke is the closest thing to a rock star our contemporary times can offer. Have you got a sense of humour? The worlds defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking whats new and whats next since 1952. 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. Their common problem is that theyre not someone else. The same way that somebody who's a good painter back in them days would have been a commercial artist. 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. I Dont Want To Be Nice D r John Cooper Clarke, Salford's favourite son, arrives in the whitewashed upper room of St John near London's Smithfield meat market trailing a suitcase. 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. Now I can add John Cooper Clarke's I Wanna Be Yours to make a list of two. Beasley Street is one of John Cooper Clarkes darker poems. Im relieved. Ten years on Paul Evangelista updates the list to 12 of the best JCC poems with links! The effect of this is to hammer home the points made. 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. What can I say, the 70's and 80's were a weird, weird, gloriously outrageous, wonderfully fun, utterly ridiculous era. On this rare occasion that Clarke took a writing trip away from socialism, he proved his leading status as a hopeless romantic. 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. Crucially, he found the humour in these situations and used this extensively in his verse. Those are the places they were playing - not pubs.