From music hall and working mens clubs to punk and post-punk, whether as an observer or participant, Clarke has done it all. Roger McGough Poet. Then right at the end, in 2004, hes buying crystal meth. 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. 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. A prime example: I Dont Want To Be Nice. Their common problem is that theyre not someone else. 'It will provide some much-needed employment in a depressed area'. Beasley Street It's kind of Dickensian. Part of me dies under my overalls. The frog dies and nobody laughs. I couldn't put it better than the late Baz.. Came across JCC through the Arctic Monkeys. I bought this book because I like his poetry. I always thought, who would like this? It could have been bearable if he wrote decent prose, and used it to create more than a dull account of things. Igr kvll underhll han hela Hammersmith Apollo med sin legendariska performancepoesi och den dr clarkeska deadpanhumorn. (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 This brings us to our shared love of specialised languages like Yiddish, which Inotice John lends from a lot, and Polari. 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 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. First book of 2021. It also contains the line 'Keith Joseph smiles and a baby dies, in a box on Beasley Street'. He's met the fish man on the way. Instead we get perhaps John Cooper Clarkes hardest hitting poems. John Cooper Clark is a performance poet who first became famous in the late 1970s. He is considered a major figure in punk poetry and punk literature . 2023 Louder Than War. 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. This Time It's Personal CD. 14.00 GBP. Best line: Like a death a birthday party, you ruin all the fun.. 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. Best line: If you like your coffee hot, let me be your coffee pot. 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. But little do I care. I do recognise that there's a lot of the hack in the way I write poetry. There's a certain snobbery that poetry that people enjoy must, by definition, be stupid. 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. And when you happen to see him, in these very ordinary settings, it's a bit like magic. For many, Arctic Monkeys cover of Clarkes 1982 poem I Wanna Be Yours, the closing track on AM, was the gateway into the bard of Salfords work. 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. In a way it kind of cramps my style.. But hes never mannered. 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 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. John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet, who first became famous as a "punk poet" in the late 1970s. His set is characterised by lively rapid-fire renditions of his poems, usually performed a cappella. All the things that didn't use to be crimes. 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 The poem is also the inspiration behind the single's video, in which clowns brawl. Site by. What can I say, the 70's and 80's were a weird, weird, gloriously outrageous, wonderfully fun, utterly ridiculous era. To me, it depends on the artist. His only prose work is I Wanna Be Yours, a memoir. It's a good example of going in the opposite direction, rather than trying to fit in with the yoot'. 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. He's the most straightforward interpreter of a song that it's possible to get. 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. Dr John Cooper Clarke's 2019 autobiography, named after his most famous poem I Wanna Be Yours, (Macmillan), is a groundbreaking piece of literature. A five star no-brainer for me, but I really wonder how others not having a similar background might feel about it. I also recommend his love show! 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. A relatively simple yet typically colourful condemnation of an unnamed individual; all the best components of Clarkes work are found here. His musical albums include Snap, Crackle & Bop; Zip Style Method; Disguise in Love; and Walking Back to Happiness. Trochaic pentameter is an uncommon form of meter. 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. Pest is ostensibly about someone urinating in public but really is Clarke delighting in his mastery of the English language. 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. 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. We both just love words. I asked him what they were called, and he said The Arctic Monkeys, Clarke remembers. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Best line: The boys are on the wagon. They've all turned into takeaways, secondhand shops, estate agents. Get that monkey out of there!". JCC goes into . His recorded output has mainly centred around musical backing from the Invisible Girls, which featured Martin Hannett . I Wanna Be Yoursis very different from a lot of the poems that have been analyzed on Poem Analysis. "With charm you've got to get up close." Login Sign Up. 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. 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. The Road to Mandalay by Rudyard Kipling. Website. [15] That same year, Clarke featured in rapper Plan B's feature film Ill Manors and subsequently the Ill Manors album. It is through you visiting Poem Analysis that we are able to contribute to charity. was an indian famous poet (May 7, 1861 August 7, 1941) Thomas. I know he likes his food, saying in a recent Guardian interview that the only foods he wont eat are flapjacks, falafel and tripe. A RIOT OF OUR OWN BY JOHNNY GREEN & GARRY BARKER. But, yeah, actors just sound like twats when they get all high and mighty trying to shame talk TV hosts, I give you that. The constant use of the word fucking functions as a hammer, used to drive the points home. He also charts his struggles with heroin addiction in the 1980s. 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. After a 40 odd year career, its perhaps surprising that John Cooper Clarke has only actually released two books of poetry. It couldn't be more accessible. 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. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. 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. English punk poet John Cooper-Clarke first began performing his verse backed by a local folk group called the Ferrets, but with his rapid-fire verbal delivery and stinging social commentary, he quickly emerged as the poet laureate of the punk movement. 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. They drive the book, his difficult life and the mean spirit which is probably not his true self. [2], Clarke has attributed his early success in part to the influence of the English poet Pam Ayres. 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. 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 Johns fantastic memoir,I Wanna Be Yours, he talks a lot about his friend, the lateMark E Smith. I cant prove this, because sadly there is no recorded evidence, but youve gotta believe me.. But really it is another example of Clarke having fun with the written word. You heathens! Dr. John Cooper Clarke is a Salford-born poet and performer who has shared bills with the likes of Joy Division, the Sex Pistols and the Fall, and released multiple albums. Fortunately, Clarke did. His musical albums include Snap, Crackle & Bop; Zip Style Method; Disguise in Love; and Walking Back to Happiness. 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 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. This poem may be tailored towards a past decade, but its atmospheric despair still rings today. The term poetic is often used to describe all manner of art: movies, paintings, photographs. I Dont Want To Be Nice Sort of rave kids. Again we are presented with a nightmarish vision of the future that may sound unnecessarily alarmist these days, but as Tom Robinson once pointed out, just because it didnt go the way of military repression or fascists taking over the Conservative party, that doesnt mean to say it couldnt have done. The 70s were scary times and Clarke mirrored these concerns. It's Working Men's Club. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. It's consciously antediluvian., Hes a fan of rap music though, How could I possibly complain? The language is old fashioned - even for me. I chose the audiobook version, and who wouldnt given his unique style. ", I'm seeing the value of pubs now because they've been banned. Oh, those tragic Brit holidays. Near the end hes given up drugs, married and has a grown up daughter. 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. Baudelaire used to write about the modern world as it was in the 1860s in Paris. His only prose work is I Wanna Be Yours, a memoir. You go outside if you like fresh air that much.. What kind of poet is John Cooper Clarke? When you hear his version of Lost In Music you realise that even when Sister Sledge did it, it was always a Fall tune.. 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. 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. If it's got some kind of lasting value, you say it's poetic. Evidently Chickentown To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. 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. Sat around with a load of swearing old blokes playing darts and farting.. [21] In October 2020 Clarke published an autobiography which took its title from his poem I Wanna Be Yours. I can write blank verse, but where's the groove? John's 2018 poetry collection The Luckiest Guy Alive. John Cooper Clarke (1983). Famous fans include Ben Drew, aka the aforementioned Plan B as well as Alex Turner and his Arctic Monkeys. A master wordsmith, his love of language and humour leaps from every page. "Finding your perfect reading is like finding the most comfortable but beautiful pair of shoes you have ever worn. meet Salomey Maloney. Kung Fu International I wasn't a punk, but a signed-up drippy hippy, and the music I was into then Pink Floydian and trippy, but I rushed out quick and bought his Gimmix single, though with safety-pinned punks I had to mingle. Was Jesus Christ a decent bloke?. He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. John Cooper Clarke shot to prominence in the 1970s as the original 'people's poet'. 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. Take a tip from John Cooper Clarke You call the shots, I wanna be yours. British punk poet who set lyrics of rebellion to the music of lesser-known bands. Salford poet John Cooper Clarke has certainly led a fascinating life and documents it in - a lot of - detail in this memoir. 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. The book is a sure fire cure for insomnia. John Cooper Clarke is a different breed of the poet. Contents John cooper clarke twat on after dark 1982 When I phone John Cooper Clarke at his home in Colchester, hes been listening to Radio 4s obituary show, The Last Word. Some of the toughest guys I ever knew were all vying for attention with million-dollar words, the slickest of rhymes, and ever more arcane vocabulary, Clarke recalls. John reckons Jack has done a terrific job of maintaining Lytteltons air of lugubrious resignation. This one is all about violence. 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. It's not a place for a first date, is it? It is not Clarke that embraced punk, however, but the other way around. In addition, he published two poetry collections, Ten Years in an Open Necked Shirt and The Luckiest Guy Alive. They were speaking my language. The rest is history. Clarke's poem "Out of Control Fairground" was printed inside the Arctic Monkeys' 2007 single "Fluorescent Adolescent" CD. "Don't do it.". 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'. "Evidently Chickentown" (recited by Christopher Eccleston) is featured in the made-for-television film Strumpet. He seems to be very happy. None of them were licensed. 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.