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', With a song, you can hold notes on. It is not Clarke that embraced punk, however, but the other way around. He completely dismantles it sometimes and puts it back together. [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." It involved people that are much younger than myself in the gangster world of East London. 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'. 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. 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. 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. So hes still out there wild mane and grungy tailored look intact soon set to embark on his 2019 British tour. I don't think that songs are poetry but I think that a good song has something poetic about it. The second The Luckiest Guy Alive, came 35 years later. "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?! Fortunately, Clarke did. 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. 14.00 GBP. was John Cooper Clarke, a skinny punk from up north, from whose mouth down south this poem poured forth. But I'm glad they don't. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I also recommend his love show! Dont worry, we wont ask who. 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. Wait hang onit IS that crazy singer! JCC goes into. 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. Famous fans include Ben Drew, aka the aforementioned Plan B as well as Alex Turner and his Arctic Monkeys. On three separate occasions Clarke has to be resuscitated from the point of death. 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. Is solo dating the most romantic act of all? He seems to be very happy. Who would have voted for anybody who said, I'm going to abolish pubs? In Johns fantastic memoir,I Wanna Be Yours, he talks a lot about his friend, the lateMark E Smith. I Dont Want To Be Nice The 2023 GQ Food & Drink Awards shortlist. 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. A RIOT OF OUR OWN BY JOHNNY GREEN & GARRY BARKER. There was a cut off in the 80s where people like me were just rendered completely old fashioned. He kicked me in the balls and said something profound. 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. All the things that didn't use to be crimes. 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. Keywords Fashion GQ Style Magazine. I want to talk to John about eating and drinking out. It's kind of Dickensian. He has a great deal of respect for the tabloid hack who puts themselves in danger for a good story. Theres a whole wide world in those two words; it calls up an emotional response. May he rest in peace. 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 . He still performs, and appeared on AM on "I Wanna Be Yours." John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is an English performance poet, who first became famous as a " punk poet" in the late 1970s. When I saw the book in my local bookshop on Christmas Eve, I grabbed it. 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. He shot to cultural prominence in the Seventies,. They were speaking my language. The rest is history. Dr John Cooper Clarke's 2019 autobiography, named after his most famous poem I Wanna Be Yours, (Macmillan), is a groundbreaking piece of literature. . Evie. Leading line: Time flies slides down the wall. The first, Ten Years In An Open Necked Shirt was released in 1983. Toppermost of the poppermost. We practised at home, and got to be pretty good, Clarke claims. "Evidently Chickentown" (recited by Christopher Eccleston) is featured in the made-for-television film Strumpet. 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 By 1978, he was opening for the Sex Pistols and the Buzzcocks, and . Interspersed with the most unlikely offerings that came with the disco era. Not all of his groups were such a shambles, however. His life is as extraordinary as youd expect and had me wondering if it is actually a privilege to be working class. 7 alternative places to go for Valentine's Day in Manchester, Department: the most beautiful shop on Barlow Moor Road, Manchester Architecture: A History. But Clarke is one of a kind, and with this piece he redefined traditional ideas of poetry altogether. JCC featured on BBC Radio 4's Chain Reaction in August 2011 being interviewed by none other than New Order's Peter Hook. Maybe it's a limitation in me. Another speciality is clothing and fashion, something he takes very seriously. Few and far between, we say. He hastens to add that he values newspapers hugely and doesnt like to see any newspaper collapse. I Wanna Be Yours by John Cooper Clarke It's more of two guys in a pub". Best line: Poverty and pollution have all swept away. 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. The bits of the book Id previously dipped into were superbly written, but hearing the Bargain Basement Baudelaire read his own life story lifts it to another level altogether. is a barrage of questions from the subtle to the absurd, each one laugh inducing and perfectly crafted. [2], Clarke has attributed his early success in part to the influence of the English poet Pam Ayres. The term poetic is often used to describe all manner of art: movies, paintings, photographs. 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". They have done me so much good those lads. 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. From squid-gaming to gladiator-duelling, love is a battlefield with these unconventional Manchester date nights. 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. Credit: Getty Images. John Cooper Clarke shot to prominence in the 1970s as the original 'people's poet'. 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. A live performance of the same poem appears in the film Control, with Clarke portraying himself in a re-creation of a 1977 concert in which he supported Joy Division, despite being 30 years older than the events depicted in the film. Bob Mortimer has shared a new lockdown poem in the style of John Cooper Clarke - watch it below . 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 Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet, who first became famous as a "punk poet" in the late 1970s. A newspaper is answerable to libel laws for a start.. I was watching a programme about Motown. Twat His musical albums include Snap, Crackle & Bop; Zip Style Method; Disguise in Love; and Walking Back to Happiness. Looks like Clarkes not the only one feeling entrapped this is a classic piece of poetry. 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. Come my old age, my nursing home will have a very different soundtrack to the Hits of the Blitz that the grandparents favoured. There was little of the 'poet in the making' insight. 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". John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is a British performance poet from Salford, Lancashire. You can divide I Wanna Be Yours into two distinct sections: before and after the legendary Sex Pistols gig at Manchester Free Trade Hall in 1976. '''Twat"", one of his most famous poems. Confidentials Manchester, Dublin weekend: history, seafood, literature and shiny chests. Clarke's poem "Out of Control Fairground" was printed inside the Arctic Monkeys' 2007 single "Fluorescent Adolescent" CD. Barrett Strong - the guy that wrote Money, one of the first lyricists with the Motown label - went to Berry Gordy when he was just starting up the label with a book of poetry and said, if you can use any of these for lyrics, that'd be great. The brilliant and irrepressible Dr. John Cooper Clarke.For those who don't know, John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet, who first became famous d. [2] He returned to live performance in the 1990s, appearing again with Suns of Arqa in 1992 at The Witchwood in Ashton-under-Lyne. John Cooper Clarke (born January 25, 1949) is famous for being poet. February picture of the month: the extremes of city life. I've just realised that now after all these years.. He was known in his pomp as the punk poet. On Sale Dr John Cooper Clarke's 2019 autobiography, named after his most famous poem I Wanna Be Yours, (Macmillan), is a groundbreaking piece of literature. 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. Poet Laureate of Punk, fashion icon, TV and radio presenter, social and cultural commentator. Of all the artists who appear in the book, The Fall, Clarke says, were the best of the best. Oh, those tragic Brit holidays. There's all sorts of things come into play, innit? Contents John cooper clarke twat on after dark 1982 Fact: I Wanna Be Yours is a metaphorical masterpiece. He was later blown away when his adopted nephew grew into one of rocks all-time greats. The often divisive production that Martin Hannett brought to John Cooper Clarkes poetry works to best effect here, complimenting the dark undertones and careful alliteration of in an X certificate exercise ex-servicemen excrete. The book is a sure fire cure for insomnia. But hes never mannered. Discombobulated youths, confined spaces Clarke gets it all spot on. 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. When will Manchester City achieve European Champions League glory? On Sale I Just Wanna Be Yours T-Shirt. 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 . You heathens! 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. It's consciously antediluvian., Hes a fan of rap music though, How could I possibly complain? Credit: Getty. I do recognise that there's a lot of the hack in the way I write poetry. British punk poet who set lyrics of rebellion to the music of lesser-known bands. First book of 2021. You could still smell the polycell. Having an idea to write such a poem is one thing, but to create such a masterfully crafted text is quite another. In 1979, he had his only UK top 40 hit with "Gimmix! For all the ludicrous stories of drug-smuggling and evading the police, there are some truly harrowing moments. A master wordsmith, his love of language and humour leaps from every page. WONDERFUL NEW VIDEO FROM SPARKS for new single The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte, Dark Star: Out Flew Reason album review, Watch This! I can see the worth of a Martin's meat and potato pie. I'm annoyed at myself for finishing this book so quickly but I couldn't bloody help it ! He enjoys cooking at home too, although hes a one pan guy. John Cooper Clarke is an English punk poet who became famous in the late 70s and recorded I Wanna Be Yours in 1982.. Baudelaire used to write about the modern world as it was in the 1860s in Paris. In 1988, he made an appearance in two UK adverts for Sugar Puffs, taking second billing to the Honey Monster. I Married a Monster from Outer Space is a top ten MUST. The memoir all obsessives of the self-professed Bargain Basement Baudilaire have been waiting for. The first half of the book is an exercise in nostalgia as Clarke details growing up in the 1950's, 60's and early 1970's and the social and cultural developments in Britain during those decades with a welter of information about his favourite films, books, comics, songs, bands and much more. [4] During an April 2018 episode of Steve Jones' radio show Jonesy's Jukebox, Clarke revealed one of his early inspirations to be the poet Sir Henry Newbolt, reciting from memory a portion of Newbolt's poem "Vita Lampada". 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. I was going to preface this by saying its not really a poem, but it would be better to say it isnt a poem at all. 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". If nothing else, I Wanna Be Yours stands as a thrilling document of some of musics most exciting moments of the last century. 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. If it's got some kind of lasting value, you say it's poetic. Fascinating for anyone interesting in recent history, music history, fashion and pop culture. Are we still asking if you can wear black with blue? 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. Now you get children in them so you can't even swear in a pub anymore. He is considered a major figure in punk poetry and punk literature . His life and career spans a big timescale, and with his constant demons this is no mean feat. Putting a punk spin on simple matters has given the northern man a master status: purveyor of subcultural shock. John Cooper Clarke was born in England on January 25, 1949. 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. 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. 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. [6] He began his performance career in Manchester folk clubs, where he began working with Rick Goldstraw and his band the Ferrets. 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. Famous fans include Ben Drew, aka the aforementioned Plan B as well as Alex Turner and his Arctic Monkeys. Each day repeats on easy, cheesy, greasy, queasy, beastly Beasley Street. Some extracts taken from an interview with Punk Poet - John Cooper Clarke. [1] He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. 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. 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". Then right at the end, in 2004, hes buying crystal meth. Like having a cig and a pint at the same time and being able to swear about current events. There have been times when poetry was very much in vogue. He's the most straightforward interpreter of a song that it's possible to get. And today he turns 70. Endless name dropping and lists of songs, even ad jingles. In addition, he published two poetry collections, Ten Years in an Open Necked Shirt and The Luckiest Guy Alive. Im holding you to that, John. None of them were licensed. "What a great name! Everything that they wanted to achieve, I wanted to stop happening, he writes. 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. To me, it depends on the artist. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. 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. They were speaking my language. Especially not in Australia. Thats terrible. 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. John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is an English performance poet, who first became famous as a "punk poet" in the late 1970s. 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. 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. He layers them over melodies, relaying a sort of spoken song that makes his compositions an outpour of awareness rather than just forms of entertainment. S lycklig ver att vara samtida med John Cooper Clarke. Sinatra sings it. He explains in an interview . Beasley Street Leading line: They packed us into the white hotel. And yet they voted for Tony Blair., Whoever went in a pub for the good of their health? At the same time, you had people like Wordsworth, waxing lyrical about the Lake District. 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. 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. Every single person that visits Poem Analysis has helped contribute, so thank you for your support. If youre an Arctic Monkeys fan, youll probably recognise this one, as Alex Turner used its lyrics for a leading number on the bands 2013 album, AM. "For many years as well - this is where Ive been ploughing the lonely furrow - rhyming was seen to be a capital offence. Hes even on the GCSE curriculum these days! 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. It refers to lines of verse that contain five sets of two beats, the first of which is stressed and the second is unstressed. 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. Think about it; the North Pole is no place for the higher primates. After a 40 odd year career, its perhaps surprising that John Cooper Clarke has only actually released two books of poetry. I ask John what he thinks of modern poets like Kae Tempest who he says he likes and describes as "a river to [their] people". 5. Enter the Dragon, exit Johnny Clarke. 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. 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. In. The same way that somebody who's a good painter back in them days would have been a commercial artist. That poem I wrote for Plan B for the movie Ill Manors. He's met the fish man on the way. I've got to check them out. John Cooper Clarke (1983). Best line: The carpet was monotonous, its pattern gave the impression of small animal crapping at regular intervals.. John Cooper Clarke: If I might start this off, I'm a late convert to your work, Grian! I never really understood that. Give it a name. You can't see the joints. I digress. What kind of poet is John Cooper Clarke? Part One, Picture of the Month: Where Manchester began. He reckons the parts of Salford he grew up in havent changed and he doesnt think MediaCity counts.