Poet in motion
SALFORD BARD BRINGS RAPID-FIRE ROUTINE TO VENUE CYMRU
PUNK poet John Cooper Clarke has toured with The Sex Pistols and is revered by the likes of indie rockers the Arctic Monkeys, comedian Steve Coogan and even ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney.
Clarke brings his subversive, satirical poetry and spoken word show to Venue Cymru in Llandudno later this month as part of an extended UK tour, which comes on the back of three nights performing in New York.
Many will know him from TV shows such as Have I Got News For You, 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Would I Lie To You? But long before endless panel shows helped fill TV’s comedy quota, Clarke was eking out a living as a performance poet, inspired by the Beatnik authors of 1950s USA, and opening shows for bands like The Pistols, The Fall and Joy Division.
Also known as the Bard of Salford, Clarke shot to prominence in the 1970s, emerging as one of the leading voices of youth culture. Thanks to his biting, satirical, political and very funny verse, delivered in a unique rapid-fire performance style, he became a seminal influence on the punk movement.
His impact far transcended that cultural moment though, and he became one of the world’s leading alternative literary figures, whose work is loved and recognised on a global scale.
His first new poetry collection in almost 40 years, ‘The Luckiest Guy Alive’ was published last year to great critical acclaim, topping the poetry charts. It features 43 previously unpublished poems from classics like ‘Hire Car’ and ‘She’s Got a Metal Plate in her Head,’ to some of John’s newest work, including reflections on what might happen should his Chimpanzee butler get access to a straight razor in ‘Shave Off’ and the plight of the driver via The Motorist.
Clarke’s previous collection, the ground-breaking ‘10 Years in
an Open Necked Shirt,’ published in 1983, inspired readers the world over and was even added to GCSE syllabuses. He has also released albums, singles and DVDs, and collaborated with the likes of The Buzzcocks’ Pete Shelley and Hugh Cornwell of The Stranglers.
As well as his regular TV appearances, Clarke’s influence can also be heard in the satirical social observations of artists such as Plan B and the Arctic Monkeys. Arctics frontman Alex Turner cites him as a huge inspiration as highlighted by the band’s cover of Clarke’s ‘I Wanna Be Yours’ on their critically acclaimed fifth studio album ‘AM.’ In addition, UK rapper Plan B featured John’s performance poetry in his directorial film debut ‘Ill Manors’ - their duet Pity The Plight appears in the movie and on the film’s soundtrack.
Sir Paul McCartney hailed Clarke as ‘one of Britain’s outstanding poets.’
Comedy guru Coogan, meanwhile, said of the 70-year-old: “I say to people, have you heard of John Cooper Clarke? And if they say
‘yes, yeah he’s an absolute genius’ you just go, oh - ok, you’ve saved me a lot of time.”
■ John Cooper Clarke, ‘The Luckiest Guy
Alive’ is at Venue Cymru, Llandudno on Thursday, May 30 (7.30pm). For tickets or more information visit venuecymru. co.uk/john-cooper-clarke.
His poetry collection ‘The Luckiest
Guy Alive’ is out now, published by
Picador Macmillan.