John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is an English performance poet from Salford,
Greater ManchesterGreater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.56 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and...
; he is often described as a
punkPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
poet, having initially achieved recognition in the late 1970s during the flourishing punk movement.
His recorded output has mainly centred around musical backing from
The Invisible GirlsThe Invisible Girls were a rock band formed in Salford, Greater Manchester in 1978 to provide a musical backdrop to the recorded output of Salford punk poet John Cooper Clarke. The band was based around the nucleus of Joy Division producer Martin Hannett and keyboardist Steve Hopkins, with...
, which featured
Martin HannettMartin Hannett , sometimes credited as Martin Zero, was a record producer who helped develop Joy Division and was an original partner in Factory Records with Tony Wilson...
,
Pete ShelleyPete Shelley is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best-known as the leader of Buzzcocks. His stage name is a combination of his real first name and the name he would have been given had he been born female.-Biography:Shelley was born to Margaret and John McNeish at 48 Milton Street, Leigh...
,
Bill NelsonBill Nelson is a prolific guitarist, songwriter, painter and experimental musician from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England...
, Paul Burgess and Steve Hopkins. 'Ten Years In An Open-Necked Shirt' remains his most popular and successful published work.
Clarke has opened for such acts as the Sex Pistols, The Fall,
Joy DivisionJoy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences,...
,
BuzzcocksBuzzcocks are an English rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
,
Siouxsie & the BansheesSiouxsie & the Banshees were a British rock band formed in 1976 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and bassist Steven Severin, the only constant members....
,
Elvis CostelloElvis Costello is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s, and later became associated with the punk rock and New Wave musical genres...
, and
New OrderNew Order were an English musical group formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris . New Order were formed in the wake of the demise of their previous group Joy Division, following the suicide of vocalist Ian Curtis...
(on the occasion of their May, 1984
Music for MinersMusic for Miners was a collective of UK writers, artists and filmmakers who attempted to engage young people with politics during the UK Miner's Strike of 1984-1985. Members of the collective included the television producer Don Coutts and the writer and artist Ian McKay...
benefit concert at London's
Royal Festival HallThe Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900 seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
).
John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is an English performance poet from Salford,
Greater ManchesterGreater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.56 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and...
; he is often described as a
punkPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
poet, having initially achieved recognition in the late 1970s during the flourishing punk movement.
His recorded output has mainly centred around musical backing from
The Invisible GirlsThe Invisible Girls were a rock band formed in Salford, Greater Manchester in 1978 to provide a musical backdrop to the recorded output of Salford punk poet John Cooper Clarke. The band was based around the nucleus of Joy Division producer Martin Hannett and keyboardist Steve Hopkins, with...
, which featured
Martin HannettMartin Hannett , sometimes credited as Martin Zero, was a record producer who helped develop Joy Division and was an original partner in Factory Records with Tony Wilson...
,
Pete ShelleyPete Shelley is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best-known as the leader of Buzzcocks. His stage name is a combination of his real first name and the name he would have been given had he been born female.-Biography:Shelley was born to Margaret and John McNeish at 48 Milton Street, Leigh...
,
Bill NelsonBill Nelson is a prolific guitarist, songwriter, painter and experimental musician from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England...
, Paul Burgess and Steve Hopkins. 'Ten Years In An Open-Necked Shirt' remains his most popular and successful published work.
Career
Clarke has opened for such acts as the Sex Pistols, The Fall,
Joy DivisionJoy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences,...
,
BuzzcocksBuzzcocks are an English rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
,
Siouxsie & the BansheesSiouxsie & the Banshees were a British rock band formed in 1976 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and bassist Steven Severin, the only constant members....
,
Elvis CostelloElvis Costello is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s, and later became associated with the punk rock and New Wave musical genres...
, and
New OrderNew Order were an English musical group formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris . New Order were formed in the wake of the demise of their previous group Joy Division, following the suicide of vocalist Ian Curtis...
(on the occasion of their May, 1984
Music for MinersMusic for Miners was a collective of UK writers, artists and filmmakers who attempted to engage young people with politics during the UK Miner's Strike of 1984-1985. Members of the collective included the television producer Don Coutts and the writer and artist Ian McKay...
benefit concert at London's
Royal Festival HallThe Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900 seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
). His set was, and still is on occasion, characterized by lively, rapid-fire renditions of his poems, which were usually performed
a cappellaA cappella music is vocal music or singing without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato style...
. He opened for Be-Bop Deluxe on their 1977 U.K. tour and later for
RockpileRockpile were a British rock and roll group of the late 1970s and early 1980s, noted for their strong rockabilly and power pop influences, and as a foundational influence on new wave...
on their 1979 U.S. tour. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Clarke enjoyed some chart success in the UK with the single "Gimmix! Play Loud", and subsequent album
Snap, Crackle & BopSnap, Crackle & Bop is the fourth album by John Cooper Clarke, originally released in 1980. As with Disguise in Love, the album was backed by The Invisible Girls and produced by Martin Hannett.-Track listing:# "Evidently Chickentown" – 2.23...
. In 1979 he applied to join actors' union Equity, but as there was already a member named John Cooper Clarke, he joined under the name Lenny Siberia.
Often referred to as "the
bardIn medieval Gaelic and British culture a bard was a professional poet, paid by a monarch to praise the sovereign's activities....
of Salford", he usually refers to himself on stage as "Johnny Clarke, the name behind the hairstyle". His first job was a laboratory technician at the
University of SalfordThe University of Salford is a plate glass university based in Salford, Greater Manchester, England with approximately 20,000 registered students...
. Having released a handful of records into the early 1980s, Clarke performed his live act less frequently, and spent much of that decade battling a
heroinHeroin, or diacetylmorphine , also known as diamorphine , is a semi-synthetic opioid drug synthesized from morphine, a derivative of the opium poppy. It is the 3,6-diacetyl ester of morphine...
addiction. He made an appearance in two UK adverts for
Sugar PuffsSugar Puffs is a breakfast cereal made from sugar coated wheat that is sold in the United Kingdom. For many years it was made by the Quaker Oats Company but in 2006 it was sold to Big Bear t/a Honey Monster Foods....
in 1988, taking second billing to the Honey Monster. More recently, Clarke has turned some of his stage act away from an emphasis on
performance poetryPerformance poetry is poetry that is specifically composed for or during performance before an audience. During the 1980s, the term came into popular usage to describe poetry written or composed for performance rather than print distribution.-History:...
and towards more of a
stand-upStand-up comedy is a style of comedy where a comedian performs for a live audience, usually speaking directly to them. It is usually performed by a single comedian with the aid of a microphone, either hand-held or mounted on a stand...
-oriented affair, but poetry is still very much a key part of his performance. He also supported Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros. He can often be seen supporting The Fall on British tours or performing as a headlining act in his own right. He also duetted with a poem entitled
Last Resort with Reverend Jon McClure at a
Reverend and the MakersReverend and The Makers are an Indie rock band based in Sheffield, England and signed to Wall of Sound. The band is fronted by Jon McClure, nicknamed "The Reverend".-History:...
concert at London's Spread Eagle, which Later was released as the b-side for the band's single "
Heavyweight Champion of the World"Heavyweight Champion of the World" is the "top ten" debut single by Reverend and The Makers, as well as the first single from their debut album The State Of Things. The single was released on May 6, 2007 on download only and was subsequently released on CD and 7" vinyl on May 28 that year...
". Clarke also recorded a song with the band entitled "Dead Man's Shoes". Clarke's recording of "Evidently Chickentown" from his album
Snap, Crackle & BopSnap, Crackle & Bop is the fourth album by John Cooper Clarke, originally released in 1980. As with Disguise in Love, the album was backed by The Invisible Girls and produced by Martin Hannett.-Track listing:# "Evidently Chickentown" – 2.23...
was also featured prominently in the closing scene of the
The SopranosThe Sopranos is an American television drama series created and produced by David Chase. It premiered on the premium cable network HBO in the United States on January 10, 1999 and ended its original run of six seasons and 86 episodes on June 10, 2007. The show has also been broadcast on A&E in...
episode
Stage 5"Stage 5" is the seventy-ninth episode of the HBO television series The Sopranos. It is the second episode of the second half of the show's sixth season, the fourteenth episode of the season overall...
. A live performance of the same poem appears in the film
Control with Clarke portraying himself in a re-creation of a 1977 concert where he supported Joy Division, despite having aged 30 years since the events depicted in the movie. Clarke had a "domestic partnership" with singer
NicoNico was a German singer-songwriter, fashion model, actress, and Warhol Superstar...
in the 1980s.
Clarke appeared in a 1982 music documentary compilation
Urgh! A Music WarUrgh! A Music War is a British film released in 1981 featuring performances by punk rock, New Wave, and post-punk acts, filmed in 1980. Among the artists featured in the movie are Magazine, The Go-Go's, The Fleshtones, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, XTC, Devo, The Cramps, Oingo Boingo, Dead...
, where he performed his poem "Health Fanatic". The film featured live performances of main-stream artists (The Police, The Go-Go's, Pere Ubu, XTC, Devo) as well as more obscure bands (The Alley Cats, Invisible Sex, Athletico Spizz '80, Chelsea) using concert footage from around the world. For many people, this was their first introduction to the works of John Cooper Clarke. He also starred in another 1982 film titled
Ten Years in an Open Necked Shirt, produced for the Arts Council of Great Britain and Channel 4. Somewhere between a narrative film, a series of music videos, and a documentary, the film features interviews and performances by the poet.
His poem "Out of Control Fairground" was printed inside
Arctic MonkeysArctic Monkeys are an English alternative rock band from High Green, a suburb of Sheffield. Formed in 2002, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders .Arctic Monkeys achieved chart success with their second single, "I Bet You Look Good on the...
single "Fluorescent Adolescent" CD, which was released on 9 July 2007. The poem is also the inspiration behind the single's video in which clowns brawl. Another poem was printed inside the 10" release of the same single. Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys has said he is very fond of Cooper-Clarke's work and takes inspiration for lyrics from his poems. A version of his poem "Evidently Chickentown" is performed at the start and end of the video for
Joy DivisionJoy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences,...
's "
Transmission"Transmission" is a song by post-punk band Joy Division, released on Factory Records in November 1979.The single charted twice in New Zealand, debuting at number two in September 1981, and re-appearing again at number 24 in July 1984....
" single which shows John Cooper Clarke reading the refrain and third verse from the poem whilst coming down escalators and then walking in the Manchester Arndale Centre.
Discography
- Où est la maison de fromage?
Où est la maison de fromage is the debut album by John Cooper Clarke, originally released in 1978. It comprises a mix of live performances, demos and rehearsals. The name means "where is the house of cheese?" in French.-Track listing:#"The Serial, Pt...
(1978)
- Disguise in Love
Disguise in Love is the second album by John Cooper Clarke, originally released in 1978. Most of the tracks are spoken over musical accompaniment provided by Clarke's band The Invisible Girls, except "Psycle Sluts 1&2" and "Salome Maloney" — both live recordings from the Ritz Ballroom in...
(1978)
- Walking Back to Happiness
Walking Back to Happiness is the third album by John Cooper Clarke, originally released on 10" clear vinyl in 1979, though it has long been out of print. All tracks were recorded live. The final track, "Gimmix", was also recorded in studio and was a UK top 40 hit that year...
(1979)
- Snap, Crackle & Bop
Snap, Crackle & Bop is the fourth album by John Cooper Clarke, originally released in 1980. As with Disguise in Love, the album was backed by The Invisible Girls and produced by Martin Hannett.-Track listing:# "Evidently Chickentown" – 2.23...
(1980)
- Me and My Big Mouth (1981)
- Zip Style Method
Zip Style Method is the sixth album by John Cooper Clarke, originally released in 1982.-Track listing:#"Midnight Shift"#"New Assassin"#"Face Behind the Scream"#"Travel in Biscuits"#"The Day the World Stood Still"#"Heart Disease Called Love"...
(1982)
External links