Have been meaning to feature John Cooper Clarke for some time, ever since the Radio 4 programme about him. He has lived quite a life. He first came to prominence in the late 70's in the wake of punk and is usually referred to as a punk poet which doesn't do him justice.
He has supported many of the original punk and post punk bands, such as the Pistols, Souixsie and the Banshees, Joy Division and of course the mighty Fall, coming from Salford as he does. He has released 6 albums as far as I know. The backing band on most of these releases was was The Invisible Girls which included Martin Hannett, Pete Shelley, Bill Nelson, Paul Burgess and Steven Hopkins.
Last year I was really looking forward to seeing him support the Fall at the Queen's Hall, unfortunately he called of at the last minute due to a cold and I had to endure nearly 2 hours of Patti Smith, the soundman's choice, before the Fall took to the stage. Still, it could have been worse I may have had to put up with Safi Sniper. Just one of the joys of going to see the Fall.
I think that Cooper Clarke is a fashion guru to all goths.
I forgot to mention that in the Radio 4 programme it was revealed that for a while during the 80's Clarke was shaked up with Nico, yes that Nico and appeared on several Sugar Puff adverts, the man is a legend.
Here are a couple of my favourite tracks/poems.
John Cooper Clarke - Marjorca
John Cooper Clarke - Conditional Discharge
Links now working apologies if you couldn't download but that amongst other things is what the comments are for.
1 comment:
I saw him on the tube last year coming back from the Tutankhamun exhibition at the O2. I don't know about a fashion guru to all goths but he does owe a fair bit sartorially to Highway 61 Bob eh?
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