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JOHN COOPER CLARKE LIVE ---
John
is due to perform at the following events.
16/8/2000
Kilkenny Arts Week @ Ormond Hotel,
Kilkenny, Ireland
19/8/2000, Edinburgh
Book Festival @ The Spiegeltent, Charlotte Sq. Edinburgh
14/9/2000, 100 Club,
100 Oxford St., London
15/10/2000 Wolverhampton
Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
BUY
TICKETS
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John Cooper Clarke
was born in Salford, 1949. As a teenager, he performed his poetry
in Manchester's folk clubs, where he met Rick Goldstraw who invited
him to join his band, the Ferrets.
In 1977, having given
up on becoming a stand-up comedian, John joined the likes of Ed
Banger
and Jilted
John
on the books of Manchester punk label, Rabid.
Supporting the likes of The
Buzzcocks and
Warsaw,
he amazed audiences on the local punk circuit with his good-humoured
high-speed Salfordian poetry.
Thanks largely to
Anthony
H.Wilson,
John inherited the title, 'The Punk Poet', after receiving radio
and TV exposure for "Suspended
Sentence".
In the song he voices his opinion on the capital punishment debate
with tongue-in-cheek lyrics like, "Sit right
down - write a letter to the Sun Say... "Bring back hangin' for
everyone". The track was included on his debut "Innocents"
EP which also boasted
"Psycle
Sluts",
described at the time by Frank Zappa as one of his favourite songs,
praising John as 'a man with exquisite diction'.
Touring the Manchester
punk circuit in his tight drainpipe trousers and jacket, winkle-picker
shoes and dark shades he was soon signed up to CBS. He released
the single, "Post
war Glamour Girl",
which was later included on his 1978 debut album, "Disguise
in Love".
In 1979, John supported
Elvis Costello on his breakthrough 'Armed Forces' tour, and released
the Top 40 single "Gimmix!".
His 1979 live album, "Walking
Back To Happiness",
failed to sell as well. The album included a song dedicated to
Conservative Government minister Michael Heseltine, who was also
later attacked on a later visit to Manchester University. It was
interestingly entitled "Twat"..
His 1980 album, "Snap,
Crackle And Bop"
was a far better release and included the classic emotional track
"Beasley
Street".
To promote the album he toured with Durutti
Column,
for the first time using a backing band, The Invisible Girls.
"Me
And My Big Mouth",
a 'best of' compilation album was released in 1981 to little success,
a fate which was also enjoyed by his 1982 "Zip
Style Method"
album. This was to be his last release and in the following years
John's drug abuse saw him spend most of his time in and out of
the rehab clinic with his addict partner, Nico.
John Cooper Clarke
had illuminated the punk scene of the 1970's with his comical
and intelligent verse. His lifestyle however suffocated his talent.
Hopefully he can make a successful comeback.
CONTACT
US
if you were looking for a particular JOHN COOPER CLARKE item.
The
un-official John Cooper Clarke site can be found at www.cyberspike.com/clarke/
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