John Cooper Clarke

Infobox Writer
name = John Cooper Clarke


caption = John Cooper Clarke, 1979
birthdate = birth date and age|1949|1|25
birthplace = Salford
deathdate =
deathplace =
occupation = Poet
nationality = British
website = http://www.johncooperclarke.com

John Cooper Clarke (born January 25, 1949) is an English performance poet from Salford, Greater Manchester; he is often described as a punk 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 Girls, which featured Martin Hannett, Pete Shelley, Bill Nelson, Paul Burgess and Steve Hopkins. He is fairly famous as a poet in England and '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 Division, Buzzcocks and Elvis Costello and his set was, and still is on occasion, characterized by lively, rapid-fire renditions of his poems, which were usually performed a cappella. He opened for Be-Bop Deluxe on their 1977 U.K. tour and later for Rockpile 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",Bell, Nigel. " [http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/music/2002/08/john_cooper_clarke.shtml The Very Best of John Cooper Clarke] ". BBC.co.uk, August 2002. Retrieved on 23 February, 2008.] and subsequent album "Snap, Crackle & Bop".

Often referred to as "the bard of Salford", he usually refers to himself on stage as "Johnny Clarke, the name behind the hairstyle". 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 heroin addiction (and making an incongruous appearance in two UK commercial for Sugar Puffs 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 poetry and towards more of a stand-up-oriented affair, but poetry is still very much a key part of his performance. He has in the recent past supported Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros. He also 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 Makers concert at London's Spread Eagle, which Later was released as the b-side for the bands single Heavyweight Champion Of The World. Clarke also recorded a song with the band entitled "Dead Man's Shoes" which is rumoured to appear on the upcoming album The State Of Things. Clarke's recording of "Evidently Chickentown" from his album "Snap, Crackle & Bop" was also featured prominently in the closing scene of the "The Sopranos" episode "Stage 5". 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. He is from a Roman Catholic background, and is reportedly now living in Hythe, Colchester, Essex, with his French wife & daughter. He had a "domestic partnership" with singer Nico in the 1980s. [" [http://www.comedycv.co.uk/johncooperclarke/index.htm John Cooper Clarke] . comedycv.co.uk Retrieved on 23 February, 2008.]

John Cooper Clarke also appeared in the 1982 music documentary compilation Urgh! A Music War, where he performed his poem "Health Fanatic". [" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138902/ Urgh! A Music War ] ". IMDB. Retrieved on 23 February, 2008.] 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.

His poem "Out of Control Fairground" was printed inside Arctic Monkeys 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. [" [http://www.ananova.com/entertainment/story/sm_2383906.html?menu=entertainment.music Arctics go for poetry] ". Retrieved on 20 August, 2007.] [" [http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_headline=lyrical-genius--%26method=full%26objectid=18971986%26siteid=66633-name_page.html Lyrical Genius] ". Alex Turner also has "John Cooper Clarke" tattooed on his arm.< Retrieved on 20 August, 2007.] A version of his poem "Evidently Chickentown" is performed at the start and end of the video for Joy Division's "Transmission" 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. "Evidently Chickentown" is also played over the final scene and end credits of "The Sopranos" episode "Stage 5".

Discography

*"Où est la maison de fromage?" (1978) [Downloadable from http://www.johncooperclarke.com/Pages/Ou_est_la_maison_de_Fromage.htm]
*"Disguise in Love" (1978)
*"Walking Back to Happiness" (1979)
*"Snap, Crackle & Bop" (1980)
*"Me and My Big Mouth" (1981)
*"Zip Style Method" (1982)

Bibliography

"Ten Years In an Open-Necked Shirt" (1981)

References

External links

* [http://www.johncooperclarke.com John Cooper Clarke Home Page]