John Cooper Clarke

VonClinkerhofen · 22 Feb 2008 at 12:03

I just bought a pair of tickets to go see him in Newcastle in Oct. I'm not really sure what he does (punk poet apparently) or why I bought the tickets I just thought it might be an interesting night out.

I'm only really aware of him cos I've heard him on Mark Radcliffes show on Radio 2.

Anyone been to see him or know if it's a good night out?

I have a feeling I'm going to have to bump this

ShakenNstirred · 22 Feb 2008 at 15:35

i listened to him back in the early 80s, chicken town etc .
strange guy

iBot · 22 Feb 2008 at 16:02

he sings this song thats like

damn this grey weather, damn the rain
damn this junk etc

but he doesnt say damn, he says a swear word

kids love it

simisker · 22 Feb 2008 at 16:06

Expect a stand-up comedy vibe, if my colleague's enthusiastic recommendation is anything to go by.

I've just been listening to some of his poems now, very entertaining

VonClinkerhofen · 22 Feb 2008 at 23:57

simisker said:
Expect a stand-up comedy vibe, if my colleague's enthusiastic recommendation is anything to go by.

I've just been listening to some of his poems now, very entertaining

That's sort of what I was hoping for. It's not till Oct so plenty of time yet, but hey thanks for the reviews.

It's in a venue that normally do intimate gigs and it's standing only, with 2 bars and it's a Sat night so should be a good drink if nothing else

SexyGreyFox · 23 Feb 2008 at 15:27

This guy used to be the support for everybody at one time including The Clash, Stranglers, The Jam etc and you couldn't go a concert without seeing him.
Craig Charles from Red Dwarf & Coronation Street was a bit of a rip off of him.
Here in Stoke we have our own poet based on john Cooper Clarke called The Fenton Poet and he's got up several times when my band are playing.

(In shouty voice)
I was born in ......... Fenton
I rode my first bike in ....... Fenton
I was schooled in ........ Fenton
I had my first fight in ........ Fenton
I had my first **** in ....... Fenton
I married a girl from ........... Longton

and so on

warren_1979 · 23 Feb 2008 at 17:51

Yeah he used to support a lot of the Manchester punk bands like The Fall etc. Saw him supporting The Fall in 2005 and he likes a banter with the crowd and is quite funny. His poems are also good to look for Chicken Town on youtube to see what I mean. They call him the bard of Salford

Sinopa · 23 Feb 2008 at 21:51

If I remember correctly he makes an appearance in the film Control.

jojothemonkey69 · 24 Feb 2008 at 02:03

Sinopa said:
If I remember correctly he makes an appearance in the film Control.

yeah its also on the official soundtrack the chicken town dit.

VonClinkerhofen · 24 Feb 2008 at 12:13

Sinopa said:
If I remember correctly he makes an appearance in the film Control.

I saw that a few months back, that rings a bell actually

warren_1979 · 24 Feb 2008 at 15:56

VonClinkerhofen said:
I saw that a few months back, that rings a bell actually

Yeah in the film he supports Joy Divisions first gig. He's got big black hair, is wearing some black shades and is performing Chicken Town.

jpaul · 26 Jul 2019 at 14:58

*REVIVAL* .. but its a perennial thread

he was on desert island discs ... he is taking two head-sized balls of heroin with him - he also revealed he shared a house with Nico, at one time. ..
worth a listen if you are a fan.

rebel rebel · 26 Jul 2019 at 15:17

He is always good value when he appears on panel shows. He has lived quite the life, albeit he probably cannot remember most of it.

edit: just seen this is a revival.

cheesyboy · 26 Jul 2019 at 15:37

I've been getting into JCC this past year or so. There are some Radio 4 shows on demand with him performing some of his stuff: they're all worth a listen.

Chicken Town was in a key episode of Sopranos, believe it or not. I prefer the 'bloody' version to the f-word one, seems to roll better, for me.

jpaul · 26 Jul 2019 at 17:53

from one Bard to another ... you may like him too