John Cooper Clarke - Bakewell Town Hall, Bakewell, 1/6/2016
by Nicky Crewe
published: 16 / 6 / 2016
intro
Nicky Crewe watches John Cooper Clarke perform an exuberant set of punk poetry at Bakewell Town Hall
'Beasley Street' comes to Bakewell at last. I have been a fan of John Cooper Clarke since he was a lab technician in Salford. His poetry readings accompanied the punk scene in Manchester and Salford back in the late seventies. He seemed to be the support act of choice for many a band in pubs and clubs back then. All he needed was his A4 notebook. When he walked on stage he was clutching what could have been that original notebook. Looking well, he was sporting his new hairstyle, trademark dark glasses, and, dare I say, a few extra pounds. It suits you, John. Don’t let the hecklers tell you otherwise. There have been times over the decades when I have feared for him, but in the last few years I have seen him perform at a handful of concerts and festivals. He’s as much a stand-up comedian as a performance poet nowadays. Bakewell Town Hall was a sell out, with an audience made up mostly of fans rather than the curious. Cooper Clarke, or Dr Clarke as he likes to be known, thanks to his honorary doctorate from Salford University, is also a national treasure. The Bard of Salford’s work has found its way onto the exam syllabus and a National Trust campaign. He has made poetry accessible to generations. The hairstyle may have changed, but the image hasn’t and he rings as true today as he did back in the heady days of punk. He wove poems and patter in his performance. I had heard some of the links and jokes before but it still sounded spontaneous and off the cuff as he took off at tangents, some easier to follow than others. A good line is always worth hearing more than once. He took us from Phil Spector’s approach to life through homicidal thoughts and filthy limericks. He introduced us to Chet Baker’s version of ‘Look for the Silver Lining’ and revealed his own silver-tongued singing voice. Starting with ‘Hire Car’, we then got ‘Beasley Street’ and its gentrified version, ‘Beaaley Boulevard’. ‘ I’ve Fallen in Love With My Wife’, ‘Evidently Chicken Town’, and ‘I Wanna Be Yours’. 'The Sopranos' and the Arctic Monkeys got a mention too, his involvement with them both part of his rehabilitation. It’s wonderful to see him touring again. I would have loved to hear more of my favourite poems, but I’m thankful for what I got. Nobody does it quite like him and nobody does it better. Speaking of which, Mike Garry was his support on this tour. Once a Manchester librarian, he has recently been working with the likes of Iggy Pop and Philip Glass. He had a surprise hit last year with ‘St Anthony’, a poem set to music, a tribute to Tony Wilson. Many years ago, when I was part of the team behind the now defunct Bakewell Arts Festival, I had a dream to book John Cooper Clarke for Bakewell Town Hall. He wasn’t in a good place at the time, and I was warned off by someone who knew the score. So this Wednesday night gig was a version of that dream come true for me. Once upon a time John Cooper Clarke’s manager was Manchester music promoter, Alan Wise. Sadly by that Thursday afternoon the news had broken of his death. Another great loss. It made me appreciate Dr Clarke’s continuing success and growing reputation all the more.
Also In ReView
Andreas Dorau (2022)
Andrew Gold (2023)
Anthony Moore (2022)
Bark Psychosis (2018)
Beatles (2023)
Bert Jansch (2020)
Bert Jansch (2019)
Beth Orton (2014)
Big Eyes Family (2021)
Billy Idol (2018)
Bitter Springs (2021)
Blind Mr Jones (2015)
Blondie (2022)
Blue Nile (2014)
Bodines (2023)
Boyracer (2023)
Breathless (2016)
Brinsley Schwarz (2017)
Cardiacs (2014)
Chvrches (2014)
David Bowie (2022)
David Gray (2020)
Death and Vanilla (2016)
Donald Fagen (2021)
Doug Dillard Expedition (2024)
Earthworks (2020)
Flamin Groovies (2015)
Gene Clark (2019)
Giant Sand (2020)
Giant Sand (2018)
Gomez (2018)
Gong (2015)
Grace Jones (2016)
Grace Jones (2014)
Graham Day and the Forefathers (2019)
Hawks (2021)
Hawkwind (2022)
Hot Pepper (2018)
Ian A. Anderson (2021)
Ian Dury (2021)
Iron Butterfly (2014)
Joni Mitchell (2021)
Keith Richards (2022)
Lapre (2020)
Lemonheads (2022)
Loft (2021)
Madness (2014)
McCarthy (2015)
Mercury Rev (2019)
Miscellaneous (2020)
Miscellaneous (2014)
Monochrome Set (2015)
Mothmen (2015)
Motorpsycho (2015)
New Leaf (2022)
New Musik (2023)
One Thousand Violins (2023)
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (2015)
Orchids (2023)
Party Day (2021)
Pele (2017)
Phil Alvin (2015)
Phil Ochs (2016)
Primitives (2015)
Prolapse (2022)
Roger Mcguinn (2018)
Rubik (2021)
Sorrow (2018)
T. Rex (2023)
Television Personalities (2018)
Terry Allen (2016)
Thin Lizzy (2023)
Townes Van Zandt (2015)
Trashmen (2020)
Ty Segall (2022)
UB40 (2015)
Various (2022)
Various (2022)
VIPS (2020)
Wolfhounds (2015)
Zz Top (2018)
Band Links:-
http://www.johncooperclarke.comhttps://www.facebook.com/johncooperclarke
https://twitter.com/official_jcc
Picture Gallery:-
interviews |
Interview (2010) |
Spencer Robertshaw speaks to pioneering punk poet John Cooper Clarke at a show in Leeds about his writing and continued enthusiasm for performing poetry |
live reviews |
Brudenell, Leeds, 3/6/2011 |
Spencer Robertshaw finds Salford poet and punk icon John Cooper Clarke to be in fiery form in a night of poetry and humour at the Brudenell in Leeds |
Dance Factory, Manchester, 13/2/2009 |
features |
John Cooper Clarke ODE (2010) |
Spencer Robertshaw in his 'Evidently Spencertown' poetry column pays testimony to legendary poet and Pennyblackmusic headline interviewee, John Cooper Clarke |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.Elliott Murphy - Interview
Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024
Wreckless Eric - Interview
Adrian Gurvitz - Interview
Norman Rodger - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #16: Living in the Minds of Strangers
Chris Spedding - Interview
John Mayall - 1933-2024
Penumbra - Interview
previous editions
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #5 - ‘We all have good intentions/ But all with strings attached’: Music and Mental Health Part 2Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EP
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Nerve - Interview
One Thousand Violins - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Allan Clarke - Interview
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
most viewed reviews
current edition
Groovy Uncle - Making ExcusesJules Winchester - The Journey
Philip Parfitt - The Dark Light
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
Deep Purple - =1
Bill Wyman - Drive My Car
Popstar - Obscene
Splashgirl and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - More Human
Richard Hawley - In This City You Call Love
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart