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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZCLARKE, John CooperPunk poet. First a Bob Dylan clone, then a fixture on the Manchester punk scene, supporting local groups (the Buzzcocks, the Fall), reading his work at frantically high speed. He appeared at the Poetry Olympics in 1980, held at Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey. Poems on record had musical backing produced by Martin Hannett and featuring 'The Invisible Girls' (including Buzzcocks' Pete Shelley, Bill Nelson from Be Bop Deluxe). First record was 'Psycle Sluts' '77 on local Rabid label (also album Ou Est La Maison De Fromage '80), then Epic contract; albums Disguise In Love '78, Walking Back To Happiness '79 followed by Snap Crackle And Bop '80 (made top 30 UK album chart); Me & My Big Mouth '81 is a good collection including 'Gimmix!'/'I Married A Monster From Outer Space' (his sole hit single '79; 'Monster' is an indictment of racism), 'Majorca' (package holidays), 'Beasley Street' (Thatcherism), 'Bronze Adonis', 'Kung Fu International', others. Zip Style Method '82 was more serious, less punny. He toured with Linton Kwesi Johnson '83; tour film documentary 100 Years In An Open Neck Shirt was also title of collection in book form. |