To me, it depends on the artist. I was watching a programme about Motown. I always thought, who would like this? Instead we get perhaps John Cooper Clarkes hardest hitting poems. I'm annoyed at myself for finishing this book so quickly but I couldn't bloody help it ! He might consider himself relegated to the realm of the old fashioned but at 73, John Cooper Clarke is as relevant and influential as ever. He layers them over melodies, relaying a sort of spoken song that makes his compositions an outpour of awareness rather than just forms of entertainment. 14.00 GBP. 2023 Louder Than War. One of the greatest and coolest things I've always been able to tell people is that, not only do I live in the town where Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Humpty Dumpty were written, but that the captivating individual that is John Cooper Clarke lives here. The name of a group is important and that one is unforgettable. Famous fans include Ben Drew, aka the aforementioned Plan B as well as Alex Turner and his Arctic Monkeys. I don't know why more people don't do it. [4] He also duetted with Reverend Jon McClure at a Reverend and the Makers concert at London's Spread Eagle, performing the poem "Last Resort", which would later be released as the B-side for the band's single "Heavyweight Champion of the World". Even his musical tastes were mine in those early days; Dylan and Captain Beefheart. A master wordsmith, his love of language and humour leaps from every page. They have done me so much good those lads. When I saw this show listed in the Fringe guide I initially thought "that's funny this guy has the same name as that crazy UK singer. "Evidently Chickentown" (recited by Christopher Eccleston) is featured in the made-for-television film Strumpet. Even his shambolic attempts to form a Beatles-inspired band in the 60s meant we were punk rockers before that became a good thing.. [16][17], Clarke was the subject of a BBC Four documentary, Evidently John Cooper Clarke, in May 2012, screened as part of the BBC's Punk Britannia season. He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. Extra charming, in fact, because I clandestinely downloaded the audio book to hear the great poet's self-defined adenoidal Mancunian Yiddish and Cockney slang-laced voice reading his life to me. There is Bill Man Mountain Benny, a local gangster and nightclub owner with his own theme tune. Anybody with a pen and a piece of paper can do it. Best Poems does not have poems published by this Poet yet. As the acclaimed punk poet turns 70 today, weve delved into his lyrical archives and sourced his best works. I Wanna Be Yours by John Cooper Clarke They're already selling a range of poisons. I didnt want the 15+ hours of this to end, and had I the time, Id listen to it again right away. The sartorially suave punk poet grew up in the Higher Broughton area of Salford, opposite the Rialto Picture House where he spent a lot of time immersed in the movie world that inspired much of his work. [1] In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he released several albums. The projected track list included The Beat Goes On by Sonny and Cher, Love is Strange by Mickey and Sylvia, Welcome Home by Peters and Lee, I Just Want to Stay Here by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorm, and Thanks for the Memory by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross. A serious note is being struck here and this poem looks at a life after revolution. Nico and Clarke famously lived in south London together in the 80s. You never meet an artist who isn't a fan [of Mark]. Theres a reason why John Cooper Clarke was dubbed the first punk poet: his words have long delivered an honest exposure of urban Britain. He embodied its ethos before the concept even existed. All the things that didn't use to be crimes. He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. John Cooper Clarke: If I might start this off, I'm a late convert to your work, Grian! You can no more take the politics out of Kathe Kolwitz, Sue Coe, or Brecht than you could take the words out of poem. Much later down the line, now a successful performance-poet, he spent time as the de facto frontman of The Invisible Girls, a band assembled to provide musical accompaniment that included an eye-watering number of bona fide legends including Buzzcocks Pete Shelley, Joy Division and New Orders Stephen Morris, The Falls Karl Burns, 10ccs Paul Burgess, Be-Bop Deluxes Paul Nelson and the Durutti Columns Vinni Reilly. [18], In July 2013, Clarke was awarded an honorary doctorate of arts by the University of Salford in "acknowledgement of a career which has spanned five decades, bringing poetry to non-traditional audiences and influencing musicians and comedians." I want to talk to John about eating and drinking out. The 73-year-old poet was born in England, United Kingdom. Think about it; the North Pole is no place for the higher primates. The combative stage persona he developed with his formative gigs at Bernard Mannings Embassy Club meant that shows in front of these viscious, drunken, delinquent, blocked-up punks held no terrors for me, and his sharp stage get-up was perfectly suited to the scene. Well, I'm a fan so I found this autobiography super charming. Introduction to the English rock singer and poet, Sir John Cooper Clarke, and reading of two poems "I wanna be yours" & "I've got. he followed with my fat friend fell down the stairs last night..we thought eastenders had finished early.. not bad for a sickly Salford boy punk poet, who regularly appears on 9 out of ten cats enjoy cool countdownjust say graphic reference to hard drugs some will find difficult.. thanks John ever in Aylesbury there is a bed here always as room as kids are off to university my mind of man although many music differences, read it as in his own style has never left any associates out to dry and his will nice on the andy warhol factory goings on..lips willed although offers millions ever when doing at time.. solid.. spoiler.. just as good now freed from chain of addiction.. excellent narrated by himeslf he even second guesses you..as I say no matter where you are born, your dreams are valid.. thanks Johnny boy, your london mate..my life mirrowed yours without the talent and adventures..but now clean and boys working towards phd.. but I get slated I believe anything really worth knowing can never be taught, and if I was educated I would be a fool.. but spell I hear you.. a must listen..love to alo. Its notoriously difficult to pin down why, but we agree that a song is not a poem. Putting a punk spin on simple matters has given the northern man a master status: purveyor of subcultural shock. JCC goes into fascinating detail about his early life in Manchester leading up to punk superstardom, drug addiction and then the massive comeback as major poet he enjoys today. [13][14] He described this period of his life: "It was a feral existence. In fact, theres a lesson to be taken from these 36 hours: he may announce lifes many depressing elements, but he also aspires to address them through some commentary and a spot of dark humour. "Don't do it.". We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. I was always more of a Baudelaire than a Wordsworth. The debate on bringing back the death penalty was rumbling on when Clarke wrote down his observations on what the result of this might be. Discombobulated youths, confined spaces Clarke gets it all spot on. Discover John Cooper Clarke famous and rare quotes. Dr. John Cooper Clarke is a Salford-born poet and performer who has shared bills with the likes of Joy Division, the Sex Pistols and the Fall, and released multiple albums. He believes The Guardian now pushes a narrow set of beliefs, insisting he was always more of "a red top guy. Especially detailed are the account of his early years in a display that threatens to derail his story. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. What made it easy to remember was the sonorous language of poetry. In Majorca, he offers a playful perspective from Spains crowded holiday resorts, noting its hysteria but also kind of embracing it. Poet Laureate of Punk, fashion icon, TV and radio presenter, social and cultural commentator. The same way that somebody who's a good painter back in them days would have been a commercial artist. You can finesse the way you approach any part of the song. [2][9] Clarke toured with Linton Kwesi Johnson, and has performed on the same bill as bands such as the Sex Pistols, the Fall, Joy Division, Buzzcocks, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Elvis Costello, Rockpile and New Order (including at their May 1984 Music for Miners benefit concert at London's Royal Festival Hall). A live performance of the same poem appears in the film Control, with Clarke portraying himself in a re-creation of a 1977 concert in which he supported Joy Division, despite being 30 years older than the events depicted in the film. John Otway is not exactly a household name. Came across JCC through the Arctic Monkeys. "Ten Years in an Open Necked Shirt", Vintage . Evie. He is considered a major figure in punk poetry and punk literature . Ellie-Jo meets Heather Linnitt in Chorlton to check out the modern vintage marvel that is Jonathan Schofield and the epic tale of Manchester architecture, Jonathan Schofield gazes down from an impossible angle at the 'old city', I didn't get any encouragement. "Ten Years in an Open Necked Shirt (film)", John Cooper Clarke performs Beasley Street at Hammersmith Palais, "John Cooper Clarke interview: 'Poetry is not something you have to retire from', "John Cooper Clarke On Life In Higher Broughton", "John Cooper Clarke: 'It's diabolical how poor I am', "Plan B's Ill Manors set to hijack charts in Olympics opening week", "John Cooper Clarke honoured by University of Salford", "Does Rock 'N' Roll Kill Braincells?! I Wrote the Songs But what they refuse to see is the absolute madness of it all. None of them were licensed. These days, hes a showbiz guy who often brings his Mancunian wit to daytime TV shows like Eight Out Of Ten Cats Does Countdown, filmed at MediaCity - where he bemoans the irony that you cant buy a newspaper. Why pull the ladder up? On this rare occasion that Clarke took a writing trip away from socialism, he proved his leading status as a hopeless romantic. When I asked about the last time he said his favourite word wow, he says it was in response to his wifes confit duck. He has such a striking and inimitable presence, it's like seeing a Tim Burton character come to life. He first encountered Mark E. Smith when the late singer was a schoolboy, and Clarke ended up becoming an unofficial uncle to the future Fall frontman you know, the type of uncle who doesnt give a fuck what you get up to, as he puts it. Often referred to as "the bard of Salford",[9] he usually refers to himself on stage as "Johnny Clarke, the name behind the hairstyle". "[19] His poem "I Wanna Be Yours" was adapted by Arctic Monkeys and frontman Alex Turner for the band's fifth album, AM, released on 9 September 2013. Depressing, we know, but the acclaimed slapstick of his poetic creations doesnt waver. [2], Clarke has attributed his early success in part to the influence of the English poet Pam Ayres. Best line: Theyd hang you for incontinence and fiddling your tax. You heathens! I knew nothing about Clarke but had listened to his interview for Desert Island Discs. 5. Bob Mortimer has taken on the role of John Cooper Clarke. February picture of the month: the extremes of city life. This Time It's Personal CD. On Sale The clubs I used to frequent: The Twisted Wheel, The Oasis, The Jungfrau - all those great rock and roll venues were really for under 18s. He hastens to add that he values newspapers hugely and doesnt like to see any newspaper collapse. 9.50 GBP. Despite a pretty grim situation occurring He kicked me in the balls and said something profound you cant help but laugh at his lines, because they paint an entertaining picture. I Wanna Be Yours is out now via Pan Macmillan. She writes about her world, same as I write about mine.". But I don't want to overanalyse what I do. "What a great name! You could still smell the polycell. S. Eliot was an English poet and critic. Are you happier now than you have ever been? When you hear his version of Lost In Music you realise that even when Sister Sledge did it, it was always a Fall tune.. He toured with Bill Nelson's band Be-Bop Deluxe in 1978 and was signed by Epic Records, who issued the studio album Disguise In Love, produced by Hannett, in 1978. In fact it is extremely dark but, given that it looks at the worst excesses of slum dwelling, how could it not be. After a 40 odd year career, its perhaps surprising that John Cooper Clarke has only actually released two books of poetry. 14.00 GBP. [12], Clarke released Zip Style Method in 1982, but thereafter performed his live act less frequently, spending much of the 1980s mired in heroin addiction, living in a "domestic partnership" with singer and fellow addict Nico. I'm smiling. Even one hes never read. I Wanna Be Yours (2020) Is the autobiography of erstwhile punk poet - now peoples poet Dr John Cooper Clarke - the book title itself taken from one of Clarkes most popular poems of the same name. He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly.His recorded output has mainly centred around musical backing from the . John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is an English performance poet who first became famous during the punk rock era of the late 1970s when he became known as a "punk poet". (catalogue number NOZE 1), which was a collection of live recordings, demos and rehearsals. They were all Coca Cola and amphetamines. Leading line: If you like your coffee hot, let me be your coffee pot. I think I've got that. Despair obviously drives the poem, carved into claims that instantly slots it into the social realism commentary club. [citation needed]. . But really it is another example of Clarke having fun with the written word. In which I get beaten up says Clarke as introduction to this poem on its live recording. He also charts his struggles with heroin addiction in the 1980s. But Clarke is one of a kind, and with this piece he redefined traditional ideas of poetry altogether. Though he needs no such affirmation, it cements Clarkes status as one of the most distinctive voices in pop cultural history its impossible not to hear him read every word aloud in your head with that unforgettable Manc drawl and reveals much about a remarkable life and career. I was in it to win it so I always wrote with a kind of loosely specified audience. After a show at The Boardwalk in Sheffield, Clarke was approached by a young musician called Alex Turner who had studied him at school, and whose band were about to become megastars. One of. He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. After a decade or two lost to heroin, John Cooper Clarke was able to pick up his mantle of alternative poet laureate and carry on making us laugh and cry. He currently resides in England, United Kingdom. Show more Download Higher quality (128kbps) Lower. There's a reason why John Cooper Clarke was dubbed the first "punk poet": his words have long delivered an honest exposure of urban Britain. Apart From the Revolution Thats terrible. Technique. John Cooper Clarke was born in England on January 25, 1949. [22], 2015 saw Clarke present a documentary on Thomas De Quincey's Confessions of an English Opium-Eater in the BBC's second series of The Secret Life of Books. Punk poet John Cooper Clarke upset some of his fans with 'transphobic' content at a gig in Sheffield (Photo: Getty) Posting on Twitter, he said: "Walked out of @official_jcc gig. Lets just say its a lot. Clarkes time spent sharing a Brixton flat with actor and songwriter Nico, while both were deep in the mire of serious heroin addiction, is well-documented. Felt wrong listening to it at my usual 1.5 speed so I set it at normal pace and 15 hours in John's company later I'm going to start again at the beginning. You can divide I Wanna Be Yours into two distinct sections: before and after the legendary Sex Pistols gig at Manchester Free Trade Hall in 1976. I bought this book because I like his poetry. In the 1800s, poetry was perhaps akin to rock n roll, with its proponents being declared mad, bad and dangerous to know. Its lines are pretty abrupt and evoke a lot of cynicism Im not your psychoanalyst and Disgust is just his dumb disguise first spring to mind but thats what Clarke is all about. City curiosities: an alternative tour of Manchester Part One, Mundane Magic: Oxford Road, River Medlock and a Frenchman. ", I'm seeing the value of pubs now because they've been banned. 9.09 GBP. A book that I did not want to end, so I tried to eke it out rather than devour it. Most of his poems are set to music and feel very contemporary. Best line: Poverty and pollution have all swept away. If youre wondering how to deal with someone elses problems, the solution is right in this piece of poetry. John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is a British performance poet from Salford, Lancashire. Beasley Street is one of John Cooper Clarkes darker poems. Are we still asking if you can wear black with blue? They drive the book, his difficult life and the mean spirit which is probably not his true self. His unique poetry and delivery style was recorded and put to music by legendary producer Martin Hannett. Leading line: Youre fucking lost and fucking found, stuck in fucking Chickentown. When I phone John Cooper Clarke at his home in Colchester, hes been listening to Radio 4s obituary show, The Last Word. Kung Fu International How so? TWAT."". 10.00 GBP. [] challenging as the juggling fiends of fate have seen several must sees on at the same time; i.e. John Cooper Clarke was born in Manchester in 1949. Unfortunately, the latter half is a repetitive and often boring account of all the numerous ways of taking heroin at various times and locations. His unique poetry was put to music by producer Martin Hannett and a band of Mancunians The Invisible Girls.Seminal tracks such as Beasley St and Evidently Chickentown featured on the album Snap Crackle and Bop, one of 4 hit 70/80s album releases. I think she's great. Clarke also recorded a song with the band entitled "Dead Man's Shoes". It come across as a noir origin story, people with outrageous characters and ending with Clarke himself emerging from the story as a poet ready to take on the world. This one is all about violence. Nothing ages you more than trying to look like you're 'down with all that'. What it sounds like is the most important part of any poem. Around this time, he performed on stage with several punk and post-punk bands and continues . I wasn't a punk, but a signed-up drippy hippy, and the music I was into then Pink Floydian and trippy, but I rushed out quick and bought his Gimmix single, though with safety-pinned punks I had to mingle. Poetry and I have a difficult relationship. One of my all time favourite memoirs. Some extracts taken from an interview with Punk Poet - John Cooper Clarke. May he rest in peace. Hailed as Manchester's 'punk poet', he is a key figure of the punk rock era in the UK, from his biting prose to his famously Messy Hair. Toppermost of the poppermost. Now I can add John Cooper Clarke's I Wanna Be Yours to make a list of two. Dr John Cooper Clarke's 2019 autobiography, named after his most famous poem I Wanna Be Yours, (Macmillan), is a groundbreaking piece of literature. John Cooper Clarke", "BBC One Would I Lie to You?, Series 9, Episode 3", "Would I Lie to You? Any amateur review cannot do justice to the genius of JCC, so I just urge you to read it! John Cooper Clarke (born 25 January 1949) is an English performance poet who first became famous during the punk rock era of the late 1970s when he became known as a "punk poet".He released several albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and continues to perform regularly. But truth be told, you cant escape the rough turbulence of its profanity and that fact does well to showcase the frustration of living in a satellite-style town. He was later blown away when his adopted nephew grew into one of rocks all-time greats. His set is characterised by lively rapid-fire renditions of his poems, usually performed a cappella. The bits of the book Id previously dipped into were superbly written, but hearing the Bargain Basement Baudelaire read his own life story lifts it to another level altogether. But hes never mannered. Are You the Business? John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet, who first became famous as a "punk poet" in the late 1970s. I'm from an industrial city. I was eagerly anticipating this and got it within a few hours of release; went for the audiobook version because JCC has one of the most characterful and listenable voices in showbusiness. Hes even on the GCSE curriculum these days! What can I say, the 70's and 80's were a weird, weird, gloriously outrageous, wonderfully fun, utterly ridiculous era. Grab one of the last remaining tickets for John Cooper Clarke at The Bridgewater Hall here. Best line: Dancin In The Daylight, Singin In The Smog, You Aint Nothin But A Hedgehog., All Selections by Banjo you can find his authors archive here. I wanted to like this book, I'm a fan of John Cooper Clarke's work and have seen him on stage a couple times and loved his shows. Evidently Chickentown The only person that I could ever point at that ever made a living out of poetry was Charles Baudelaire. Around this time, he performed on stage with several punk and post-punk bands and continues to perform regularly. Whenever I cite Pam Ayres as being an influence on me - which she was because of her success - it would always be met with laughter. I asked him what they were called, and he said The Arctic Monkeys, Clarke remembers. Pest It refers to macaronis who were kind of pre-Beau Brummel dandies from 200 years ago. A five star no-brainer for me, but I really wonder how others not having a similar background might feel about it. An odd staple of many wedding ceremonies, I Wanna Be Yours was the first John Cooper Clarke poem to make the GCSE syllabus in 2002, and introduced a young Alex Turner to the art of the well crafted verse. We have a small favour to ask. Australian Premiere/UK] THE POPEYE, FEB 27, 2023. Clarke's recording of "Evidently Chickentown" from his album Snap, Crackle & Bop was also featured prominently in the closing scene of The Sopranos episode Stage 5. Leading line: They packed us into the white hotel. John is warm and effortlessly funny and before I hang up, he agrees to have a glass of wine with me next time hes in Manchester for his two (now almost sold out) shows at The Bridgewater Hall. One of his more upbeat musical compositions accompany this one, the delivery of which veers startlingly close to a sung melody. With a song, you can hold notes on. Ive been a fan since my teens and its always nerve-racking meeting your heroes. A book of two halves by Britain's "bargain basement Baudelaire" as poet John Cooper Clarke writes an autobiography of sorts. So glad Majorca is on the list utter genius and my favourite! Hes done a great deal and drops a lot of names. It is essentially just one joke stretched across a poem, but it showcases Clarkes sense of humour perfectly. Evidently Chickentown wouldnt have achieved its master status had it not been for Clarkes repetitive fucking (words only, dont worry). John Cooper Clarke punk poet, bard of Salford has had a chequered life, from growing up in post-war austerity Britain, through hardcore drug abuse, to being a kind of national treasure. Short and simple, Apart From the Revolution is nonetheless packed with a mixture of pathos and hope. Crucially, he found the humour in these situations and used this extensively in his verse. I love a miserable comedian. His only prose work is I Wanna Be Yours, a memoir. He really wasn't limited to any sub-genre. Id consider killing you if I thought you were alive. I love playingWheres Wallywith poems find the metaphor, spot the simile detour relationship never really went beyond that which is strange because I love music and essentially lyrics are just poems to music. John Cooper Clark is a performance poet who first became famous in the late 1970s. It's Working Men's Club. The Luckiest Guy Alive is the first new book of poetry from Dr John Cooper Clarke for several decades - and a brilliant, scabrous, hilarious collection from one of our most beloved and influential writers and performers.. Cooper Clarke's status as the 'Emperor of Punk Poetry' is certainly confirmed here, but so is his reputation as a brilliant versifier, a poet of vicious wit and a . In addition, he published two poetry collections, Ten Years in an Open Necked Shirt and The Luckiest Guy Alive. His unique poetry was put to music by producer Martin Hannett and a band of Mancunians The Invisible Girls. Everything that they wanted to achieve, I wanted to stop happening, he writes. He never does the same song the same way twice. Best line: The fucking scene is fucking sad, the fucking news is fucking bad, the fucking weed is fucking turf, the fucking speed is fucking surf. I digress. Sometimes a band hit . By Paul Henderson. He was known in his pomp as the punk poet. With Lauren Laverne. Not in the smoothest sense, though: Clarke makes a lot of claims concerning death, unemployment and the passage of time. John Cooper Clarke is an English punk poet who became famous in the late 70s and recorded I Wanna Be Yours in 1982.. The relationship that tabloids have with their readership is not a didactic one of master-pupil. Oh, those tragic Brit holidays. Give it a name. The reasons the Beasley Streets exist is judged to be political, with one of the poems strongest lines directed at Keith Joseph, then described as the architect of Thatcherism; Keith Joseph smiles and a baby dies in a box on Beasley Street. Best line: Did Bob Marley like the odd smoke? His life is as extraordinary as youd expect and had me wondering if it is actually a privilege to be working class. The often divisive production that Martin Hannett brought to John Cooper Clarke's poetry works to best effect here, complimenting the dark undertones and careful alliteration of 'in an X certificate exercise ex-servicemen excrete'. Twat Its at this point Clarke, then a local favourite in the working mens clubs and casinos of the North West, transforms in an instant into the nationally known poet laureate of punk hes still venerated as today. An exercise in acute alliteration that saw such excessive use of a plosive P that Clarke advised the first 16 rows of his audience to watch out. The brilliant and irrepressible Dr. John Cooper Clarke.For those who don't know, John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet, who first became famous d. Simple yet utterly perfect, Evidently Chickentown is a stark depiction of a location so grim that Clarke can only adequately express this by using a stream of continuous expletives. I'm not usually one for autobiographies and thinking about it now, I think maybe the only proper autobiographical writing I've read is Simone de Beauvoir's Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter. Clarke is unashamed to tell it like it was (for him), to drop names, to joke and tease, and even to give some clever and interesting social perspective to the post war years in terms of style and the way his generation and mine (boom and Blank--he's got about 12 years on me) absorbed and carried on our culture through film, TV, music, and then style and books. I Married a Monster from Outer Space is a top ten MUST. It draws on his childhood perceptions specifically, the poverty he came across on the streets of Salford while Britains backdrop was entirely Thatcherite. Come my old age, my nursing home will have a very different soundtrack to the Hits of the Blitz that the grandparents favoured. It refers to lines of verse that contain five sets of two beats, the first of which is stressed and the second is unstressed. That poem I wrote for Plan B for the movie Ill Manors. A brief summary of his concerns: political turbulence, tacky holidays, people you cant help but hate, walking down streets of squalor and being a hopeless romantic. Im relieved. I Wanna Be Yours The subject of the piece remains unnamed (lucky guy), but the ambiguity of the poem deems it one of the Salford lads finest pieces. He said, 'He taught me how to knock the poetry out of it. I was going to preface this by saying its not really a poem, but it would be better to say it isnt a poem at all. John Cooper Clarke is a phenomenon: Poet Laureate of Punk, rock star, fashion icon, TV and radio presenter, social and cultural commentator. Benjamin Zephaniah Writer. The second The Luckiest Guy Alive, came 35 years later. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he released several albums. His working class roots are clear and make a fascinating tale. I always loved I married a monster from out of space big bug eyes and a death ray glare, feet like water wings purple hair. He enjoys cooking at home too, although hes a one pan guy. "My paternal grandfather had been a regular soldier in India until 1948, and bore an uncanny resemblance to Mahatma Ghandi (who apparently suffered from corns and bad breath, in other words a supercallousedfragilemysticplaguedwithhalitosis, as Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke almost sang).". I was not equipped psychologically to deal with any of this new reality, he writes. The punk . I was surprised that the reviews and descriptions made no mention of Clarke's addictions. The shock and awe of those times would not seem to be particularly fertile ground for a poet to thrive in, but, hidden in the depths of Salford, a young poet was getting ready to do exactly that.