I think I've done this before but - whatever....
I love him. Love his poetry, his persona, his longevity, his Britishness, his Northernness, his Twisted Wheel-ness....
The body of a 60s Ivy mod, the hair going for Dylan 66 Blonde on Blonde.
What clinched it for me was being in JS, 2 Russell St, when he came in. He was FANTASTIC. Gentle, charming, playful, respectful, and clearly in love with the clothes. He was a big mod in the mid-60s and this love of U.S. clothing has never left him. He bought a knitted tie : "one size fits all" he said.
He said to me in his Mancunian tones : "You're clearly a regular here...". JS loved him. Here's TWAT, one of my fave JCC pieces : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWSTnTM4lQM&feature=related
GG
I used to live near 'Beasley Street' (Camp Street) in Salford, 1981-83. They were slowly tearing it down. I used to go to the old municipal baths near there for a swim and shower. The landlady's cat was forever crapping in the bath. JCC was still talked about in the area and I saw him (heard him) a couple of times, once at the Library Theatre. Now - blimey! - on the English GCSE syllabus.
GG I have a bunch of JCC live performances / bootlegs , happy to copy and send them to you.
Great interview here:
http://idler.co.uk/conversations/conversations-john-cooper-clarke/
I am rather ashamed to say that, over thirty years ago now, I half-inched 'Snap, Crackle And Bop' from a leading record chain.
I like this one, but I think we might have had it here before, too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu01Z4odsgw
I always loved this couplet from 'You Never See A Nipple In The Daily Express':
"This paper's boring, mindless and mean
It's full of pornography, the kind that's clean"
Sums up pretty much this country's scum press.
More stand-up, less verse now, I read. I love the one about Kung Fu. Very Salfordian, that. You dare not go out for a pint of milk after dark because of the dreaded Perry Boys.
Anybody else catch him on Danny Baker (Radio 2) last Saturdauy morning - excellent.
Had top stop the car and listen.
I wanted to revive this partly because 'Chicken Town' is to be heard at some point during 'The Sopranos'.
I heard a slightly hair-raising story about him years ago. An old mate of mine from the 70s punk scene was promoting live music and booked JCC. Could the promoter get him any drugs? This was a dismal East Midland city on a Sunday afternoon. Promoter said he thought a bit of blow might be had. No, no, said JCC, it must be smack. Promoter probably collapsed in a befuddled heap.
Anyway, as Gibson knows, he is an original. And I still owe HMV a couple of quid for the album I snaffled from them back in 1980.
When heckled:
'They wasted a good arse when they put teeth in your mouth'
'I can't hear yer, mate, yer mouth's fulla shit'.