DR. JOHN COOPER CLARKE // ROYAL CONCERT HALL, GLASGOW
Dr John Cooper Clarke brings his new tour to Glasgow, to prove he is indeed 'The Luckiest Guy Alive!
★★★★☆
As a sort of introduction to the evening, the punk poet recalled some stories from his careeer and recited some of his best known work, as well as lookng into the history of poetry, and the 3000 year old limerick. Clarke was born in Salford, Manchester in 1949, and took a keen interest in poetry from his English teacher at school. He started showcasing his talents around the folk clubs of Manchester in the mid to late 70s, and released his first record in 1977. He was inspired to believe he could make a living from poetry by seeing Pam Ayres on Opportunity Knocks, and has since been on the same bill as The Sex Pistols, The Fall, Joy Division, Siouxsie And The Banshees and Elvis Costello, earning himself the title ‘Punk Poet’.
This evening sees JCC showcase some new material from his 2018 release the Luckiest man Alive, and combined with older classics such as Beasley Street, the audience in the old Glasgow venue received him with rapturous applause. If you think going to see a poet on a Saturday night in Glasgow was a dull, drab affair, you have never seen Dr John Cooper Clarke. Dry humour, a Mancunian drawl, very witty and very clever, Clarke shows signs that the brain is moving faster than the body now, he is in his 70s remember, but if he slows slightly theyre back in sync for another hilarious, poetic outburst, and another attack on those who cannot run the country properly, in his opinion.
Dr John Cooper Clarke is the King of Urban Poetry. And long may he reign.