John Cooper Clarke - TWAT (on After Dark, 1982) 1245pm 11.2.22 he stands next to my woody allen album of comedy in the pantheon of anecdotal schtick... just reading his autobiog -i would recommend. if you had parents well versed in light entertainment culture as i had - you could ask them, as a kid, who such and such will have been and where this or that establishment would have stood. all good research in anticipation of jc-c's haunts and proclivities.. you'll like this: due to neighbours and extraneous dolts entering my home when i'm out, without my permission i hasten tio add, i have been forced to hauling round the two new additions to my library - in the way of bob mortimer and john cooper-clarke lest said reads be defiled or despoiled or they claim said merch as their own... hence the rucksack, sir... i am wondering if we can have the perpetrators stuffed and mounted in the local workers?
this man is a legend. he has done something no other poet in the modern era has achieved.. make it fun, make it accesible and make it relevent to the masses of comprehensive schooled 'ignorante' (like myself). in the process he's influenced a clutch of poets and rappers and for 2 decades kept alive the importance of the spoken word. JCC deserves total respect. and if you havn't already, go see him perform.. his wit and charisma will have you quoting his lines and jokes forever.
Dr Cooper is indeed a genius. I've had the privilege of seeing him twice, once in the 70's and again in the 2000's, still got it, brilliant! So I suppose I've grown up with him, how good is that? Respect Dr Cooper.
I once requested this at one of his gigs and he looked like he didn't know whether it was a request or abuse - but that was a problem of his own making
Johnny Clarke has a unique talent. His poetry is genius, & back in the 80's when he was the supporting act,prior to the all New punk band's of that time, Joy Division, The Sex Pistols,&suchlike,he wasn't recognized for his talent.His delivery of his poetry is in such a way that he will never be mimicked or matched by anyone. 50yrs on & this is the case. I luv him for being so outstanding. Any Gig he is at I attend, within reason of travelling from my hometown. I have met him several times, & got a small portrait of him on my shoulder.All I wanted was that sometime,I might have it signed by him personally. With much bigger venues for a time, this was not possible.Still I was persistent pushing past hundreds of people leaving his Concerts,along with many doormen hired at that time,but to no avail.Approx.25yrs on my persistence paid off,I got through to all the dressing rooms backstage,but had no idea which room he was in.Seen by a gentleman walking around the corridors, he politely asked was I alright. I explained truthfully what I was intending & he asked would I stay where I was for a minute or so.He moved down 5 or six doors & seemingly tapped on a door whereupon a few words were exchanged. And then Johnny Clarke was stood there asking me to go inside his dressing room,saying "What's this about a tattoo! Of me?Can I have a look at it?" What a gentleman, getting me a chair to sit myself down.Visible on my shoulder,as I was wearing a plain vest top(After attending many concerts,I had learned that it does in fact get warm quite quickly),whereas upon leaving a very warm jacket is a must. In any case he looked on at the tattoo & others in his room also had a peek.All including himself commenting on how well it was unmistakably himself. I explained that I had been trying to get his signature next too it,which I could have easily done so by tracing it off almost all memorabilia I had, and having it sized to match, but it wouldn't be the same. So he signed it for me. I then explained all I have to do now is clingfilm it,and sit upright for 48hrs until my tattooist opened 2days later. I did in fact contact him at a later date, to thank him so much for his time, by which time it was tattooed and healed & there for my lifetime. Thank-you John Cooper Clarke. It speaks for itself if you have any portrait tattooed. He's no:1. Luv Laverne from Accrington. Xx
@@danielhughes2014 I wish I was .Met him several times. Personally,I think it was a much bigger concert in Manchester. Packed,&from our seats he was a mere 'Dot'.Prior to that he had received the first of it's kind EVER GIVEN, from 'Q'magazine,the norm being best new up &coming group, male singer/female and similar, only it was announced that they wanted to give an award for decades of punk poetry, and comedy, a particular man never got recognised for all his work and talent, small venue's, he is always late, and the same crowd from back all those years ago, the PUNK'S as we saw them, few, & as we saw them back then, they talked about the talent, and I infact would never dream of going too,or reading, let alone paying a small fee to listen to any POETRY, prior to the main event. I still laugh now or anytime he is mentioned. He has made me laugh again and again, and I don't believe anyone else in the poetic field, will ever have the same ability to use poetry as John has.
And I still need to make my point,..... He was awarded a "DOCTORATE " for all the years of his work. THE 1st of it's Kind! And Without a question of a doubt, VERY WELL DESERVED. HE DOESN'T EVEN MENTION IT VERY MUCH, but now &then if a Gig/concert is advertised it may say,that DR.JOHN COOPER CLARKE will be appearing. The COVID19 has had us all stuck indoors, but at the concert I mentioned, thousands filled the place. Doormen everywhere, as you would given the crowd turnout. It finished & all were being made to leave quickly, but I had decided to try and find him. At one point I was told off as I had sneaked off back stage. OMG corridors, door's, I was not going to find him. A rather large man shouted, "Lady, you should not be around here, what you doing?" I am looking for Johnny Clarke &was hoping to get his signature. A door opened...It was the man himself. So polite he said "come in a minute, what do you want signing ?"
What appears to be happening in the comments is exactly what the Punk poetry literary revolution hoped to induce somewhat. The Punk poets are exposing the divide of culture by inciting its rage. We all have a passionate opinion of this text whether it is positive or negative and I can assure you John Cooper Clarke relishes in it all.
@@thestarshavefallen imagine being in the mess we're in now because Rupert Murdochs photographers caught ed miliband in an unflattering photo while eating a bacon sarnie.
Love from Kentucky. First heard him on the ‘77 Beggars’ Banquet “Streets” comp album which I still enjoy today. All Dr. J.C.C. posts are greatly appreciated. Thanks
Seen him a few times live, always a great night. The last time was at Liverpool Mountford Hall an age ago, he had a full band with him that time and was supported by The Icicle Works which shows how long ago it was.
I was going to send this to an American friend who, through her love of British TV adores the word TWAT. Thinking she may require subtitles I checked to see if there were any, what I saw was the most surreal poem ever. Check it out!
I think my brother used to listen to this, and this is the first time I've heard it in probably about 35 years and I knew a lot of the lines. It was really odd.
I love JCC. I live in Colchester & it's wonderful to have him as a Colcestrian. People of all ages acknowledge or even comment on my JCC T shirt in Colchester. My late partner was an even more avid fan following him from 1976 onwards. Can't wait for the Arts Centre to be putting on his annual Christmas Poetry Bash with Luke Wright & Martin Newell again.
First time I've heard this version, Loving it, one of his albums has it to music can't find it but the bouncy tune and first class put down go together well. I sat in the pub and rattled this off to an ex of mine, when the words fail me there is allways JCC!
British wit, eh?! From the highest of the 'upper classes' to the lowest of the 'lower classes', there is unspeakably clever, language and ideas based wit throughout Britain. This is just brilliant.
John Cooper Clarke is what happens when David Bowie and Crowley from Good Omens have a son whose best friend is Noel Fielding, and that kid doesn't have any guilt about whether he's a proper adult or not. Just chaotic freedom. The best of all the alignments IMO.
LOL!😆🤣😂😅 My wife across the room said, Is that your voice? I said, Why? She said, It sounds just like you.” A life long wondering has just had an answer! I’m flattered!😃
D. Y. What’s funny is I’m American and don’t have the accent. She’s Vietnamese. To understand her language requires retraining one’s hearing, which I won’t explain except to say that it’s needed to correctly speak Vietnamese. I quit trying to speak and understand her language and my life is better off. We’re still together after 18 years. Sigh!🤪😉😉🥳
Yeah he was very underrated - saw him many times ,one occasion stands out at band on the wall Manchester when he banned his manager from coming in and did nothing but tell jokes all night ! Amazing
get2rog What are you talking about?? That’s the very reason I made the comment, because this video is nearly 40 years old and he hasn’t changed a bit. He’s regularly on television today.
John Cooper Clarke the man who tells the truth about real life , the good, the bad, the sad, the ugly and flipping brilliant happenings in our lives, he tells all about life in the most funny ways.
Donnie, I gotta say, I'm ashamed that I cursed you every Saturday for cutting off the cartoons. Forgive me. I was only seven. This is all fucking brilliant.
Like a nightclub in the morning, you're the bitter end Like a recently disinfected shithouse, you're clean round the bend You give me the horrors Too bad to be true All of my tomorrows Are lousy 'cause of you You put the Shat in Shatter Put the Pain in Spain Your germs are splattered about Your face is just a stain You're certainly no raver, commonly known as a drag Do us all a favor, here, wear this polythene bag You're like a dose of scabies I've got you under my skin You make life a fairytale Grimm! People mention murder, the moment you arrive I'd consider killing you if I thought you were alive You've got this slippery quality It makes me think of phlegm And a dual personality I hate both of them You're bad breath, vamps disease, destruction, and decay Please, please, please, please, take yourself away Like a death a birthday party You ruin all the fun Like a sucked and spat-our Smartie You're no use to anyone Like the shadow of the guillotine On a dead consumptive's face Speaking as an outsider What do you think of the human race? You went to a progressive psychiatrist He recommended suicide Before scratching your bad name off his list And pointing the way outside You hear laughter breaking through, it makes you want to fart You're heading for a breakdown Better pull yourself apart Your dirty name gets passed about when something goes amiss Your attitudes are platitudes Just make me wanna piss What kind of creature bore you Was it some kind of bat? They can't find a good word for you But I can Twat!
I know this sounds a bit absurd Was hoping to comment, make myself heard To say this guys a genius, a maverick And not just some turd But you tube rules have got me referred Cause some c*** used the N word.
i loved this show as a kid, totally different to whatelse was on, so different. I recall Oliver Reed on the show, totally pissed out of his head getting up helping himself to the drinks cabinet that was there
