UNCOVERED: John cooper clarke | History Defined

John Cooper Clarke looks back: ‘Getting older sucks – it’s marginally better than being dead’

The punk poet on his heroin years, dressing like Ronnie Wood, and achieving his boyhood ambition

The Guardian - UK · Oct 4

The best recent poetry – review roundup

Have It by John Cooper Clarke; The Dodo Stories by Mary Mulholland; Red River Valley by Ian McMillan; Some Sacred Harbour by Roger Robinson; Otherwhere by Carolyn Forché

The Guardian - UK · Oct 2

Van Morrison’s music maestro steps out of the shadows

EXCLUSIVE: Child actor turned guitarist, musical director and composer Ronnie Johnson has spent half a century backing the rock ‘n roll greats. In an exclusive interview with Simon Walters, he reveals why he is launching his own new band – and the unlikely reason Van Morrison says he employed him.

The Independent UK · Sep 10

John Cooper Clarke: 'More people than ever seem to be into me'

The bard of Salford is hitting the London Palladium and at the peak of his powers as the world’s only punk poet national treasure

Evening Standard · Mar 7, 2025

John Cooper Clarke to receive 2025 Northern Music Award: ‘I am honoured’

The Northern Music Awards recognises and celebrates musical talent from the north of England.

Evening Standard · Feb 26, 2025

On my radar: Siobhan Finneran’s cultural highlights

The actor on the band she can’t wait to see, the best place to meet friends for food in Manchester, and performance poetry that made her laugh and cry

The Guardian - UK · Jan 11, 2025

Sunday with John Cooper Clarke: ‘My wife does a chicken with 60 cloves of garlic’

The poet talks about newspapers and television, coffee and strawberries, and how Monday’s gloomy presence hangs over every Sunday

The Guardian - UK · Dec 29, 2024

What by John Cooper Clarke review – sharp social commentary from the Bard of Salford

With subjects ranging from Elvis to bubble and squeak, the poet’s unmistakable delivery elevates his satirical verse to the realms of high art

The Guardian - UK · May 3, 2024

“I couldn’t listen to Genesis or Yes and feel like they were writing songs for me. It wasn’t my music! But with punk, I could understand the songs; the words mattered”: John Cooper Clarke on inspiration, addiction and being endorsed by Arctic Monkeys

“There are all sorts of technical gizmos you can get these days, but I still prefer a notebook and pencil,” says the performance poet

MusicRadar · Apr 10, 2024

‘I write all my poems with a quill by candlelight’: John Cooper Clarke on the joy of life without tech

The punk poet has no smartphone, no email, not even a computer. Everyone should try it, he says

The Guardian - UK · Feb 17, 2024