Description
Join us for an unforgettable evening with legendary punk poet and cultural icon, John Cooper Clarke, as he reflects on a life lived at full tilt.
In this candid and captivating in-conversation event, Clarke will explore the journey that took him from the backstreets of Salford to the world stage—through the rise of punk, the countercultural whirlwind of the ’70s and ’80s, and his place today as one of Britain’s most distinctive literary voices.
Expect wit, wisdom, and plenty of stories from the man who has inspired generations with his biting verse and brilliant humour. To close the evening, Clarke will take to the mic for a live reading, bringing his unmistakable voice and electric presence to a selection of his most celebrated work.
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About the Poet
John Cooper Clarke
Born in Salford and inspired to write poetry by a charismatic English teacher, Clarke cut his teeth as a performance poet in the folk clubs of Manchester. He released his debut EP in 1977 and signed to Epic Records the following year, where his wry wit and rapid-fire delivery aligned him with the more cerebral end of the punk rock movement. During the late 1970s he performed on the same bills as The Fall, The Sex Pistols, Joy Division, Elvis Costello and many more key punk and post-punk acts. Now a beloved and influential elder statesman of both the music and poetry scenes, his verse has been collected in three volumes – Ten Years in an Open Necked Shirt, The Luckiest Guy Alive and WHAT – whilst his 2021 memoir I Wanna Be Yours (named after one of his most popular poems) drew rave reviews for its humour and erudition.
About the Chair
Nihal Arthanayake
Nihal Arthanayake is an award-winning broadcaster, cultural commentator, author, and former rapper, renowned for his compelling keynote talks and signature interview style. He presents the BBC Radio 5 Live show and the acclaimed podcast Headliners, winning BBC’s 2019 Interview of the Year. Starting as MC Krayzee A in the UK hip hop scene, he later performed with The Muddie Funksters and worked with artists like Fun Da Mental and Punjabi MC. As a music promoter, he championed acts from Elton John to Badmarsh & Shri and was instrumental in highlighting the Asian underground scene. Nihal’s broadcasting acclaim includes his Sony Gold-winning BBC Radio 1 show and a 2010 Sony Award for Best Speech Programme. A bestselling author of Let’s Talk, he also appears on TV shows like MasterChef and Buzzcocks. His keynote speeches on diversity, communication, and identity offer powerful insights, empowering audiences to think, connect, and lead more inclusively.
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