Salford Lads Membership
June twelfth 2025
Reside Evaluate
picture by Elspeth Mary Moore
On Wednesday night time, the legendary Salford Lads Membership hosted a sold-out night of anarchic dialog with the unique punk poet, Dr John Cooper Clarke. If Salford had a crown to anoint their very personal Bard, JCC can be sporting it along with his typical sartorial magnificence and trademark skinny denims.
From the second he stepped onto the stage on this iconic venue, it was clear that this was going to be a night of chat present heaven that will have been sheer hell to edit if it needed to be broadcast. Clarke’s trademark rapid-fire supply continues to be simply as fast demanding a blink otherwise you’ll miss it consideration to his innate aptitude for supply.
Interviewed by BBC’s Nihal Arthanayake, whose pure allure suggests a person who might in all probability get a confession out of a site visitors cone, Clarke was each hilarious and heartfelt. Balancing fanboy enthusiasm with incisive questioning, Arthanayake had a pure rapport that felt extra like a late-night pub chat than a proper interview. At instances it appeared like there was to be no reining in of the place the dialog went however as in the perfect of exchanges it remained insightful, incisive and wickedly humorous.
There have been tales from life in Larger Broughton and cinema journeys along with his mom watching submit conflict film classics which the poet introduced alive once more. From tough home shares with Nico and John Cale to tales of first gigs on the notorious Embassy Membership, each reminiscence is catalogued with dry wit and easy switches into totally different accents.
Clarke is spot on when he references himself and the Woody Allen human chameleon film Zelig. Collectively, they traced the arc of Clarke’s 50+ yr profession – from boozing in 70s punk dives to headlining Co-op Reside in entrance of the UK’s largest ever crowd for a poet.
Clarke wryly commented on his influence on the fashionable poetry scene with the pithy reflection, Throw a bottle into an viewers these days and also you’ll hit a poet!
The second half of the night launched Clarke’s long-time supervisor and partner-in-crime Phil Jones, a music promoter with extra backstage tales than a tour bus confessional. Collectively, the pair served up behind-the-scenes gossip that had the gang howling – tales of gigs that just about didn’t occur, unpaid royalties and journeys to costly however flawed journeys to rehab.
All through the storytelling each second was vividly delivered to life and means that Clarke’s avoidance of contemporary expertise could be the way in which ahead. He doesn’t use mobiles or emails so all his communication comes by means of pen and paper or spoken phrase on the landline. The enjoyment of a pointy mind and a method with phrases is a dopamine hit you’re by no means going to get from a textual content plagued by emoji or a TikTok reel about some kitten in Japan.
The night was akin to sitting in on the world’s finest pub anecdotes and Clarke appeared like a person in no hurry to go away the stage. The night wrapped up with a Q&A from the viewers.
The truth that all this befell within the hallowed halls of the Salford Lads Membership was an additional bonus. A fundraiser for an iconic venue dripping in musical lore and Smiths memorabilia. Guests earlier than the present roamed previous the Wall of Names and peered reverently into the Smiths Room, some even stopping so as to add selfies to the ever-growing digital archive.
This was an evening of excellent pairings from Arthanayake and John Cooper Clarke to the ever current G&T on stage and naturally the final word pairing of an iconic Salford constructing with the enduring Salford Bard.
A Plea From Louder Than Battle
Louder Than Battle is run by a small however devoted impartial staff, and we depend on the small amount of cash we generate to maintain the location operating easily. Any cash we do get shouldn’t be lining the pockets of oligarchs or mad-cap billionaires dictating what our journalists are allowed to suppose and write, or hungry shareholders. We all know instances are powerful, and we wish to proceed bringing you information on essentially the most attention-grabbing releases, the most recent gigs and anything that tickles our fancy. We aren’t pushed by revenue, simply pure enthusiasm for a scene that every one in all us is keen about.
To us, music and tradition are eveything, with out them, our very souls shrivel and die. We don’t cost artists for the publicity we give them and to many, what we do is totally important. Subscribing to one in all our paid tiers takes only a minute, and every sign-up makes a huge effect, serving to to maintain the flame of impartial music burning! Please click on the button beneath to assist.
John Robb – Editor in Chief