“My template for the perfect looking gentleman is very specific. It is Keith Richards on the steps of Chichester Crown Court in 1965… He looked to so patrician.” John Cooper Clarke, i-N Conversation with i-D online at Hay 2012.
If crown prince of punk poetry John Cooper Clarke were to appoint a Queen for a day he would have chosen his Ma. A walking saint with an innate sense of justice, he believes she would have done a good job reigning supreme over Britain’s green and pleasant lands. Miles away from his inner city stomping grounds in the rainy hills of Hay-on-Wye, drain-pipe jean’d, winkle-picking wearing Johnny looks every inch the icon. Sat in the VIP area of the artists’ tent eating a roast dinner before his recital at the prestigious Welsh literary festival, Mr Cooper Clarke is impeccably polite to everyone who approaches him. Laughing easily, chatting candidly and remembering his earlier days spent touring with some of the most legendary rock’n'roll artists of all time, John is now a dedicated father and a loving husband. Continuing to write his comic beat, New Romantic material today, he’s just as inspired by people, irony and subcultures as ever before and his humour and wit are sharper than a razor and more cunning than a city fox. Inviting i-D online to have a sneaky peek at some of his latest works, John recites the Elvis-inspired short ‘Tiki shirts’ whilst rocking some Converse and gold teeth. Standard.
John first appeared in i-D issue number 10, The Out Already Issue, published in December 1992 (pictured below)
Text and film: Milly McMahon
