‘Poetry is not something you have to retire from…’
Legendary Mancunian poet John Cooper Clarke has always been a part of my life albeit indirectly. For as long as I can remember, my Dad would randomly quote snippets of Clarke’s work, imitating his thick Salford drawl. He mainly did this to annoy my Mum, I think, but the words always stuck with me. I Wanna Be Yours is the self-proclaimed punk poet’s life story told in his own inimitable prose…
Charting his life growing up on the mean streets of Manchester to his early success with Bernard Manning and then the punk movement, through to his later years of heroin addiction and professional struggles, I Wanna Be Yours is a fascinating insight into an iconic figure who has lived an incredible and volatile life.
Whether it be his friendships with various members of Joy Division, his ongoing relationship with Nico, or his matter-of-fact description of life as a heroin addict, Clarke approaches all areas of his life with style and panache in an autobiography that is frequently hilarious and always compelling. Anyone who has listened to Clarke’s incredible Desert Island Discs episode can attest to the fact that he is a fantastic raconteur, and I Wanna Be Yours captures the essence of what makes Clarke such a captivating and unique artist.
If your only knowledge of Clarke’s life and work comes from the Arctic Monkey’s song that shares the same name as this book, then this autobiography is the perfect starting point for someone who has now surely acquired national treasure status.