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Forum Goes Into Manc-Punk Time Warp!

1:47 PM GMT 11/06/2009

Forum Goes Into Manc-Punk Time Warp!

John Cooper Clarke / The Fall / The Buzzcocks
The Forum / June 10, 2009

ON JULY 4, 1977 John Cooper Clarke, The Fall and Buzzcocks all played on the same bill at London punk nexus The Vortex. Last night was a fantastic reconvening of these veterans of the punk wars, enough to make defiant pogo-and-gobbing loyalists weep into their original Seditionaries t-shirts.

First up, on promptly at 7.45, the ever-elegant Johnny Clarke treated us to his unique brand of north Manchester repartee, poems, aphorisms and gags - among the old faves were Hire Car and Evidently Chickentown ("as heard on the last episode of The Sopranos!" noted John with pride), though sadly no Salome Maloney. He also threw in the unexpectedly sentimental I've Fallen In Love With My Wife - maybe time for a new album, Mr Clarke? You haven't made one since 1982.

There was just time for a quick snifter at the bar before The Fall came on. With a young, well-drilled band - see their hunted look, as if they know Mark E Smith is watching their every move, and already planning how much he can fine them if they try any paradiddling - their rockabilly-kraut sound is hard as nails and fantastic.

Unreleased material and songs from Imperial Wax Solvent are suddenly followed by Psykick Dancehall, A Figure Walks and Rebellious Jukebox, a gobsmacking triple whammy of never-played classics from '79. As for Mark E, who's been having some gyp with his hip of late, it's good to see him back on his feet. He's a 50-year-old man, and we like him.

Is it just MOJO or does the volume go up when Buzzcocks come on? Playing loud and fast, like guys half their age, we're treated to three-quarters of Singles Going Steady, which means pop-punk gold in abundance. In fact, with Boredom, Ever Fallen in Love, I Don't Mind and plenty more, there seems to be too many brilliant songs - add co-frontperson Steve Diggle's wild stage gyrations, arm swinging and pointing, and the evening's tumultuous (erm) climax Orgasm Addict leaves the crowd exhausted but thrilled.

Clive Prior

Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 1:47 PM GMT 11/06/2009

Related MOJO content:

Buzzcocks , John Cooper Clarke , The Fall

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  • One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.
    Quotation of Plato

    Posted by imwiseman at 4:28 AM GMT 21/11/2009 Report Abuse

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  • Hello Everyone!
    I'm Dean and I'm new here. I'm glad to be part of this community. I already been in other forum but for me, this is the nicest community.
    Thanks.

    Posted by deanmainus at 8:19 AM GMT 17/12/2009 Report Abuse

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