John Cooper Clarke Unveils New Poetry Collection “Have It” and Launches UK Tour

John Cooper Clarke, the Salford-born “punk poet,” released his latest poetry collection Have It in October 2026. The book is accompanied by a UK tour that runs through the autumn months and concludes on 27 November.

The Guardian

Clarke’s early years in Salford were marked by a bout of tuberculosis that kept him out of school but gave him time to read. His teacher, Mr Malone, introduced him to spoken poetry, a format Clarke later adopted on stage.

The Guardian

In his teens he identified as a “mod” and, after unsuccessful manuscript submissions, turned to club performances. His first paid gig came from comedian Bernard Manning, who gave him a 15-minute slot at Manchester’s Embassy Club. The indifferent audience taught Clarke the importance of presentation, a lesson he carried into the punk scene.

The Guardian

A chance meeting with Howard Devoto of the Buzzcocks led to collaborations that placed him on the late-1970s music circuit. He signed to Epic Records in 1978 and scored a UK Top 40 hit with “Gimmix! Play Loud” in 1979.

The Guardian

The 1980s brought heroin addiction; rehabilitation in the 1990s coincided with meeting his wife Evie, the birth of daughter Stella, and renewed interest after his poem “Evidently Chickentown” appeared in *The Sopranos*. Arctic Monkeys later adapted his poem “I Wanna Be Yours,” expanding his audience.

The Guardian

• 1949 – Birth in Salford.

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• 1978 – Signs with Epic Records.

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• 1979 – UK Top 40 hit “Gimmix! Play Loud.”

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• Mid-1970s – First paid gig with Bernard Manning.

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• Late-1970s – Joins punk circuit with Buzzcocks and the Fall.

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• 1990s – Marries Evie, rehabilitates, daughter Stella born.

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• 2000s – “Evidently Chickentown” used in *The Sopranos*; Arctic Monkeys adapt “I Wanna Be Yours.”

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• 2020 – Publishes memoir *I Wanna Be Yours*.

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• 2026 – Releases *Have It* and begins UK tour (ends 27 Nov).

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• One UK Top 40 single (“Gimmix! Play Loud”).

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• Poetry now part of the GCSE English syllabus.

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• Tour dates span multiple UK venues through late 2026.

The Guardian

Clarke says the new collection continues his “performance-first” ethos, noting that, despite feeling “older,” he remains “computer illiterate” and “not a modern guy,” yet keeps his distinctive dress to preserve his stage persona. He added that the tour lets him bring poetry directly to audiences, a practice he views as essential to his identity as a “club act.”

The Guardian

• “What are you doing pottering around in these cheesy cabaret joints, Jonny? You should be working with us in the world of punk rock.” — Buzzcocks

The Guardian

The UK tour supporting *Have It* runs until 27 November; Clarke has indicated he will continue writing and performing, though no further dates have been announced.

The Guardian