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  The 76-year-old has experience on the station, having fulfilled a similar role in 2013 when he stood in for Pulp frontman, Jarvis Cocker, on his own Sunday afternoon show, ‘Jarvis Cocker’s Sunday Service’. Cooper Clarke’s performance was reviewed by The Guardian, with Nosheen Iqbal saying, “Hearing Cooper Clarke pontificate is probably as close as 6 Music gets to replicating the ‘down the pub’ chatty spirit so many shows work to achieve.”  

The Bard of Salford was on Laura Laverne’s Radio 6 show on Friday, celebrating World Poetry Day, in which he chose some of his favourite readings throughout the show. On the BBC website, the stand-in slot promises “a Sabbath Special, the compulsory Elvis number, and a nod to Iggy via Clarke’s Compilation Corner”.

@bbc6music Happy World Poetry Day John Cooper Clarke joined Lauren to share some of his favourite poetry recordings. Listen on @bbcsounds and on your Smart Speaker #worldpoetryday #johncooperclarke ♬ original sound – BBC Radio 6 Music

This afternoon’s show opened with a tribute to the late Johnny Green, Cooper Clarke’s tour manager and friend. The poet told audiences that Green’s “invisible fingerprints were all over this afternoon’s playlist.” Green found success as the road manager for the Clash, documenting his time with them in the book, ‘A Riot of Our Own’, and also managed US musician Joe Ely. He died earlier this month, with tributes pouring in from across the punk world.  

Cooper Clarke has often mentioned the impact that Iggy Pop has had on him on more than one occasion. He likened himself to the titular passenger in Pop’s song, when revealing his influences, and saying “It’s a poor artist who only paints the picturesque.”

The BBC website for ‘Iggy Confidential’ seems to indicate that Cooper Clarke’s run will last for two shows spread over three weeks, those being 23 March and 6 April. The intervening weekend will feature a wrap-up show for the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival, which takes place next week in Manchester. Cooper Clarke is also set to perform in Manchester next week, headlining an event at the Co-op LIVE arena on Saturday, 29 March, making him the first poet to headline an arena in the UK.  

It will be a busy week for the poet, as he is also set to receive an award at the Northern Music Awards, held in Liverpool on Thursday, 27 March. Cooper Clarke will be awarded the Northern Music Award, which celebrates a legacy act who is a “household name with a long and highly-respected career that is still active in music.”  

This could go down as the best few weeks radio for a long long time. Listening to Dr Clarke tell some stories whilst plying a bit of music for two hours each day. All for free.

— Streetwise Stu (@StreetwiseStu79) March 23, 2025

Reaction to the news of Cooper Clarke’s shows was extremely positive, with one X user saying: “This could go down as the best few weeks radio for a long long time. Listening to Dr Clarke tell some stories whilst playing a bit of music for two hours each day. All for free.”

With an exclusive mix of punk, reggae, and old school rock ‘n’ roll, Cooper Clarke’s first show goes toe-to-toe with Pop’s own renowned playlists. It’s clear to see that the punk poet has meticulously curated the show, from each song, the order, and the dedications to his late friend. 

The show is available on BBC Sounds for 29 days.

The album titled ‘Black To The Future’ sees the return of the Your Queen Is A Reptile band lineup, arriving in a moment of political turmoil. The social commentary runs deep in this project, with the intro featuring bleak words from renowned poet Joshua Idehen setting the tone for the rest of the LP. Other features on the album include Philadelphia poet Moor Mother, composer Angel Bat Dawid, London rapper Kojey Radical and veteran grime MC D Double E. This more feature heavy approach differs from their previous works, with the band fusing hip-hop and grime in with their afro-jazz sensibilities.

Black To The Future is available to purchase from retailers such as Rough Trade and their official store, with formats coming in black vinyl and CD. Record subscription service Vinyl Me Please is offering a limited-edition gold and black melt colour LP, pressed by VMP themselves resulting in exclusivity. The album sees its release through the American jazz record label Impulse! Records, a label that has seen jazz royalty pass through, including the likes of John Coltrane one of the labels earliest signings after its formation in 1960. You can stream the incredible fourth album by Sons Of Kemet below.