While on the subject of the BBC's 'Punk Britannia' season, both the John Cooper Clarke and The Adverts documentaries were excellent. Although I found it curious to see Attila The Stockbroker pop up on 'We Who Wait', but not on the JCC film.
Clearly Attila and TV Smith are kindred spirits, who've undoubtedly shared a stage in their time. But the heavy use of comedians to offer us a view of the impact of the Bard Of Salford, was a bit one dimensional. Of course Johnny Clarke influenced them, but what about the 'ranting poets' who followed hot on his Chelsea booted heels?
Attila and the late Seething (later Steven - and Susan for that matter, but that's another story...) Wells were chief amongst the protagonists. It was under this banner that a certain Porky The Poet got his first audience as well. He's better known as Phil Jupitus these days.
As for the man who brought us 'Russians in the DHSS' and 'Libyan Students from Hell', he's still doing it - much like TV Smith you suspect, gigging out of a suitcase and just about breaking even.
Now that's punk rock - and long may they continue.
