HE is a poet, a movie star, a comedian, rock star and a social and cultural commentator.

However you wish to label Dr John Cooper Clarke, he will just as quickly pop up as something else.

For many, Dr John is Britain’s best loved and most important performance poet. Now, in his 70s, he is about to set out on a Seaside Tour across the South West.

But this is no quiet pensioner picnic followed by a round of bingo. Dr John will deliver his thoughts and gripes in the way only he can.

His fan base includes the likes of Sir Paul McCartney and Alex Turner from The Arctic Monkeys.

The good doctor’s biting, satirical, political and very funny verse, delivered in a unique rapid-fire performance style, resonated with the punk movement. He toured with all the seminal bands including The Sex Pistols, The Clash & Buzzcocks, and in the USA with Elvis Costello.

He began to draw large crowds in his own right. Joy Division were proud to frequently support JCC and New Order later opened for him on their first Australian tour.

In 1978, Dr John signed a major album deal with CBS Records. His records with the Invisible Girls, produced by Martin Hannett, are acknowledged as masterpieces. The unique fusions of JCC’s poems and The Invisible Girls’ highly original music, created influential records still name checked by people as diverse as Alex Turner, Plan B, Jarvis Cocker and Steve Coogan.

He also released a massive collection of his poetry and words, Ten Years In An Open Necked Shirt, which became the bestselling poetry book of the1980s, and is reprinted every few years.

So what of John now? Aside from being a key orator of British society during this time, his mark is indelibly seen in today’s pop culture. Aside from his fashion style spawning copy-cats all over the country, his effect on modern music has been huge.

The punk revival has seen a whole new generation clamouring over John’s work and saw his star rocket once again.

Continuing to write new work from his Essex home, he has a plethora of new poems and monologues which he performs solo, alongside his best known works such as Beasley Street and Evidently Chickentown. His shows are always packed and his audience always leave ecstatic.

Thursday, April 7. The Playhouse, Weston.

For full dates, go to: www.johncooperclarke.com