Michael Hurley, AFUK Artists, Johnny Cash, Mayo Thompson, The Red Krayola, Tex Ritter, Lord Buckley, Kenneth Williams, Hasil Adkins, Daniel Johnston, The Legendary Stardust Cowboy, Bingo Gazingo, Jake Thackray, Ivor Cutler, Tom Lehrer, Viv Stanshall, Half Man Half Biscuit, The Tiger Lillies, George Melly, Billy Childish, Sexton Ming, Spike Jones, Stan Freberg, All the Outsiders of the world, The Fugs, John Cooper Clarke, John Hegley, Moondog, Beat Poetry, John Otway, Patti Smith, Robert Wyatt, Laurie Anderson, Sonic Youth, Joy Division, Link Wray, Captain Beefheart, David Thomas, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, David Sylvian, Leonard Cohen, Spike Milligan, Bill Monroe, Cliff Edwards, Archie Shepp, The Lounge Lizards, Miles Davis, Tubby Hayes, Charlie Christian, Roscoe Holcomb, Hank Williams, The Carter Family, Robert Crumb, Pharoah Sanders, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Lonnie Donegan, Ian Dury, Frank Zappa, Scott Walker, The Fall, Jandek, Wild Man Fischer, Shooby Taylor, Peter Grudzien, Charlie Feathers, Vaudeville, Cabaret, Variety, Burlesque, Flanders and Swann, Marie Lloyd, Albert Chevalier, Harry Champion, Florrie Forde, Little Tich, George Robey, Harry Lauder, George Formby, Will Fyfe, Stanley Holoway, Billy Bennett, Arthur Askey, Carl Perkins, R. L. Burnside, T-Model Ford, Junior Kimbrough, Jacques Brel, John Cage, Brian Eno, Marianne Faithfull, Alexis Corner, Lou Reed, Leon Russell, Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf, Woody Allen, Max Miller, The Goons, Max Wall, Les Dawson, Jaques Tati, Freddie Frinton, Tommy Cooper, Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Michael Nyman, Kronos Quartet, Terry Riley, John Cage, Gavin Bryars, John Adams, Meredith Monk, Vaughan Williams, John Hassell, Chas & Dave, Alan Sherman, Bernard Cribbins, Burl Ives, Charlie Drake, Danny Kaye, Frankie Howerd, Joyce Grenfell, Mandy Miller, Mel Blanc, New Christie Minstrels, Rolf Harris, Terry Scott, Michael Holiday, Tommy Steele, Andy Stewart, Julie Felix, Frankie Laine, The Avons, Max Bygraves, Rosemary Clooney, Anthony Newley, Ian Wallace, Josh McRae, Charles Penrose, Eartha Kitt, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Duncan, Pat Boone, Pete Seeger, Peter Sellers, Val Doonican, Louis Jordan, Ann Stephens, B. Bumble & The Stingers, Morecambe & Wise, Dick James, Elton Hayes, Frank Luther, Henry Hall, Lita Roza, The Stargazers, Laurel & Hardy, Vernon Dalhart, Bernard Breslaw, Dora Bryan, Jimmy Dean, Alma Cogan, Beatrice Lillie, Bill Anderson, Bobby Boris Pickett, Bobby Vinton, Doris Day, Gene Autrey, The Goons, Julie Andrews, Ken Dodd, Leroy Anderson, Lou Bush, Paddy Roberts, Petula Clark, Sheb Wooley, Suzi Miller, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Scaffold, The Cramps, Screaming Lord Sutch, John Lee Hooker, Erik Satie, Tiny Tim,
Sounds Like
Countryantifolkbluesoldtimebluegrasspunkpoetry laced quite tightly around the middle with a great deal of wit and twine.
Some information about me:
I embrace the DIY culture!
My very good friend and mentor, Ken Sprague, well known throughout the political cartoon world as ‘The Peoples Artist’, once said to me –
“Not that the Artist is a special kind of [person], but that every [person] who is not a mere idler or parasite, is necessarily some special kind of artist.”
I think he was right and I would go further and say that:
"FREE SPEECH IS MY RIGHT TO SAY WHAT YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR!"
I’m Colin Shaddick, the artist sometimes known as Uke Stanza. I’m an "off-kilter, indie folk," poet/singer/songwriter.
A quote by ‘Filthy Pedro’, AFUK, sums up my work very well:
"... a re-discovery of folk ethics and a reaction against the rigid genre that folk became in the 60s. It’s about using whatever you want to tell everyday stories, valuing humour over sorrow, storytelling over technique, and personality over polish."
I very often mix poetry and song during my "punk cabaret" act. My work is more suited to an adult audience, as some of my material could be judged as slightly rude and may shock a less than world-wise audience. This strand of my poetry/song usually comments on the potentially embarrassing areas of life the majority of people want to keep to themselves. But of course, these subjects can be very funny!
BBC Radio 4 asked me to be interviewed for their superb programme; Ramblings, with Clare Balding. This is what the press had to say:
“... an exquisite portrait of an eccentric slice of British life." Radio Times.
" ... a very tall master of the haiku." The Daily Telegraph.
“... a bullet-headed, six-foot five-inch haiku poet." The Observer Magazine.
“... an ogre of a man whose thuggish appearance hides the fact that he is a haiku poet of uncommon sensitivity." The Guardian.
“... six foot five and built like a rugby player ... uses economical words." The Sunday Telegraph.
“... a six-foot five-inch, 18-and-a-half stone, shaven-headed man who keeps being mistaken for a bouncer ... is a haiku poet ... eccentric." The Mail On Sunday.
“... finds inspiration in an abandoned truck, its camouflage enhanced by black seaweed... he had the requisite knack of saying less and meaning more.” The Guardian Friday/G2. "
“... a shaven-headed tower of a man (again, this being a radio programme, we have to take the physical dimensions on trust) who turns out to be a gentle poet.” The Times Online.
Here’s how it all started: I first became involved with the jazz/poetry scene in London in the mid to late 60’s. It was a great scene then and luckily enough, poetry has made a resurgence in the last few years. It’s great to get two bites of the cherry in one lifetime!
I began writing haiku in the 70’s after reading Jack Kerouac’s The Dharma Bums. It looked so damned easy! I’m still trying to write a good one!
I was one of the first poets to join The British Haiku Society. I have had numerous works published by the BHS, as well as other small magazines.
I became involved in the birth of The Plough Poets’ Gallery, in Devon and frequently perform new poetic works there, as well as sing, play guitar, harmonica, ukulele, washboard and kazoo.
I also had a short play staged at The Plough Theatre.
I regularly perform as part of the poetry/guitar duo, ’Picking Syllables’, accompanied by acoustic guitarist Chris Ayliffe. We play at festivals, poetry venues and many pubs throughout the UK.
I have been a judge at the Ottakars National Poetry Day competition.
In June 2005 I completed a poetry and music tour of Kentucky. I was the guest of Kentucky poet Ron Whitehead and his singer/songwriter wife, Sarah Elizabeth.
I am also an illustrator/cartoonist.
There you go, Col. You’ve been certified mad. You have a license to be as nutty as the proverbial fruitcake any time the fancy takes you. Freedom to behave without restraint. O lucky you. Congrats on winning a bronze in the Great British Eccentric Awards. Wow! pretty amazing that, eh! Best Wishes and Good Health, Zig ;–) PS – I gave you the gold.
Well Colin – as much as I value my friendship with Lord Bath, I have to say that there's nobody as quite as eccentric as you. You have my vote my friend. Good luck to you. And good health!
Hey Colin Have yourself a great yuletide Chrimbo festive solstice thingy. Oh and we would also say if you don’t hear from us before then. “ Have a Dambrilliant Dambeautiful 2009” And make plenty more great music. Peace & Love to yer from The Dambuskers
Hi Colin Just to let you know, the temple of music that is Piton Hall will be hosting Neil Halstead. 8pm 19th September. With support from Daniel Land and the Modern Painters and Sonic Cathedral Hope you well Cheers Shaun
Hi Colin. Finally playing your "The Fats of Life" single in my August Dandelion Radio show. Sorry about the delay! Streaming from today at www.dandelionradio.com
Drink Down The Moon Colin have a great Sunday keep them great verses a coming and stay in the Grove. Love & peace to you from The Dambuskers. Keep Music Live and keep it real!!!. -
Hi Colin! Anybody who is a freind of Bingo Gazingo is a freind of mine...i can hear Leon Russels version of Wild Horses playin in that biojukebox of mine right NOW...will keep the midnite lamp burning in the watchtower.
nah...no c.d...i usually get so get bored with my recordings by the time I've burned about 20 copies that i just stop....hoping to do some new recordings before summer....keep swimming against the shit!
Festival season is on its way. Camping out and play guitar and fiddle and singing round the camp fire, and sometimes having a good old Bang on into the night!--- Percussion that is. Cant wait. We’ll "Drink Down The Moon" pour out the stars & raise a glass with yer in a cyberspace sort of a way. . Peace and love to yer from The Dambuskers. A legend in their own pint of good ale.
