John the Postman
Encyclopedia
Jon the Postman is a punk rock
singer from Manchester
. Among his various jobs, the best known was that of a postman, hence the nickname.
in the 1970s and after many years travelling and in various other jobs he is once again working for the post office in Manchester. One of the attendees at the first Sex Pistols
gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall, he has been described as "a committed and omnipresent figure on the punk and post-punk scene in Manchester", and he became known for his eccentric behaviour at many local rock gigs during the late 1970s, including those of acts such as Joy Division
and The Fall; He initially became known for waiting until headline bands had finished their set (sometimes before they had finished) before mounting the stage in a drunken state, grabbing the microphone, and performing his own versions of rock 'n' roll classics such as "Louie Louie
". The first time he did this was at a Buzzcocks
concert at the Band on the Wall venue on 2 May 1977, which he described:
He attracted a cult following and became a local celebrity in Manchester, playing his first official gig on 29 May 1977 in support of Warsaw (later renamed Joy Division
). After a handful of solo performances, he was joined by local musicians, forming a band and becoming a regular support act, and when a special concert was held to mark the last night of Manchester's Electric Circus venue (captured on the Virgin Records
album Short Circuit: Live at the Electric Circus
), with a bill that included Joy Division, The Fall, Steel Pulse
, and John Cooper Clarke
, he closed proceedings by performing "Louie Louie" backed by Buzzcocks, with an introduction from Pete Shelley
: "That's it from us, but the favourite of all Manchester, the one guy who never appears on the bill but is always there – Jon the Postman". He released two albums, Jon the Postman's Puerile (which was the first record to feature Mark E. Smith
, who introduced "Louie Louie"; A version of the song by The Fall with Jon on vocals appears on The Fall's Live 1977 album) and Jon the Postman's Psychedelic Rock 'N' Roll 5 Skinners Steppin' Out of Holts' Brewery, both released on Dave Bentley's Bent Records. The first featured an extended version of "Louie Louie", which was described by Stewart Home
in his book Cranked Up Really High: Genre Theory and Punk Rock as taking "the amateurism of the Kingsmen to its logical conclusion with grossly incompetent musicianship and a drummer who seems to be experiencing extreme difficulty simply keeping time," while the second included a similar treatment of Van Morrison
's "G.L.O.R.I.A.". Both albums were reissued on a single CD by Overground Records in 1998. A further recording session known as Jon the Postman's Legendary Lost Session was never released other than on a bootleg, although two songs turned up on a long-unavailable compilation LP entitled The Disparate Cognoscenti released on the Fall's now-defunct Cog Sinister label, which Jon helped to run (along with The Fall's fanclub), while studying for a degree in Politics & History at Salford University. After he lost his job with the GPO, Jon travelled around Europe and spent five years living in San Francisco, before returning to Manchester where he continues to live to the present day.
Jon the Postman was portrayed by Dave Gorman
in the motion picture 24 Hour Party People
.
Jon's antics in taking the stage and his incompetent performances have been taken as a reference point for both other musicians and a politician. Mick Middles described how Chris Helme
became a member of The Seahorses
after regularly mounting the stage in a similar fashion to Jon at performances by the band which included future Seahorses drummer Andy Watts and bass guitarist Stuart Fletcher, where he would "lurch from the crowd, clutching a bottle in the manner of Manchester punk legend, Jon the Postman, and launch into impromptu vocals". Music writer Steven Wells
compared Sarah Palin
to Jon the Postman in 2008, comparing Palin's public speaking to Jon's onstage performances.
Also in the band were, David Buckley, Tony Turner, Tim Lyons and Mark Harris.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
singer from Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. Among his various jobs, the best known was that of a postman, hence the nickname.
Biography
Jon was a postman in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in the 1970s and after many years travelling and in various other jobs he is once again working for the post office in Manchester. One of the attendees at the first Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall, he has been described as "a committed and omnipresent figure on the punk and post-punk scene in Manchester", and he became known for his eccentric behaviour at many local rock gigs during the late 1970s, including those of acts such as Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
and The Fall; He initially became known for waiting until headline bands had finished their set (sometimes before they had finished) before mounting the stage in a drunken state, grabbing the microphone, and performing his own versions of rock 'n' roll classics such as "Louie Louie
Louie Louie
"Louie Louie" is an American rock 'n' roll song written by Richard Berry in 1955. It has become a standard in pop and rock, with hundreds of versions recorded by different artists...
". The first time he did this was at a Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
concert at the Band on the Wall venue on 2 May 1977, which he described:
"I think the Buzzcocks left the stage and the microphone was there and a little voice must have been calling 'This is your moment, Jon.' I've no idea to this day why I sang 'Louie Louie', the ultimate garage anthem from the 60s. And why I did it a cappellaA cappellaA cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
and changed all the lyrics apart from the actual chorus, I have no idea. I suppose it was my bid for immortality, one of those great bolts of inspiration." "For some reason it appeared to go down rather well. I suppose it was taking the punk ethos to the extreme – anyone can have a go. Before punk it was like you had to have a double degree in music. It was a liberation for someone like me who was totally unmusical but wanted to have a go."
He attracted a cult following and became a local celebrity in Manchester, playing his first official gig on 29 May 1977 in support of Warsaw (later renamed Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
). After a handful of solo performances, he was joined by local musicians, forming a band and becoming a regular support act, and when a special concert was held to mark the last night of Manchester's Electric Circus venue (captured on the Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
album Short Circuit: Live at the Electric Circus
Short Circuit: Live at the Electric Circus
Short Circuit: Live at the Electric Circus is a compilation album of songs recorded live at the Electric Circus, Manchester, on the 1st and 2 October 1977, two concerts marking the last nights of the venue before it closed...
), with a bill that included Joy Division, The Fall, Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse is a roots reggae musical band. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, in Birmingham, England, composed of David Hinds , Basil Gabbidon , and Ronald McQueen .-History:...
, and John Cooper Clarke
John Cooper Clarke
John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet who first became famous during the punk rock era of the late 1970s when he became known as a "punk poet"...
, he closed proceedings by performing "Louie Louie" backed by Buzzcocks, with an introduction from Pete Shelley
Pete Shelley
Pete Shelley is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the leader of Buzzcocks.-Biography:...
: "That's it from us, but the favourite of all Manchester, the one guy who never appears on the bill but is always there – Jon the Postman". He released two albums, Jon the Postman's Puerile (which was the first record to feature Mark E. Smith
Mark E. Smith
Mark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
, who introduced "Louie Louie"; A version of the song by The Fall with Jon on vocals appears on The Fall's Live 1977 album) and Jon the Postman's Psychedelic Rock 'N' Roll 5 Skinners Steppin' Out of Holts' Brewery, both released on Dave Bentley's Bent Records. The first featured an extended version of "Louie Louie", which was described by Stewart Home
Stewart Home
Stewart Home is an English artist, filmmaker, writer, pamphleteer, art historian, and activist. He is best known for his novels such as the non-narrative 69 Things To Do With A Dead Princess , his re-imagining of the 1960s in Tainted Love , and earlier parodistic pulp fictions Pure Mania, Red...
in his book Cranked Up Really High: Genre Theory and Punk Rock as taking "the amateurism of the Kingsmen to its logical conclusion with grossly incompetent musicianship and a drummer who seems to be experiencing extreme difficulty simply keeping time," while the second included a similar treatment of Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
's "G.L.O.R.I.A.". Both albums were reissued on a single CD by Overground Records in 1998. A further recording session known as Jon the Postman's Legendary Lost Session was never released other than on a bootleg, although two songs turned up on a long-unavailable compilation LP entitled The Disparate Cognoscenti released on the Fall's now-defunct Cog Sinister label, which Jon helped to run (along with The Fall's fanclub), while studying for a degree in Politics & History at Salford University. After he lost his job with the GPO, Jon travelled around Europe and spent five years living in San Francisco, before returning to Manchester where he continues to live to the present day.
Jon the Postman was portrayed by Dave Gorman
Dave Gorman
David James Gorman is an English author, stand-up comedian and presenter. He has performed comedy shows on stage in which he tells stories of extreme adventures and presents the evidence to the audience in order to prove to them that they are true stories...
in the motion picture 24 Hour Party People
24 Hour Party People
24 Hour Party People is a 2002 British film about Manchester's popular music community from 1976 to 1992, and specifically about Factory Records. It was written by Frank Cottrell Boyce and directed by Michael Winterbottom...
.
Jon's antics in taking the stage and his incompetent performances have been taken as a reference point for both other musicians and a politician. Mick Middles described how Chris Helme
Chris Helme
Chris Helme is an English singer-songwriter who briefly shot to fame as the frontman of The Seahorses, the band formed by The Stone Roses guitarist John Squire.-Early Days:...
became a member of The Seahorses
The Seahorses
The Seahorses were an English rock band, formed in 1996 by guitarist John Squire, following his departure from The Stone Roses.The band released one album in 1997 and began work on a follow up, before splitting up due to musical differences during recording sessions in January 1999.-History:Formed...
after regularly mounting the stage in a similar fashion to Jon at performances by the band which included future Seahorses drummer Andy Watts and bass guitarist Stuart Fletcher, where he would "lurch from the crowd, clutching a bottle in the manner of Manchester punk legend, Jon the Postman, and launch into impromptu vocals". Music writer Steven Wells
Steven Wells
Steven Wells was a British journalist, author, comedian and notable punk poet born in Swindon, Wiltshire. He is best remembered for ranting poetry and his provocative, unapologetic music journalism. In June 2006, he wrote in the Philadelphia Weekly about his treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma...
compared Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
to Jon the Postman in 2008, comparing Palin's public speaking to Jon's onstage performances.
Also in the band were, David Buckley, Tony Turner, Tim Lyons and Mark Harris.
Albums
- John the Postman's Puerile (1978), Bent
- Steppin' Out (of Holt's Brewery) (1978), Bent (as John the Postman's Psychedelic Rock 'n' Roll Five Skinners)
- Jon the Postman's Legendary Lost Session (unreleased)
Compilation appearances
- The Disparate Cognoscenti (1988), Cog Sinister – 2 tracks credited to Jon the Postman's Legendary Lost
External links
- Jon the Postman at the Manchester District Music Archive