poetry Archives - Iron Man Records

John Sinclair (1941-2024) Last of the Beatnik Warrior Poets and Cultural Revolutionary has passed away at 82. The work must go on

2 April 2024Mark

“Rock N Roll music is a weapon of cultural revolution. There are not enough musicians around today who are hip to this fact” John Sinclair is best known as the Sixties "marijuana" activist who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for giving two joints to an undercover policewoman. He was eventually freed when John Lennon and Yoko Ono spoke out on his behalf. Less understood is his role as the founder and chairman of the radical anti-war group, The White Panther Party, an offshoot of the Black Panthers. The Black Panther Party was a militant political organization formed after the brutal murders of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Robert…

John Sinclair – Renegade Poet, Beatnik and Cultural Revolutionary

2 April 2024Mark

Immortalized by John Lennon’s 1972 song that bears his name, Sinclair is an iconic figure of ‘60s counterculture, famous for, among other things, having co-founded the anti-racist White Panther Party and for managing Detroit’s legendary proto-punk outfit MC5 early in its history. Following a highly publicized two-year stint in prison for marijuana possession (Lennon’s song was a protest against his incarceration), Sinclair has stuck to his guns as an advocate for marijuana reform. “Living Euro to Euro, sleeping on the couches and extra beds of friends, a man without a country and a post office box in New Orleans for a permanent address.” That's how spoken word poet John Sinclair describes…

Formal apology on behalf of the United Kingdom to the people of the European Union regarding Brexit and a gesture of hospitality

23 March 2024Mark

Dear People of the European Union, I am writing this letter for and on behalf of the United Kingdom to extend our heartfelt apologies for the impact of Brexit on the people of the European Union, and for the personal insult, distress and uncertainty it has caused. I didn't vote for Brexit, I voted to remain and I have had to learn to respect and accept the outcome of the referendum and it's consequences. On the day of the results, back in 2016, I was driving a French News crew around London. Pierre the TV News programme producer turned to me at 4am as the crew prepared their equipment for the…

Ford Timelord by Flinton Chalk and The Project to Uncover Ancient Hill Figures.

7 February 2023Mark

Iron Man Records works with the artist Flinton Chalk of the band TC Lethbridge. After many years of discussion and a true odyssey to track down the missing photographs, Iron Man Records produced the first in a series of limited edition 50cm x 70cm Lithographic Prints, limited to a signed run of 111 copies. These prints are available only to Patrons. TC Lethbridge’s claims regarding the existence of Ancient Hill Figures on Wandlebury Hill in Cambridgeshire caused significant controversy within the archaeological community, with most archaeologists believing that Lethbridge had erroneously misidentified a natural feature. Lethbridge’s methodology and theories were widely deemed unorthodox, and in turn he became increasingly critical of…

John Sinclair Presents Detroit Artists Workshop

1 December 2022Mark

Not many people can say that John Lennon wrote a song about them, but John Sinclair is among that select bunch. Viewed by the powers-that-be as a dangerous revolutionary for his involvement with the White Panther Party, Sinclair was handed a ludicrously harsh sentence – “they gave him ten for two” – for marijuana possession after a police sting. In 1971, Lennon, along with Yoko Ono, Stevie Wonder, Phil Ochs and Archie Shepp played a freedom rally in Michigan and three days later Sinclair was freed. Sinclair is probably best known in the music world for managing riotous proto-punks The MC5 and imbuing them with a radical zeal. But Sinclair is…

Sinead O’Brien – European Tour 2022

11 September 2022Mark

“You have seen nothing yet”, asserts Sinead O’Brien in single Girlkind – and you are inclined to believe her. Building on her arresting releases since 2018, the multifaceted Irish poet, songwriter and performer is ascending into new territory with her debut LP, Time Bend and Break the Bower, released via Chess Club Records. Demanding a visceral response from her audiences, O’Brien issues a challenge to those who would box her music inside a notion of tradition. Instead, the artist’s poetry – a constant, active absorption of how people speak, communicate and clash in the era we are living through – is an essential clarion call heard in the future. Communing at…

Stanley Brinks & Freschard – June and July Tour Dates 2022

27 May 2022Mark

Lion Heart by Stanley Brinks and Freschard Here are Stanley Brinks & Freschard's upcoming shows: All songs by Stanley Brinks and Freschard. Stanley Brinks: voice, guitars, piano, bass, cellino, violin, tenor banjo, timple, mandolin, clarinet, ocarina, knee harp, baglamas, drums (Me One Alone, Lazy Way, I'm Out). Freschard: voice, drums, maracas, cojones, zafzafa, xylophone, flute, rhythm guitar (Me One Alone, Lazy Way, I'm Out) Recorded in Berlin by Stanley Brinks and Freschard in October 2021. June 1st KASSEL, Germany - color Labor June 3rd BÄRENBACH, Germany - Shorty's June 4th LUTZWILLER, France - Lutz Festival June 5th MANNHEIM, Germany - Altes Volksbad June 7th BERLIN, Germany - Alter Roter Löwe Rein…

Update from John Sinclair September 20th, 2021

21 September 2021Mark

Beatnik Youth Ambient by John Sinclair THE JOHN SINCLAIR FOUNDATION First things first: On Saturday, October 2—if I live that long—I’ll make 80 years old and plan to celebrate in the city of my birth, Flint, Michigan, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at the Genesee County Compassion Club, 6340 N. Genesee Rd. Everyone is welcome, donations and contributions will be dedicated to the John Sinclair Foundation, and I believe Steve The Fly will be hosting an intergalactic video broadcast of the event. More details will be announced very soon. Our original idea was to throw another big party like the one we had 5 years ago when I turned 75, returning…

111 Lithographic Prints of Ford Timelord by Flinton Chalk and The Project to Uncover Ancient Hill Figures.

4 September 2021Mark

Iron Man Records has been working with the artist Flinton Chalk of the band TC Lethbridge, to produce the first in a series of limited edition 50cm x 70cm Lithographic Prints. After many years of discussions and a true odyssey to track down the missing photographs, Iron Man Records announced the first set of Lithographic Prints earlier this year, for the first design, available only to Patrons. TC Lethbridge’s claims regarding the existence of Ancient Hill Figures on Wandlebury Hill in Cambridgeshire caused significant controversy within the archaeological community, with most archaeologists believing that Lethbridge had erroneously misidentified a natural feature. Lethbridge’s methodology and theories were widely deemed unorthodox, and in…

Church of Burn’s ‘Festival of Money’ – London 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th July 2021. Support our crowdfund

23 June 2021Mark

Church of Burn in collaboration with The Cockpit present: CoB's Festival of Money Most money events are as dull as dishwater. There's even one that's actually called 'The Boring Money Conference'. These events are usually sponsored by some corporation, accountancy firm or bank. And they're mostly for folks like venture capitalists, payment gurus, financial advisors and the movers and shakers in Fintech; all big earners who then get to set the agenda for the rest of us. CoB's Festival of Money is different. A whole lot different. If a normal money conference is like karaoke, ours is more Jimi Hendrix at Monterey. First up, there's the venue. The Cockpit is a legendary fringe theatre not a bland conference…

Bringing The Inside Out – Words and poems of people living in, working in and visiting care and nursing homes

3 February 2021Mark

'I would urge Health and Wellbeing Boards, Clinical Commissioning Groups, NHS memory clinics, social care services and charities, along with the rest of us, to please listen and consider how poetry and other art forms can positively impact the wellbeing and quality of life for those with a dementia and the people who care for them.' Paul M. Camic, Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health Bringing The Inside Out 2020 Hear the real lived experience of carers, people experiencing a dementia living in care homes, and relatives about their experience of the pandemic. "Bringing The Inside Out" is a publication which includes the powerful words of people with a…

Update: The Project To Uncover Ancient Hill Figures

19 January 2021Mark

Flinton Chalk has sent an update on the work going on at his end and a special thanks to Patrons. "Thanks to your (greatly appreciated) continued support during these very challenging times, we at the TC Lethbridge camp are most gratefully able to plan and proceed with the work. We have finally got access to our sound and vision archive and hope you received a limited edition Lithograph of Ford Timelord before we supplied it to the KLF, coinciding with the reinstating of the JAMMS back catalogue. There will be more previously unpublished photography to come. We’re over the top excited to have started work on our ‘Neolithic Goddess’ EP, our…

Ford Timelord – 111 Lithographic Prints by Flinton Chalk and The Project to Uncover Ancient Hill Figures.

14 January 2021Mark

TC Lethbridge’s claims regarding the existence of Ancient Hill Figures on Wandlebury Hill in Cambridgeshire caused significant controversy within the archaeological community, with most archaeologists believing that Lethbridge had erroneously misidentified a natural feature. Lethbridge’s methodology and theories were widely deemed unorthodox, and in turn he became increasingly critical of the archaeological profession. The area of Wandlebury Hill has been described as a neolithic ritual landscape. Iron Man Records has been working with the artist Flinton Chalk of the band TC Lethbridge, to produce the first in a series of limited edition 50cm x 70cm Lithographic Prints. After more than 8 years of discussions and a true odyssey to track down…

Warrior Beings – Moksha

30 December 2020Mark

Michelle ‘Moksha’ Watson has published a new book of her poems called ‘Warrior Beings.’ In case you wondered, Michelle is an Iron Man Records Patron and all round supporter of the cause. ‘Warrior Beings’ is the first solo collection of poetry by Michelle Watson, aka ‘Moksha Poetess’. It’s a beautifully produced volume, laid out with style by Slim Smith. It’s set out in five chapters (‘Self’, ‘Heart’, ‘Ikigai’, ‘Cut and Paste’ and ‘Light’), each illustrated with her striking visual art. Michelle has been a spoken word artist and singer songwriter on the London and Festival scene for over two decades, as well as producing a number of transformative theatrical happenings. Including:…

Deep Scratch – Steve Fly

28 December 2020Mark

Steve Fly has submitted Deep Scratch to Kindle. So, it's officially published. It's a deep dive roller-coaster ride I warn you, full on experimental black science fiction conspiracy prose. This work has been under construction for over a decade. You can follow the link here: Amazon Kindle Link https://a.co/cFUgiMD In Amsterdam, DJ Plush crafts new techniques for mixing things. After a failed music career and two violent attacks, one leaving his equipment smashed, the other his face, he seeks healing through art. Supported by his friends Max and Percy, they create TRB crew, blending turntablism, literature, beatbox and conspiracy. They’re promptly pulled hands-first into an unfinished spell from a dead wizard:…