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==Biography== ==Biography==
Jon was a postman in ] 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 original attendees at the infamous ] 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",<ref name="Inglis">Inglis, Ian (2006) ''Performance of Popular Music: History, Place and Time'', Ashgate, ISBN 978-0754640578, p. 93</ref> and he became known for his eccentric behaviour at many local rock gigs during the late 1970s, including those of acts such as ] and ]; 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 "]".<ref name="Ogg">Ogg, Alex (2006) ''No More Heroes: a Complete History of UK Punk from 1976 to 1980'', Cherry Red Books, ISBN 978-1-901447-65-1, p. 310-311</ref><ref name="Home" /> The first time he did this was at a ] concert at the Band on the Wall venue on 2 May 1977,<ref name="Quantick">Quantick, David "''John the Postman's Puerile'' (review)", '']'', September 1998</ref> which he described: He has been described as "a committed and omnipresent figure on the punk and post-punk scene in Manchester"{{vague|for what?}}<ref name="Inglis">Inglis, Ian (2006) ''Performance of Popular Music: History, Place and TIme'', Ashgate, ISBN 978-0754640578, p. 93</ref>. He initially became known for waiting until headline bands had finished their set (sometimes before they had finished) before mounting the stage, grabbing the microphone, and performing his own versions of rock 'n' roll classics such as "]".<ref name="Ogg">Ogg, Alex (2006) ''No More Heroes: a Complete History of UK Punk from 1976 to 1980'', Cherry Red Books, ISBN 978-1-901447-65-1, p. 310-311</ref>


⚫ He attracted a cult following and became a local celebrity in Manchester, playing his first official gig on 29 May 1977 in support of ].<ref name="Ogg" /> With local musicians joining him, he formed a band, 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 ] album '']''), with a bill that included Joy Division, The Fall, ], and ], he closed proceedings by performing "Louie Loiue" backed by ].<ref name="Ogg" /> He released two albums, ''Jon the Postman's Puerile''<ref></ref> 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" while the second included a similar treatment of ]'s "G.L.O.R.I.A.". <ref name="Ogg" /> Both albums were reissued on a single CD by Overground Records in 1998.<ref name="Quantick">Quantick, David "''John the Postman's Puerile'' (review)", '']'', September 1998</ref> A further recording session known as ''Jon the Postman's Legendary Lost Session'' was never released other than on a bootleg,<ref name="Ogg" /> 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.<ref name="Smith">Smith, Mark E. & Middles, Mick (2003) ''The Fall'', Omnibus Press, ISBN 978-0711997622, p. 119-120</ref>
<blockquote>"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 '']'' 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."<ref name="Haslam">Haslam, Dave (2000) ''Manchester, England'', Fourth Estate Ltd, ISBN 978-1841151465</ref> "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."<ref name="Lee">] (1998) "Liner notes: Jon the Postman's Puerile CD", Overground Records</ref></blockquote />

⚫ He attracted a cult following and became a local celebrity in Manchester, playing his first official gig on 29 May 1977 in support of ].<ref name="Ogg" /> 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 ] album '']''), with a bill that included Joy Division, The Fall, ], and ], he closed proceedings by performing "Louie Louie" backed by Buzzcocks, with an introduction from ]: "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".<ref name="Ogg" /><ref name="Haslam" /> He released two albums, ''Jon the Postman's Puerile''<ref></ref> (which was the first record to feature ], 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 ] 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,"<ref name="Home">] (1996) ''Cranked up Really High: Genre Theory and Punk Rock, 2nd edn.'', Codex, ISBN 978-1899598014</ref> while the second included a similar treatment of ]'s "G.L.O.R.I.A.".<ref name="Ogg" /><ref name="Home" /> Both albums were reissued on a single CD by Overground Records in 1998.<ref name="Quantick" /> A further recording session known as ''Jon the Postman's Legendary Lost Session'' was never released other than on a bootleg,<ref name="Ogg" /> 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 ].<ref name="Smith">Smith, Mark E. & Middles, Mick (2003) ''The Fall'', Omnibus Press, ISBN 978-0711997622, p. 119-120</ref> After he lost his job with the GPO, Jon travelled around Europe and spent five years living in ], before returning to Manchester where he continues to live to the present day.


Jon the Postman was portrayed by ] in the motion picture '']''.<ref name="Gorman">Gorman, Dave "", davegorman.com, retrieved 20 August 2009</ref> Jon the Postman was portrayed by ] in the motion picture '']''.<ref name="Gorman">Gorman, Dave "", davegorman.com, retrieved 20 August 2009</ref>

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 ] became a member of ] 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".<ref name="Middles">Middles, Mick (1999) ''Breaking into Heaven: The Rise and Fall of the Stone Roses'', Omnibus Press, ISBN 978-0711975460, p. 218</ref> Music writer ] compared ] to Jon the Postman in 2008, comparing Palin's public speaking to Jon's onstage performances.<ref name="Wells">Wells, Steven (2008) "", '']'', 2 October 2008</ref>


==Discography== ==Discography==

Revision as of 19:41, 31 August 2009

Jon the Postman
Musical artist

Jon the Postman (real name John Ormerod) is a punk rock singer from Manchester. Among his various jobs, the best known was that of a postman, hence the nickname.

Biography

He has been described as "a committed and omnipresent figure on the punk and post-punk scene in Manchester". He initially became known for waiting until headline bands had finished their set (sometimes before they had finished) before mounting the stage, grabbing the microphone, and performing his own versions of rock 'n' roll classics such as "Louie Louie".

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. With local musicians joining him, he formed a band, 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 Loiue" backed by Buzzcocks. He released two albums, Jon the Postman's Puerile 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" 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.

Jon the Postman was portrayed by Dave Gorman in the motion picture 24 Hour Party People.

Discography

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

References

  1. Inglis, Ian (2006) Performance of Popular Music: History, Place and TIme, Ashgate, ISBN 978-0754640578, p. 93
  2. ^ Ogg, Alex (2006) No More Heroes: a Complete History of UK Punk from 1976 to 1980, Cherry Red Books, ISBN 978-1-901447-65-1, p. 310-311
  3. Voiceprint Music - Jon The Postman - Puerile
  4. Quantick, David "John the Postman's Puerile (review)", Q, September 1998
  5. Smith, Mark E. & Middles, Mick (2003) The Fall, Omnibus Press, ISBN 978-0711997622, p. 119-120
  6. Gorman, Dave "Acting", davegorman.com, retrieved 20 August 2009

External links

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