John Hegley

Poet & musician John Hegley was born in Newington Green in North London in 1953 but moved to Luton at an early age. This working class Bedfordshire town was later to provide inspiration for his poems. He has worked on buses and as a civil servant as well as studying at Bradford University. He formed the pop band the Popticians and recorded John Peel sessions for BBC Radio One in the 1980s. Many of his poems revolve around common themes such as dogs, spectacles and his relationship with his father and often contain weak but effective puns and rhyming schemes. Books have included 'Can I Come Down Now Dad?', 'Love Cuts' and 'Beyond Our Kennel'. He has also released a CD 'Saint & Blurry'. He continues to tour the UK's theatres and fringe venues with his varied and changing mix of poetry, comedy, music (he plays the mandolin) and audience participation. He also regularly performs on the radio and has written for national newspapers.