ATTILA'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 'ALMOST' STEALS THE SHOW
In 2000, Attila stood in an alleyway called 'Arguments Yard', in Witby, North Yorkshire, and, looking around, shouted to his mate Mick, 'This is it! If I live long enough, I'm gonna write my autobiography and this alleyway's gonna be on the cover'. Fifteen years later, in November's Write Angle, at the 'Folly Upstairs', he held up the book, to a full room of his fans. The alleyway, of course, on the cover!
The audience came from local areas, Portsmouth and afar, to see their favourite poet - a great performer - (tutored by his mother in classical violin), and after 35 years of performing his work at literary and music festivals, rock venues, arts centres, pubs, universities, schools, folk clubs and punk squats in 23 countries including Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and a hotel basement in Stalinist Albania, he completed it; almost 300 pages! The story of the good, the humourous and bad times in his life.
Whatever your politics, somehow, listening to this loveable poet rant on, 'cos we're Lefties and we smell!… you feel as if you've known him forever. Attila shares his life – in stories, poems and songs. He make you laugh, want to cry, but as he says, “All I’ve ever wanted, is to do things on my own terms, earn enough to live on, and be able to say ‘f...k off’ or ‘well done’ to anybody I want to. I publish all my own books, release all my own recordings, book all my own gigs. I don’t rely on anybody else for any aspect of what I do, and it works.”
He knows he's stubborn and difficult and his audience loves him for it. The timing of the book was perfect as 2015 proved a very bad year. Attila went through serious health problems and his poem,. 'A Spin In The Tail', written just after his autobiography was completed, tells of how he suddenly had pains and the NHS began tests. 'Flexible cystoscophy...a camera up his nob... he saw his internal organs on a large TV screen – bladder cancer. Attila's world went upside down. With Robina's support, it went better. Out of this horror, he suddenly grabbed his mandolin and did a song of his determination to live, to make it through. He has great respect for the NHS. 'Then, the fear of waiting for the news' but, somehow, he had everyone laughing...it was caught early...one message for all. 'get your nob out for your doc' He then read a poem called 'Candid Camera'. More songs and stories, bursting with emotion - with amazing energy, bursting from one to the next, non-stop.
In 'My Poetic Licence', he speaks of having to fight. Atilla, ranting rebel poetry, welcome...'We're commies, we undermine everything that moves and they fight us' ….It was the miners' strike that converted him to go 'left' in his politics and he knew it'd be a struggle but he had to say what he thought. He called 'Pakistan..a pear shaped plan'...expressed hate for Thatcher, Royalty...the rich, Rupert...newspapers that minimize the important and maximise mediocrity (Prince Harry's Nob'). In his poem 'Everytime I Eat Vegetables, I Think of You', he speaks of having seen the 'the brutal worst of capitalism. By filling in ledgers, 'he got to know exactly who was investing in other people's misery', the snobbish, status-obsessed partners and the bored, victimised clerks. Like it or not, he's determined to hold up 'that red flag till the day he dies'.
Attila speaks of his father, who died when he was 10. He wrote a poem, 'Poppy', a highly emotional poem for the man who was a published poet and fought in WW1. Four year later, when his stepdad moved in, there was a 'family feud' which lasted years, finally ending with his accepting 'You were the head of the household and I was the stroppy kid'. They admitted their love for each other. 'It's never too late to tell someone you love them'. Attila's mother, a professional musician, developed alzeimers in 2004. Attila watched how his stepdad cared for her, attending every need. He, too, stopped writing – until 2011 - and helped care for her. Attila manages to capture humour with pathos while ranting. From audience reaction, there's no doubt his audience is right there with him – all the way!
With little effort, he sold 11 copies of his autobiography to Write Angle fans (at £14.99 each!), and we hear it's already being well received, getting rave reviews. We're sure our guest performer will do very well with his performances and sales, as he continues his UK tour.
Meantime Ryan Moss opened the floor with a poem, 'Waiting for God(ot)' about being a child trapped in the rain, waiting for his parents, 'Why aren't they coming for me'. He'll join the circus if they don't come soon' – he caught the spirit of the fearful and angry young boy. He then read 'Terror', of living in world needing love. Muslim terrorists, not to confused with good Muslims. He works with many good Muslims. 'We didn't blame the Germans for Hitler. Why should we blame the Muslims for ISIS'. When Caucasians are evil, we call them mentally ill but Muslims are called 'terrorists'.
Gareth Toms then read 'A Rhythmic Response to a Question about Information in a Job Interview'. Answer. 'You won't find a job here!' Then, 'You and I will never be King of the Multi-Storey Car Park', about how big cars make statements: 'A new car for your wallet-drenching girlfriend. I'll just walk by choice', ending with, 'that baby-seat enhances everything'. Then, the embarrassment of an Englishman in a bar in a pub. Then, 'Fortune Lane' where he worked as a gardener, stole gas from his boss' car.
Colin Eveleigh read of living near a naval firing range when he was ten, and trespassing, seeing the canons, rockets...he and his friends tried to blow up a public toilet. 'It's how it was after the war'. Tim Dawes did a sonnet on the celebration of his visceral garden of summer desserts. 'A sonnet so clean, it mentions custard twice'. Then, a 'Truth and Lies' poem. 'Choosing to Ignore the Warning', based on the Miners' Strike. The meeting between Tim and Peter Tachell, another Green party member, during the strike . How some of the facts were true. Some lies. 'A whole new way of going down'. G Rimes then told of how he converted their garden shed into a craft room for his wife. The voices in her head stopped. Crafts can be therapeutic!
It was good seeing Chris Sangster again. He read of 'What hasn't been done yet? What's the next new thing? Tree felling – too dangerous. Funeral embalming...here lies granny. Seems he wants something new to do! He then read 'That Little Black Bag', how people leave it waiting for the 'poo fairy' which won't come. 'Take it with you!'
Jake then read a 'shortie'. 'Confucious he say, never lend money to kin' while Bruce Parry took out his hammer dulcimer and played a 17th century 'Medieval' tune, 'The Kettle Drum Song'. It had a lovely warm wintry feeling to it. Then, 'Bonfire Memories', with crackling twigs, chidren dancing, Guy Fawkes day – it will go from generation to generation. Keeping with memories, 'The 6ft Christmas Tree', bringing back the family around the tree and all the goodies that go with it.
Surprise guest performers Speech Painter (lyricist and singer) and Will B (singer/guitarist), always a joy to have at our mic, played somgs about two unfriendly places: 'Motel', about a place so depressed, 'there's no hope in hell' no joy – not even a bar of soap, followed by 'Hitch', in The South Downs, 'where 'someone has to die.... You wouldn't pick a stranger up.... The Saxon church is engulfed in smoke. I tell you to be careful. I tell you to beware. Cos you have no idea of the things that happen there'. Lastly, Leah did 'Carphone Warehouse' about promises made and kept, to not repair your pho
The evening ended with the winning of two three course meals at the Links Tavern, won by a very surprised young man, and preparations are now on the way for our very special Christmas Evening. It will comprise lots of truly rich as well as delicate finger-pickin' goodies, prepared by the chef of the Folly Upstairs Restaurant. That, plus our wonderful performance poet who's as funny as he is clever and a fabulous performer, Paul Lyalls, - we hope you'll all come along and join us.
Price will be £14 and we promise to make it a memorable occasion ! Do put Tuesday 15th in your diary and plan to join us for an evening of festive fun. And please bring your friends, and your poems and songs along as well! Open Mike will add to the entertainment!
Please let us know by email as soon as you can, if you're coming so we can plan the food accordingly.
