Ern Malley Liverpool Poet
Last Tuesday hundreds gathered at the Handyman bar on Smithdown Road to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Liverpool-born poet Ern Malley.
The Ern Malley orchestra added spice to an amazing evening of readings, discussion and live relays from Australia where Malley worked as an insurance salesman, and watch repairman. Following his tragic death from Graves’ disease at the age of 25, unpublished poems were discovered by his sister. In death Malley gained international recognition as the foremost surrealist poet of his generation.
Robert Sheppard reading ‘Ern Malley suite’, The Handyman Liverpool, Tuesday 13th March 2018.
Listening to a reading by Robert Sheppard. The Handyman Smithdown Road, Tuesday 13th March 2018.
Transfixed members of the audience (with DJ Frank Scenario on the left). The Handyman Smithdown Road, Tuesday 13th March 2018.
The readings were subjected to intense scrutiny by a critical audience. The Handyman. Smithdown Road, Tuesday 13th March 2018.
Another transfixed member of the audience. The Handyman Smithdown Road, Tuesday 13th March 2018.
Kirsteen Paton explaining the cultural influences on Ern Malley, The Handyman Liverpool, Tuesday 13th March 2018.
Derek McCormack and Imbe Nembe of the Ern Malley Orchestra singing Palinode relayed from Melbourne to The Handyman Liverpool, Tuesday 13th March 2018.
Patricia Farrell, reading Petit Testament, The Handyman Liverpool, Tuesday 13th March 2018.
Justin Clemens reading Young Prince of Tyre relayed from Melbourne to The Handyman Liverpool, Tuesday 13th March 2018.
The Ern Malley Orchestra. The Handyman Smithdown Road, Tuesday 13th March 2018.
The hand of Ern Malley Orchestra vocalist & guitarist David Whyte. The Handyman Smithdown Road, Tuesday 13th March 2018.
Andrew Kirton minamalist keyboard player of the The Ern Malley Orchestra. The Handyman Smithdown Road, Tuesday 13th March 2018.
Paul Jones, bass guitarist of the The Ern Malley Orchestra. The Handyman Smithdown Road, Tuesday 13th March 2018.
Vocalist Vickie Cooper and Kait of the The Ern Malley Orchestra. The Handyman Smithdown Road, Tuesday 13th March 2018.
The blazing birthday cake was accompanied with a surrealist version of ‘Happy Birthday’. The Handyman Smithdown Road, Tuesday 13th March 2018.
Albert agreed that I could interview him about his photography. He also told me that he would like to talk about what he remembers of his friend Ern Malley. I asked him if he has any photos of Ern or any of the letters he sent. He said “Yes but I’m not sure where they are”. I am returning to see and interview Albert next month.
The Plaza cinema photographed by Albert O’Sullivan in 1927.
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I studied English at Liverpool Uni. Such a shame we didn’t get the opportunity to study Ern’s Poetry. Another example of a working class poet being sidelined?
Great photographs!!! You
Our children will never know about the revolutionary poetry of Ern Malley because Thatcher destroyed comprehensive schools and the war criminal Tony Blair introduced academies. New Labour and the Tories wanted obedient clones. Bring on Corbyn – a man who appreciates the value of the arts!
Ern Malley rocks
Surrealism is defunct – like Ern Malley.
“I had read in books that art is not easy
But no one warned that the mind repeats
In its ignorance the vision of others.”
These visionary words by Ern Malley predicted the terminal decline of capitalism we are witnessing today.
There should be a statue to Ern Malley in Liverpool but the Blairite council would never give it planning permission.
That is unfair. Liverpool City Council have a transparent and progressive approach to planning – look at Chinatown.
Ern Malley wrote drivel. He was incapable of stringing a coherent sentence together. Those who praise his work are delusory psueds.
It was a great evening & I loved the Ern Malley Orchestra. Looking forward to future events.