“Never Knowingly Underrated Since 1972”
In February 2024, Who Writes This Rubbish? A long overdue retrospective exhibition at 142 Gallery, finally gave an unsuspecting public a taste of the unique world vision and 40 odd year career of the musician; filmmaker; artist; poet; Klinker Club organiser; anarchist; disruptor that is Hugh Metcalfe.
Surreal, honest, silly and deeply philosophical, Hugh’s poetry, films and music (some say) sit somewhere between genius and unfathomable. Co-conspirators along the way have included legendary sound poet Bob Cobbing, Penny Rimbaud (Crass),Tony Oxley and Lulu (possibly.) His own experimental improv bands Bugger All Stars and Fuck Off Batman are still together, despite having to endure occasional personnel changes whilst members go off to play with the likes of Peter Gabriel, The Pogues and PiL. This year he achieved a long-held ambition of creating Poo Poo Band, an ever-changing improvised collective, last heard primal screaming in Felixstowe before the watershed.
A night at Klinker Club, founded by Hugh in 1982, is still a place to expect the marginalised and mental. Arts Council England have never been involved.
Klinker operations are directed via Metcalfe Towers in Suffolk and Klinker Club returns to London on 28 January 2025 at Café Oto, Dalston.
