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Felix Dennis |
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Hear exclusive poems by Felix Dennis. |
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Felix Dennis: interview
Mr Gee went to meet Felix Dennis at his home:
When I was first told that I was on my way to meet one of the U.K.'s most successful performance poets, I was curious, and when I then heard that he was also reputed to be the 65th richest man in the country, I was indeed intrigued Performing poetry has never really been the most lucrative of professions and for many of us the "credit crunch" began the moment we put pen to paper!
So there I was (with the production team) roaming through town looking for one particular residence within the heart of London's West End. Inside, the walls were adorned with an array of iconic images ranging from Bruce Lee to Felix the Cat. On the top floor, I found myself being greeted by a Felix of an entirely different variety: Mr Felix Dennis, the co-editor of Oz magazine, a successful publisher and now? .... a performance poet.
We sat down, exchanged polite formalities, and then proceeded to have an in-depth discussion on: life, the universe and everything. This was interspersed by recitals of Felix's poems:
This is the server
Here is Felix Dennis’ updating of the classic poem "Night Mail" by W.H. Auden which was featured in the famous black and white 1936 film with music composed by Benjamin Britten. "This is the Server" brings Auden's influence into the internet age of the 21st century.
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Will is dead
Felix Dennis believes that the great tradition of English poetry and language is endangered by modern forms of communication (e.g. texting). We agreed on some points and disagreed on others but it was in the spirit of his lament that he dedicated this poem to William Shakespeare.
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On Freedom and Thomas Erskine, Esquire
Thomas Erskine was an 18th century judge who tirelessly campaigned for the rights of man having a profound effect on the ideology of free speech within English Law. This poem gives a satirical slant on recent new security legislation plans the U.K. |
Hunting Monsters
Here we have a sideways commentary on the Department of Homeland Security within the U.S. performed in an old "sea shanty" style. When Felix Dennis performed this in the American mid-west, apparently certain audience members were so moved and inspired, that they threw rocks at him! |
Old Bailey (excerpt)
This is the first public performance of this piece exploring Felix Dennis's personal view on when his offices were raided as part of the Oz magazine prosecution and trial back in 1971. The Oz trials ended in acquittals, and ironically many police officers in the Obscene Publications Squad were found guilty of corruption. The trial judge had made disparaging comments about Dennis, repeated in 1995 in the New Statesman, which Dennis successfully sued for libel. |
Why poetry?
Felix turned to writing poems after a serious illness. Here he discusses the importance of poetry to him. |
On liking traditional forms
Felix Dennis's views on traditional forms of poetry versus modern blank verse. |
Intentions, re poetry shows
Felix discusses his ambitions for his poetry shows. |
A month a year
Felix discusses something he regularly does that he thinks is important for his poetry writing. When poets meet, they usually connect through their mutual love of words and the process by which they bring these words to life. Though we were of different generations, of different backgrounds and (in some cases) of different viewpoints, I found Felix Dennis to be very interesting and entertaining as both a poet and a conversationalist. We both shared a passion for performance poetry and an appreciation of its uniqueness as an artform.
I left his abode with much food for thought and as I passed the picture of Bruce Lee, I gave it a wink and a smile. I then sent Felix a parting text to say "Thanx ;o)"
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Felix Dennis: biography
As a co-editor of Oz magazine, Felix was imprisoned in 1971 at the culmunation of the longest conspiracy trial in English history. The convictions of the Oz defendants were overturned on appeal, and ironically some of the Scotland Yard detectives involved in the case were found to have been corrupt.
Dennis has gone on to become one of Britain’s best known entrepreneurs, after founding Dennis publishing in 1973, which today publishes titles such as The Week, Maxim, Auto Express and Viz.
After a life threatening illness, Felix began to write poetry. He believes it saved his life. His first collection, A Glass Half Full was published in 2002. He has appeared with the Royal Shakespeare company reading his work at the Swan Theatre in Strafford, and his poetry readings around the world attract large audiences, where the tours have the alluring title Did I Mention The Free Wine? Felix has since published Lone Wolf, How to Get Rich, When Jack Sued Jill, Nursery Rhymes for Modern Times and Island Dreams.
Felix Dennis’s other interests include planting trees, commissioning bronze sculpture, drinking French wine and avoiding business meetings. As you can hear in his interview for Bespoken Word, he claims to spend many hours a day on poetry.
He divides his time between homes in Warwickshire, London, New York, Connecticut and the Caribbean island of Mustique.
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From humble beginnings as a Hip-Hop DJ, Mister Gee honed his spoken word skills as the host of the renowned performance poetry club Brix-tongue and is now one of the stars of the UK poetry scene. He has performed at the New York Nuyorican Poets Café and the Black Lily night in Philadelphia (home to Jill Scott and the Roots), as well as at the Edinburgh Festival. He runs workshops in schools and his album Poetry in the Key of Gee was released to critical acclaim.