Mark Kelly was born in Birkenhead, Merseyside on Xmas Eve 1954.
Working class. Passed 11 plus exams. Sent two bus rides across town to a "good" school.
Grew up with Mersey Beat and Mersey Poets. The Scaffold Liverpool Scene Grimms
Aged 16, performing poetry in pubs and clubs. Youngest member of Merseyside Poetry Circus.
Met Spencer Leigh with whom he wrote the play "Mythew Street".
Favourite poets then : Harold and Sylvia Hikins Richard Hill Spike Hawkins Tom Pickard Ivor Cutler Adrian Mitchell .
First music recordings (bought on reel to reel tapes!) were by The Hollies and Freddie and the Dreamers . Then an EP by The Kinks
and a single, ("My Generation") by The Who . In teens, drawn to (mostly Northern) singer-songwriters : Jimmy Campbell Mike Hart
Bridget St John Jimmy Stevens Kevin Coyne Roy Harper and some Americans : Bob Dylan Phil Ochs Tom Paxton .
Later, weirdness crept in : Captain Beefheart Wire Faust The Residents Alternative TV .
Also an interest in contemporary "classical" composition : Brian Eno Gavin Bryars Steve Reich La Monte Young Charles Ives .
From the beginning, especially interested in the restless artistic quest of Scott Walker the romantic longing of Leonard Cohen
the dreamlike visions of Kate Bush and the relentless beat of Bo Diddley
Essex University. English & European Literature.
Fringe theatre : Artaud, Grotowski, Beckett and Brecht .
Favourite theatre groups then : RAT Theatre, Phantom Captain, Triple Action, 7:84, Red Ladder.
Later worked with RAT Theatre.
Saw early shows by John Dowie John Cooper Clarke Attila The Stockbroker Seething Wells
Based in Colchester Essex, Mark's music and theatre group Missing Persons were an integral part of the DIY alternative music scene
which tried to maintain and expand the punk ethos.
Moved to London. Early days of Alternative Cabaret. Over 2,000 gigs.
Double act - Cheap & Nasty - with Paul Brightwell. Then solo as Mr Nasty and under real name.
Performed in comedy package with Pat Condell Claire Dowie .
Venues such as Meccano Club, Earth Exchange, Tunnel Club, Red Rose Club, Banana Cabaret
and the only one still run by its original promoter : Downstairs at the King's Head .
An ironic celebration show "Mark Kelly - 25 Years In Showbusiness" at Union Chapel, Islington, London
featured friends : Jo Brand Eddie Izzard Harry Hill Alan Davies Jeff Green Rhona Cameron and Mark Lamarr .
Two poetry books - "NO TO NEGATIVITY!" (less 002) and "NO FUTURE IN NOSTALGIA" (less 003) were launched at this gig.
Both editions are now SOLD OUT.
"The future's so bright I gotta wear a full radiation suit!"
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