Gone Man Squared: Poems 1959-1967

by Royston Ellis

ROYSTON ELLIS blasted into Britain's literary world as the ultimate teenage rebel poet with his first books, JIVING TO GYP (1959) and RAVE (1960). Ellis created "rocketry", reciting his poems to rock n' roll backing. In Liverpool, he was backed by a scruffy young beat combo called the Beetles-John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Stu Sutcliffe. It was Ellis who suggested they change the spelling of their band name, and later became the inspiration for their hit record "Paperback Writer". In 1960 he caused a nationwide controversy with his remarks on the teenage lifestyle in the TV programme Living For Kicks. He was backed on television and on stage by Cliff Richard's original group, the Shadows, and by Jimmy Page, later of the Yardbirds, and subsequently, Led Zeppelin. Out of print for over fifty years, his first two books JIVING TO GYP (1959) and RAVE (1960) and included here in entirety, with select early works, many previously unpublished. His introduction provides a rare glimpse into the early days of British beat poetry and music. All hail teenage beat king Royston Ellis!

Genres: Poetry

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

aka Raynard Devine, Richard Tresillian.

Royston Ellis was educated at state school until he left , age 16, determined to be a writer. Two years later, his first book, a sequence of poems, was published and he perfomed his poetry on stage and TV to backing by Cliff Richard's original group. More info on: www.roystonellis.org

Reviews

[Tosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far, what I have read from the Kicks Books publishing house (Norton Records) have been interesting. I was intrigued when I purchased Royston Ellis' "Gone Man Squared" because one, he was a poet, and two, he was a poet of the era and country of The Shadows. Oh, and The Beatles as well. In fact, when Lennnon came up with the name of his band as The Beetles, Ellis convinced him to spell Beetles with a Beat - therefore the Beatles. I think only a poet would have thought that up.

At first, I was expecting bad beatnik poetry, but alas, this is poetry that is very sincere and on top of that - captures the Soho London bar life quite well - not the Francis Bacon Soho, but the Soho of Hank Marvin, Jet Harris, and Cliff world. In other words, any book of poetry dedicated to Cliff Richard, is Ok with me. Ellis captures the moments of youth in the London city (as well as Berlin, etc) like a momentary snapshot of its era and time. Also the gay perspective is an additional coloring of this fascinating era as well. Rock n' roll poetry or not, it is a great piece of literature made in a certain time or for a select readership. I recommend the book to anyone who has an interest in the by-products of the early British pre-Beatle rock culture.

[Neil McCrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was completely unaware of Royston Ellis until just recently. Once I'd heard of him, first of the English beats, changed the name of the Beetles to the Beatles, inspiration for the song Paperback Writer, torch bearer for bisexuality, and gave readings with Jimmy Page backing him on improvised guitar, I just HAD to read some of his work.

I was surprised at how simple, direct, and frankly artless his verse is. I had to remind myself repeatedly that he was a teen when his first two collections took off. My opinion softened further when I reflected how refreshing his work must have felt at the time it came out. It IS very sincere, direct, and primal.

Royston's work is like a blueprint or a sketch of a poetic form that I quite enjoy. His influence looms large, and I will give him his due.

[Peter Landau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Royston Ellis was the man responsible for adding the "a" to the Beatles. It makes sense, him being a beatnik poet before he even read the beatnik poets. The poems collected here began when he was still in his teens I think, and capture the fun, music and youthful times of pre-Swinging London in a voice that can only be spoken by the immature. Later poems, when he was a young adult, show a development beyond the signposts of the past and his keen observations of the present to a personal future. He reminds me what I love about poetry, the requirement that it be read slow and deliberately. I have a tendency to speed through a text, gleaming what I need off the surface and leaving the subtlety to blur. But with Ellis's poetry, and all poetry, I'm not as familiar with the rhythm and need to pay more concentration. I know that has nothing to do with the poets, but I'm still indebted to them.

[Kevin Braswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man slightly ahead of his time. You ever feel a kinship/brotherhood/love-affair with someone you've never met? That's how I feel about Royston Ellis.