Biography

On a day not unlike today, in a distant galaxy, a rocket ship blasted off from a doomed planet; hurtled through the Milky Way, past Mars and lots of other well-known chocolates, before crash landing on earth.

Once in a lifetime someone destined to change the face of poetry comes along. Someone who could combine Oscar Wilde's wit and repartee with the story telling ability of Tolkien. Unfortunately he was on the rocket ship that crash-landed on earth - and didn't survive the impact.so I'll have to tell you about Gordon Zola instead.

Battered, bruised but not broken, Gordon emerged from the wreckage of a life that had run aground on the rocks of love's clichés, to begin a meteoric rise from oblivion to obscurity as a performance poet. Armed with only a smile, good cheese guide and an unlimited supply of puns, he took the poetry world by storm, well a slight shower- and went on to inflict his debut cd 'No Strings', a beguiling mix of, poetry, music and humour, on the long suffering British public. A track off the cd, 'Sweet Rapper', was played on Key 103 radio.

Despite many requests, local, (as in anaesthetic), legend, Gordon continues to confuse audiences from Bordeaux to Bristol, and lots of other places beginning with 'B' with his rye (as in bread) sense of humour. A past winner of many a slam and host of X-Pression, a monthly slam, held at the prestigious Green Room, Gordon's been published in numerous magazines. He's currently struggling to play the keyboard, is in the process of recording his second cd, and is at home performing, hosting, and entertaining at venues all over England, lesser-known parts of Uzbekistan, and Stockport.

Any gig considered. Contact on above email or mob: 07790770451

Samples

The Name Game

Is life a battle,
if you come from Hastings?
If you come from Chorley,
is it a piece of cake?
Do you have to be a tart
to live in Bakewell?
And if your name's sleep,
are you ever awake?

Do you deserve applause
if you come from Clapham?
Do you never shower
if you come from Bath?
Are you more than a ham
if you come from sandwich?
And if your name's giggles
are you game for a laugh?

Do Smiths forge for a living?
Are Meeks humble and giving?
Are dances having a ball?
And If your names Foot,
are you twelve inches tall?

If you come from Avon,
are you always calling?
If you're an angel,
are you always falling?
Are Wrights ever wrong?
If your name's Singh
Do you know the song?

If you come from Leeds
do you never follow?
If your name's Joy
Have you known no sorrow?
If it's Cain, are you never Able?

Or, are we much more than a label?
Do we have to keep playing the name game?
Repeating the same again and again.
Playing out life's dramas,
with all its panoramas.

Hopping on and off the carousel.
Trying to salvage heaven,
From someone else's hell.

Coz when that last penny and breath are spent,
and its time to take that final curtain call.
What we're called, or where we come from,
Will mean.. FUCK ALL.

Gordon Zola (June 2002)

All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.