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Ian Whiteley

Updated: Mon, 24 Jul 2023 12:47 pm

whiteley.ian@btinternet.com

http://www.thecrowsofalbion.com/

Contact via WOL logo

Biography

Born in Wakefield, now living in Wigan. Performance poet who enjoys writing about anything and everything - usually with a dark twist. https://www.facebook.com/ian.c.whiteley Performs & Records poetry/music under the project name THE CROWS OF ALBION https://www.facebook.com/thecrowsofalbion/ Also a member of BARD COMPANY - a Performance Poetry/Music/Comedy collective with fellow poets & WOL contributors Jefferama, Gordon Zola and Tony Kinsella + Spin off poetry/music/political duo BARD 2 THE BONE with Jeffarama. https://www.facebook.com/Bard-Company-254999974688427/ Host at 2 open mic poetry nights: Write Out Loud poetry open mic sessions at the Old Courts in Wigan (2nd Thursday of every month) https://www.facebook.com/poetrywigan/ and Getting Gobby In The Lobby at Lobby 1867 in Wakefield (2nd Wednesday of every month) https://www.facebook.com/Getting-Gobby-In-The-Lobby-110408653837232/ 3 published collections of poetry - available from the website: 60 page poetry collection (book) 'A STEP TOWARDS WINTER' (2013) 124 page poetry collection (book) ' CYCLE OF THE SCARECROW' (2016) 120 page poetry collection (book) 'THERE ARE NO ANGELS HERE' (2019) WEBSITE - featuring poetry, music, performance, gallery and gig dates: http://www.thecrowsofalbion.com/ Bard Company website: https://www.bardcompany.co.uk/ music CD's available now: THE CROWS OF ALBION - POETIC LICENSE - 18 tracks over 70 minutes https://thecrowsofalbion.bandcamp.com/album/poetic-license THE CROWS OF ALBION - STILL IN THE WAR BOYS (the history of World War 1 from Declaration to Armistice) - 21 tracks over 80 minutes https://thecrowsofalbion.bandcamp.com/album/still-in-the-war-boys THE CROWS OF ALBION - HERE THERE BE DEMONS - 18 tracks over 75 minutes https://thecrowsofalbion.bandcamp.com/album/here-there-be-demons THE CROWS OF ALBION - SCREAMING BLUE MURDER 16 tracks over 60 minutes https://thecrowsofalbion.bandcamp.com/album/screaming-blue-murder THE CROWS OF ALBION - CROWLORE 17 tracks over 60 minutes https://thecrowsofalbion.bandcamp.com/album/crowlore AUDIO POETRY COLLECTION - BLACK & WHITE & READ ALL OVER - 44 poems (70 mins) https://thecrowsofalbion.bandcamp.com/album/black-white-read-all-over BARD COMPANY - ALL SYSTEMS GO! - 15 tracks over 45 minutes https://thecrowsofalbion.bandcamp.com/album/bard-company-all-systems-go BARD COMPANY - RAISING THE STANDARDS - 11 tracks over 45 minutes https://thecrowsofalbion.bandcamp.com/album/bard-company-raising-the-standards to hear a sample of some of the tracks, please visit my SOUNDCLOUD page here: https://soundcloud.com/the-man-at-the-back-1 DIGITAL DOWNLOAD of albums available here: http://thecrowsofalbion.bandcamp.com/releases CD's & Books- available at all gigs or by email contact. To view some of my performances - please visit my YOUTUBE PAGE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCytAVhsFTTdxE2LAKYV2ZoA

Samples

The Devil Don’t Own Me He may have saluted the corrupted cross In Hitler’s Germany, or whispered to Judas Iscariot, hanging from a tree, he could have pulled the trigger finger back in nineteen sixty three, he may own the soul of rock and roll but the Devil don’t own me. He may pollute the air we breath or the raging, deep blue, sea. He may breath on polar ice caps on his subtle killing spree. He may steal food from starving children or the hope from you and me, he may arm the fights of acolytes but the Devil don’t own me. He may own the greedy bankers and the false economy, the fascist newspaper owners in the lands of liberty, he may own the cops and robbers, he may strive to set them free from the laws they place upon us - but the Devil don’t own me He was at the witches coven, looking for his fee, when the British Government compacted with the DUP. He locked their morals in blood and threw away the key. The devil owns the country but the devil don’t own me. He may own the halls of government and the sly, dark powers that be, the state run institutions, he may own the state TV, he may control what we hear, he may control what we see, the Devil may be media savvy but the devil don’t own me. He owned the Milk Snatcher and the Grey Man forking peas, the Jolly Sailor Boy and the Bullingdon Club bullies. He was in the wrong line at Orgreave urging on the young PC’s. Yes the Devil sides with devils but the Devil don’t own me

Performances / Gigs

2nd Thursday of every month HOST: WRITE OUT LOUD WIGAN - The Old Courts, WIGAN

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

Audio entries by Ian Whiteley

NEW ALBUM: 'Crow Lore' by THE CROWS OF ALBION (01/01/2021)

Prophecy (15/10/2020)

Apothecary (06/10/2020)

White Witch Of Winter (03/10/2020)

Messiah Of The Fields (27/09/2020)

The Bayonet In The Shed [REPOST with audio] (14/08/2020)

Raising The Standards (With Banners Held High) [MUSIC VERSION] (04/05/2019)

That Which Autumn Leaves (REPOST with Audio) (31/10/2018)

SCREAMING BLUE MURDER - NEW ALBUM (02/10/2018)

STILL IN THE WAR, BOYS! - new CD and download from THE CROWS OF ALBION (02/10/2014)

More audio from Ian Whiteley…

Calendar

Note: Showing events from 9 years ago.

Wed Thu Fri
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Wakefield » (7.30)

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Comments

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Ian Whiteley

Wed 18th Mar 2020 23:02

of course it is Mark - my apologies - a combination of old age and not fully concentrating on what I'm doing - it seems to happen more often these days. I've edited accordingly
Ian

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M.C. Newberry

Wed 18th Mar 2020 15:15

Hi Ian - apropos your response to my comment on End of Days -
it's "Mark", not "Mike" at this end.
Cheers.

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M.C. Newberry

Fri 19th Apr 2019 16:51

Ian - it was "conviction of purpose" that you misquoted
as a quote from me in your reply on my home page.
Cheers
MC

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M.C. Newberry

Tue 16th Apr 2019 11:07

"Conviction of purpose" is always evident in your blogs.
Keep 'em coming.
Cheers
Mark (MC)

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Ian Whiteley

Sun 14th Oct 2018 11:15

cheers Sal - and thanks for the great review - I genuinely do write everything as poems first - and then take a big pile of paper into the studio and think 'what the fuck am I going to do with this'
Ian

Big Sal

Sat 13th Oct 2018 19:58

Good to see you going strong with the music, and keeping up the vibe!

I always thought that was great how you transitioned the poems over to song format.

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M.C. Newberry

Fri 27th Jul 2018 17:40

Hi Ian - welcome back.
From a UK's point of view, fascism has never taken real
root in the public consciousness. The likes of Moseley and
William Joyce were more often viewed with derision and
a healthy distrust/distaste. The strutting was never likely
to be popular here with so many absolute power kings and
dictators to call upon, allied to a sense of humour that
can drive the uninitiated potty!
Far more insidious perhaps was the far left secretive POV
that saw traitors and their sympathisers consorting in
Cambridge and/or in unsuspecting trusting high society,
suddenly to come to wider public attention when their unexpected departure for "unfriendly shores" signalled something amiss...when not attending to the Queen's
collection of art works, of course. ?

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M.C. Newberry

Fri 13th Jul 2018 14:35

Hello Ian - apropos your note on my profile page - I accept
your point. It is my point that the extremism which often
features in ideologies is the real enemy, whether on the
left or right of the political spectrum - and it is this that
causes so much suffering. The lingering suspicion (for me)
is that prior to the knowledge of what was going on behind
the Iron Curtain - and has happened since in Cambodia
and elsewhere, this extremism was largely refuted or
ignored in the hurry to place fascism at the forefront of
the foes threatening humanity. Now, we are all that much
more aware - and a good thing too.
Cheers.

<Deleted User> (13762)

Thu 21st Jun 2018 19:29

Hi Ian, thanks for the explanation about 'Strange Fruit'. Glad to hear you had a relaxing internet free holiday. It's good to switch off every now and then but I have to admit I find it hard. All the best, Col.

<Deleted User> (13762)

Sat 5th Aug 2017 08:59

you might like to catch this tonight Ian - documentary about Hedd Wyn on BBC2 at 9pm.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0916cy4

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jean lucy thompson

Tue 1st Aug 2017 09:06

Thanx Ian and well done you for all your work and accomplishments within
the poetry scene

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Harry O'Neill

Mon 21st Nov 2016 15:54

Ian,
The Everyman (down in the bar) you`d like it...plenty of young folk there....I think it`s the second Monday of the month.

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Laura Taylor

Fri 7th Oct 2016 12:15

Aye I remember that ?

Deffo - trilogy sounds perfect! It'll come!

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Paul Point

Mon 6th Jun 2016 13:20

Hi Ian, Thanks for your poem above, some lines leapt into life there - a great read. All the best, Paul

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Tommy Carroll

Sun 1st May 2016 21:52

Re S#n right, correct and bloody hope so. Love in perpetuity Tommy (ahem)

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Stu Buck

Tue 19th Jan 2016 10:51

hi ian, reading it in a whole new 'light' now. very clever. a sad week indeed.

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M.C. Newberry

Tue 27th Oct 2015 21:46

Hi Ian - thanks for the response about "We are the Dead"
on my profile page. I didn't assume it was about you...
more an "Ode to Opportunities Missed When Alive" from
my own POV.
The sweep of those is such that most of us are content/
sentenced to settle for less, relishing simpler things.
When I mentioned "response" in my opening line, it was
meant that the extent of the comprehensive content
was something of a challenge in that wider context and
might obtain comment(s) accordingly...nothing more.
By the way - I like "Bard Company" as a title. It reminds
me of "Bad Company" - a Western from some years ago
about youth falling prey to the same.
Good to note your busy future performance schedule.
Cheers

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raypool

Sun 18th Oct 2015 20:00

Hi Ian, back again for further comment . The poem you wrote certainly engendered a lot of discussion. You have pointed out a very good point about singer songwriters getting paid but not a poet. This is obviously a right liberty. I am a muso but choose not to sing - as I find the average offering full of bile and remorse and self pity and all the negatives of life. Why pay to hear that? I find also a lot of poetry hard to listen to back to back in open mike because of distractions - soda siphons, etc.
If there is money to be made, yes hand it out. Personally I don't expect to make money but that's not an opinion that's a fact. Cheers for now!!

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Laura Taylor

Thu 14th May 2015 10:06

:) It's a great poem, I just read it through again.

Thanks for your note on Majority too - aye, had thought of a couple of the lines when I found out about the majority, and it bloody lashed it down all day. Then that 'blue collar' shit's all over the radio and they're banging on about job numbers being up when in reality it's just one job divvied up into 4 zero hours contract jobs. Spitting mad. Looking forward to the one that I can hear forming in your head ha :)

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Laura Taylor

Fri 13th Mar 2015 12:40

Ha - cross posting :)

Thanks for y'note on me tree pome :) I was having a bit of a go at Wordsworth's idea that we lose our 'visionary gleam' when we get older. Remember I mentioned it in The Raven that time? Anyway, fuck Wordsworth :D

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Laura Taylor

Fri 6th Mar 2015 09:22

Well, I have to say that the 'sitting on it' and the work you've put into it clearly show. It is really well crafted. More of this sort of thing! ;)

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Mon 15th Dec 2014 19:24

Masks have a hard time getting past the eyes, or the knuckles: they speak clearly. I'm trying to find an old Christmas one of my own. I know it's tucked away somewhere. Pity I can't quote it from memory; I'm just plain terrible like that.

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Graham Sherwood

Fri 21st Nov 2014 12:20

Ah! you got me there Ian. I'm not as in the know about all these forms as yourself. It's a good tribute to somewhere I never knew but read a lot about.

I hope your new home does you all justice!

regards,

Graham

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Noetic-fret!

Sat 25th Oct 2014 00:35

Thank you Ian for commenting on all things green, my recent post.

My guess is you have been there yourself. Anyways, if you have not, then you have most certainly inspired me to keep writing.

Thank you

mike

x

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M.C. Newberry

Sun 24th Aug 2014 04:23

Good to hear you are so active with your war
poem project/recordings. You are in good
company. My brother recently gave me a double
CD by "Show of Hands" with music and poems of
"The Great War", the latter read by Jim Carter
and his wife Imelda Staunton. The Sunday Express gave it a big thumbs up!

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alan barlow

Tue 19th Aug 2014 23:15

good stuff mate appreciated my music taste is very diverse and wide ranging (dance to dvorak or dependent on the day blues to buffalo) and currently listening on soundcloud ;-)given that im not too prolific in my offerings im not on here as often as i might be but i shall continue to frequent from time to time and have a read (and a listen) keep on keeping on :-)

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Wed 30th Jul 2014 10:10

You most definitely do 'get your meaning across' without a 'dig'. Trust yourself.

Thank you for responding, because I know I have more crust than burnt toast and it can really get me into trouble.

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Tommy Carroll

Fri 25th Jul 2014 15:59

Hiya Ian I forgot to thank you earlier for ''I leant against the wall'' cheers mate. Tommy

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M.C. Newberry

Fri 25th Jul 2014 13:17

A peaceful world is the best aim - but it seems
that ever since Cain and Abel were at odds, Man
has been following their example. The strangest thing about war is that much progress
seems to follow its horrors - a sort of awful
"leaps and bounds" scenario. Maybe it is our
fate to be aware yet be captive of our tendency
towards taking advantage or taking a position and not budging. Is this some form of cosmic
joke at Mankind's expense? I sometimes wonder.

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Fri 18th Jul 2014 17:32

Ian, I enjoyed seeing you again too. That evening I suddenly felt very weird, and decided to leave without ceremony. Walking home seemed to clear my head, so I'm not sure what happened. That first hour I was not able to hear very well, and was blaming a fuzzy microphone; but maybe not. Who knows.

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