Shelley's man of words owes it all to his mates

Feb 26 2003 By Val Javin, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Val Javin

CRAIG Smith is living the dream.

And when Craig played in a couple of bands, Conscience and rock and roll band Route 56, Simon was in one of them.

It was mates from all parts of Craig's life - from school, from football and from work - who joined him in January for his stag night, held where else but at a football match.

Craig played for Kirkburton FC and for Spring Grove but has been a Town fan all his life. And yes, he's "coughed up" £100 to have his name included on the roll of honour.

"We went to watch them on my stag do on January 11 when they played Peterborough. The hospitality was great and we got to pick the man of the match. "There were 19 of us. A lot of them are Liverpool fans. The best thing of the day was that all these people from many different parts of my life were getting on with each other." Doubtless they are all rooting for him when it comes to his new book which his publisher hopes will be as attractive to people who are into music as to those who enjoy poetry.

It's a first too for that publisher, the Rue Bella Press who bring out Rue Bella magazine publishing work by the likes of Brian Patten, Benjamin Zephaniah and Ruth Padel.

This is the first time they've ventured into publishing work by one author and it's got them very excited. So much so that co-editor Geoff Bird says they'll be more than happy to talk tomorrow at Ottakers to any more young writers keen to publish their work.

Helping more writers to live that dream?

*Craig will be signing copies of A Quick Word With A Rock And Roll Later Starter at Ottakers tomorrow at 7.30pm.

FITTING TRIBUTE FROM A FELLOW POET

"Smith has an ear for music - not just the sound it makes but the language it speaks and his poem could only come from a writer steeped in the culture and caught up in the scene.

"If his monologue is part confession/part parody, then his character is the Lone Groover in existential mood, or sleeve-note kid meets stage door John. What I say is, give this boy a backstage pass" Simon Armitage, writing on the back cover of Craig Smith's new book, A Quick Word With A Rock And Roll Late Starter.