The Liverpool Scene was a confluence of poets and musicians who recorded four albums in the late 1960’s. Founded in 1967 by poet Adrian Henri and musicians Mike Evans, Percy Jones, Mike Hart, Andy Roberts and Brian Dodson, The Liverpool Scene tore down the walls between so-called high art (literature) and pop art (rock and roll). The group was championed by John Peel and received a lot of airplay on pirate radio station Radio London and Peel’s weekly radio show in Germany. But despite Peel’s support, The Liverpool Scene’s records were not big sellers and a tour of the United States was a financial bust. They did thrive on the British college and club circuit and garnered the respect and friendship of Allen Ginsberg, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. After several years of struggling to find an audience with only modest results, the group disbanded in 1970.

Adrian Henri continued to write poetry, as well as paint, until his death in 2000.

Fans of Zappa, The Fugs, Ian Dury, and Beefheart will no doubt dig these clips from British TV, 1969. Adrian Henri’s satirical, edgy poetry and the band’s avant-rock and jazzy trippiness keeps the group from veering into hippie dippyness.

Ladies and gents, the amazing Liverpool Scene.