Joolz Denby
| Joolz Denby | |
|---|---|
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| Born | April 9, 1955 |
| Other names | Julianne Mumford |
| Occupation | Poet, author |
Joolz Denby (born Julianne Mumford 9 April 1955, previously known simply as Joolz) is a poet, novelist, artist and tattooist based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.
Born to an Army family at Colchester Barracks in Essex, England, Julianne Mumford moved with her parents to Harrogate, North Yorkshire at age 11. She started to hang around with local bikers at age 15, although she was more interested in the mechanical side of motorcycles than becoming a biker-chick.
In 1975 at age 19 she married Kenneth Denby who wanted to be a "prospect" or probationary member of a biker gang called Satan's Slaves.
Disillusioned with the strict regimentation and controls associated with membership of a biker group and particularly rebellious against those exercised over WAGs of the male bikers and the expected-conformity which she encountered during four years' association with the Slaves, she dyed her hair pink, broke her ties to the Slaves and later started working as a bouncer during the embryonic punk scene of the late 1970s at the Queen's Hall, Bradford.
She then started attending a local poetry-reading group and organised public events for a local group Poetry in Motion. Stepping-in for an absent member, she gained her first experience of public speaking.
Initially known simply as Joolz, Denby is a poet, novelist, artist, illustrator, and professional tattooist. She first came to prominence as a touring punk performance poet. She does not consider herself a 'performance poet'; instead, she designates herself a "spoken-word artist" as she considers that title more accurate.
Denby often co-performs at musical venues and has been a regular at music festivals such as Roskilde, Reading and at Glastonbury Festival (where she historically performed in the Theatre and Cabaret Marquees) as well as art and literature festivals in other countries. She began recording music singles and spoken word recordings -in 1983 sometimes solo, but usually in collaboration with musicians Jah Wobble, the underground cult band New Model Army, New Model Army's singer/songwriter Justin Sullivan, and singer/songwriter Mik Davis.
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