Davey MacManus - Rotten Poetry

Musician – Writer – Skater – Boxer – Nurse

Davey Macmanus poet and singer/songwriter.

Former singer in The Crocketts & The Crimea and writer (as Kernel Krok) of Unamazing Disgraces (2000, Shiny Beast). Davey MacManus writes songs and poems which touch the grittier parts of your soul.

The Crocketts

Raucously bursting into prominence from 1996 to 2001 with energetic indie rockers The Crocketts, Davey’s lyrics drove the band’s off-mainstream, attitude charged, unconventional spirited demeanor.

The Crocketts – Lucifer

Unamazing Disgraces

Published in 2000 by Shiny Beast, Davey’s first poetry collection brought a new dimension of his talents to fans.

Many of the poems seemed familiar to fans of The Crocketts as they often crossed over in phrase and tone with his lyrics.

Unamazing Disgraces moves through wistful, nostalgic innocence and visceral, breathless anger, without losing its coherent voice.

The Crimea

Rising from the ashes, The Crimea were born out of the demise of The Crocketts with Davey still leading the charge. More mature and more thoughtful, but never more conventional, Davey’s poetic lyrics and captivating performances saw The Crimea gain reputation and a slew of celebrity fans including support from John Peel.

His songwriting has been compared to Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) and Eliott Smith. The Crimea went on to supporting shows with; Snow Patrol, Modest Mouse, Regina Spektor, Billy Corgan, Kings of Leon, Travis, Primal Scream, Stereophonics and Ash.

Nursing

Davey left the world of professional music in 2013 to train as a nurse and threw himself into working with victims of abuse in Diepsloot, South Africa, working in an orphanage for victims in an area dubbed by Louis Theroux as “the most dangerous place in the world”. Davey worked despite serious and imminent threats, to help some of the most neglected people in the world.

New Material

Davey has taken to posting poetry and music on social media reengaging a previously very dedicated following. Learning, like many, to play piano during Covid lockdowns. Locked away living in a hotel and working in healthcare Davey took to writing and playing again.

A new album, Even the Trees Know Karate, now available for free download and a new retrospective, personal collection of poetry, prose and pictures; The Bluster Boy, is published by Rotten Poetry.