What a racist, unfunny arsehole. He ruined the comedy stage at Reading Festival, and it took Mark Steel to put it right again. Shame on you
Steve RF, August 2006
Just saw him at the Reading festival and i can safely say it was the worst stand up performance I've ever seen. No jokes at all just shouting and kept absurdly repeating that he hadn't been on tv despite 20 years in the business. Not hard to see why and the first time I had to walk out of a gig due to sheer boredom.
Luke Huntington, August 2006
Just seen Ian Cognito at a late-night Edinburgh show, on the same bill as Alun Cochrane and Rob Heeney. His act caught the crowd totally by surprise - cracking gags about cancer, and setting his jacket on fire in defiance at Scotland's smoking ban. You could tell it wasn't to everyone's taste, but comedy needs a few loose-cannons like Cognito.
Colin T, August 2006
Saw him a couple of years ago in Portsmouth and looking forward to catching him again there in September. Polarized the crowd like no-one I've ever seen, put-down to a heckler sums it up for me. "Yeah mate, I bet if someone cut you in half, both bits would carry on living wouldn't they?" Then someone threw a glass at him and Cognito hit him with the mic stand. Kind of punky, offensive, and very funny.
Stew, August 2006
An absolute room divider. His brand of humour is great for those who get him and annoys outwardly liberal (i.e. conservative as they come) people. Trouble is that his delivery can get bigotted, racist, sexist bastards on his side when he is really laughing at them, purley through his violent delivery. This is something we have to live with though for those who do get him, as he is one of the funniest live acts working today.
Evs, June 2006
Genius
Tim Howell, June 2006
Just watched Ian take an unresponsive / drunk / hostile crowd in Maidstone and turn them around with a set that lives up to his reputation. An absolute master at his art. If you've not already seen him then you're missing out on the best live stand-up this country has to offer. Go see him now
Martin, June 2006
'Unpredictable' is definitely the word. Have seen Ian storm a club spectacularly but then next time round die on his arse and end up standing on a table mid-audience seemingly offering the entire room out. He lurches between apparently taking comedy very seriously or not giving a flying f*** about anything or anyone, least of all himself. Choose any one of the comments made here - it's probably spot-on. Has likely upset many soundmen on the circuit with his bashing-microphone-on-forehead routine.
