Ian Dury and the Blockheads

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Upminster, Essex, United Kingdom (1977 – 1981)

Ian Dury and the Blockheads were one of the most popular groups of the New Wave era in the UK in the late 1970s. Their eclectic sound was drawn from their many musical influences which included , , and , not to mention leader Ian Dury’s love of . Dury’s lyrics were a unique combination of lyrical poetry, word play, acute observation of British everyday life and scatalogical humour. As The Blockheads, the band continued to play after Dury’s untimely death in 2000.

The band started when Dury (born Upminster, Essex, United Kingdom 12 May 1942, died 27 March 2000), had a chance encounter in a musical instrument hire shop with guitarist Chaz Jankel. Jankel took Dury’s lyrics, fashioned a number of songs, and they began recording with drummer Charley Charles, bassist Norman Watt-Roy and the former Kilburns saxophonist Davey Payne. An album was completed, but major record labels passed on the band. However, next door to Dury’s manager’s office was the newly formed Stiff Records, a perfect home for Dury’s maverick style. The classic single Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, marked Dury’s Stiff debut and this was swiftly followed by the album New Boots and Panties, which was to eventually achieve platinum status.

It wasn’t until October 1977 that Dury and his band started to go out as Ian Dury and the Blockheads, when the band signed up for the Stiff “Live Stiffs Tour” alongside Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Nick Lowe, Wreckless Eric and Larry Wallis.
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  • pinkpressthreat

    'appy 70th birthday, Ian x

    16 days ago

  • CoP0C

    Reasons to be Cheerful (Part 4 if you like!) is on at the Hackney Empire tomorrow night (1st April), then finishes it second glorious, riotous run at the Nottingham Playhouse from April 3-7th. If you've not been and you enjoy Ian Dury and the Blockheads, I'd advise moving heaven and earth to get there...Oi! Oi!

    March 2012

  • kanto_sho

    'Ian Dury and the Blockheads' should be united with 'Ian Dury' no reason to keep them separated

    February 2012

  • Pseudovolhv

    Оптимистичная меланхолия.

    January 2012

  • CitizenShredder

    Brilliant stuff. Ian was such a legend!

    December 2011

  • IanCat87

    The jackpot is in the handle of a normal fruit machine.

    November 2011

  • adipati_was

    “ I could be a lawyer with strategems and ruses I could be a doctor with poultices and bruises I could be a writer with a growing reputation I could be the ticket man at Fulham Broadway station” Blockhead ♥ Ian Robins Dury (12 May 1942 – 27 March 2000)

    November 2011

  • gybrush_

    hit me, hit me, hit...meeee!

    June 2011
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