Ian Dury and the Blockheads

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Biography

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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  • crownanchor

    SEX&DRUGS&R'N'R FOREVER:)!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    10 Feb 10:28am Reply

  • Dr-Doctor

    'Ian Dury and the Blockheads' should be united with 'Ian Dury' no reason to keep them separated [2]

    8 Dec 2012 Reply

  • academyofrock

    You might enjoy this blog on Punk Rock Attitude - Ian Dury gets a mention http://www.hrzone.co.uk/topic/managing-people/blog-punk-rock-hr-top-10-hr-tips-music/122075

    16 Jul 2012 Reply

  • pinkpressthreat

    'appy 70th birthday, Ian x

    12 May 2012 Reply

  • 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!

    31 Mar 2012 Reply

  • kanto_sho

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

    12 Feb 2012 Reply

  • Pseudovolhv

    Оптимистичная меланхолия.

    7 Jan 2012 Reply

  • CitizenShredder

    Brilliant stuff. Ian was such a legend!

    30 Dec 2011 Reply

  • IanCat87

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

    18 Nov 2011 Reply

  • 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)

    17 Nov 2011 Reply

  • gybrush_

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

    6 Jun 2011 Reply

  • Buffalo_JFK

    I want a "Reasons to be cheerfull part 4"

    4 Jun 2011 Reply

  • FPurich

    Can someone tell me how I can get the song "we want the gold"

    28 May 2011 Reply

  • kick_yr_crutch

    What a waste :) there's a part in that song that reminds me of the soundtrack to that old kids program that was about school, forget its name

    1 Feb 2011 Reply

  • kanto_sho

    Almost 50% of the material from New Boots And Panties!! comes under Do It Yourself although the bonus version only cover live versions of the songs, frustrating that is.

    3 Jan 2011 Reply

  • kanto_sho

    About tags Grosseteste is right. Anyway Last fm should make sure that everything falls under the same artist, whatever they choose

    31 Dec 2010 Reply

  • mihaiamza

    not in the gay way !

    31 Oct 2010 Reply

  • mihaiamza

    Ian was such a genius, legendary singer !! fucking love him !!

    31 Oct 2010 Reply

  • MisterMackaye

    awesome people awesome band, greatly track... Wake Up and Make Love With Me!!

    9 Sep 2010 Reply

  • AshlenaAres

    I'm Billericay Dickie, and Im doing very well! I wish that was my name. What happens next is private, its also very rude :O ♥Ian dury and blockheads♥

    6 Sep 2010 Reply
    • All 69 shouts

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