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 jazz, rock and roll, funk and reggae, not to mention leader Ian Dury's love of music hall. 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. ...show more

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 jazz, rock and roll, funk and reggae, not to mention leader Ian Dury's love of music hall. 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. The tour was a success and Stiff launched a concerted Ian Dury marketing campaign, resulting in the Top Ten hit What A Waste and the classic UK number one Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick. The band toured to great acclaim throughout Europe. ...show less