Ian Dury And The Blockheads

Ian Dury formed the Blockheads in 1977, bringing together musicians like Chaz Jankel on keyboards and Norman Watt-Roy on bass. Their debut album 'New Boots and Panties!!' came out that same year, with songs like 'Billericay Dickie' and 'Take Me To The Cleaners' that mixed rhythm and blues with a sharp, observational wit. Dury had contracted polio as a child, which affected his mobility, but he channeled that experience into lyrics that were often funny and unflinching about everyday life.

Their music didn't fit neatly into punk or any other single category. It had a cabaret feel sometimes, with saxophone from John Turnbull and a rhythm section that could swing. The lyrics in tracks like 'Take Your Elbow Out Of The Soup, Your Sitting On The Chicken' and 'Dance Little Rude Boy' were playful and sometimes provocative, dealing with disability, sexuality, and social absurdities without preaching. Dury's delivery was conversational, like a pub storyteller set to a tight band.

They toured regularly in the UK and abroad, known for energetic live shows where Dury's stage presence and banter were a big part of the appeal. After Dury's death in 2000, the Blockheads continued to perform and record, keeping his songs in circulation. Their catalog includes albums like 'Do It Yourself' from 1979 and 'Laughter' from 1980, each carrying that distinctive blend of musical craftsmanship and lyrical cheek.