I met him once. He was playing the part of the narrator in David Cartwright’s play Road in Bristol. I’m not a big theatre goer but that year on The South Bank Show on the end of year episode they asked the great and good in the audience what the years highlights were and so many said Road I thought I had to see it.
Ian introduced himself to everyone as they entered the Old Vic. Come my turn he shook my hand, asked how I was and hoped I would enjoy the show. I took a rather lovely young lady. Ian stepped back and looked her up and down. Then shook my hand again and said “Nice one”.
Different times and the play was probably my favourite theatre experience ever.
“First night nerves every one night stand” … they don’t write them like that any more.
Can you please post videos in the comments and not in your first posts. Thanks, your supportive Mod team.
“There ain’t half been some clever bastards”. By no means always the best person, but he gave me a lot of joy in his creations and performance. Ain’t it often that way?
The Blockheads were a great supportive band and he wrote some brilliant songs.
Saw him twice the last time on his final tour. Physically frail but his voice boomed out.
Just read Baxters autobiography Chaise Lounge which has much about growing up with his old man.. Sounds like there was never a dull moment.
I’ve recently read Sex &Drugs & Rock & Roll: The Life Of Ian Dury by Richard Balls. Of you’re a fan, I recommend it.
Also recommended (although it will surely cover the same ground): Definitive Biography by Will Birch
My tale of nearly meeting him is old, but worth a retread, he being scheduled for an operation at the hospital that I trained at. For piles, as it happened, which has a certain poignancy, and is mentioned for more than prurient reasons. I was to clerk him: to take a full history and perform any appropriate examination. Those familiar with piles might be aware of what that would include. Anyway, he didn’t show up, meaning my right index finger has remained a stranger to fame and fortune.
I have since wondered whether, had he shown up, the cancer that later killed him may have been discovered, treatably sooner…….
I could be the doctor to a rock and rock singer
I could probe his rectum with a gloved and lubed up finger
What a waste etc.
ID wouldn’t have said he had piles. He would have said “I have of late been belaboured by Chalfonts”
An interesting recollection; I have also had conjunctions with a few musical names or their adjuncts as a psychologist, and not always for nefarious reasons, given occasional work for the TV. The dead ones I presume I can now disclose, as the complexities of Les McKeown of the Bay City Rollers have been the stuff of many a tabloid and TV exclusive. But never had the honour of potentially palpating a famous prostate. Truely, we are honoured.
I interviewed Les a few years ago and he was absolutely charming.
Unless someone replies to it, currently the post immediately above my recollection comes, aptly, from @rigid-digit
He was a poet working in the medium of pop music. One of the artists I miss most.
Loved that guy, still do. Only saw him and the Blockheads once, alongside The Selecter. I never met him, but I always felt I knew him.
Belting bass line !
Still one of my favourite artists – pretty sure I play something by him every week.
I saw him many times, first on the Stiff Tour with Nick Lowe & Costello, & memorably at Crystal Palace in 81 at the ‘anti’ Royal Wedding gig, at the reunion benefit gig for Charley Charles & then almost at the end at the Forum ( couldn’t get tickets for The Palladium).
He was magnificent & the various incarnations of the Blockheads are right up there with the best bands I’ve ever seen, his coarse crooning & spoken word delivery a delicious counterpoint to the tightness of the music.
It’s hard to convey the sheer warmth of his audience too, like the best-natured football crowd you can imagine – raucous, sloshed & carrying Ian along on a wave of love by singing every word, especially to the more salty numbers.
I love the fact he considered himself a ‘wordsmith’ rather than a poet, & if anyone should know, it was him.
The unlikeliest of stars for so many reasons, but a star nonetheless & one whose work still twinkles.
‘It may be a wrench, but think of stench I’m leaving behind…’
I heard that he definitely considered himself a poet.
Since Bob Dylan, every bedroom twerp with a guitar considers himself a poet. I’d they’re poets with their moon-June bollocks then Ian Dury certainly was.
He used to hand out his lyrics to each Blockhead in turn for them to write the music. One day, the others asked Chaz Jankel why he got all the hits. Chaz said he’d tell Dury to take the dirty words out, which he dutifully did. None of the others had thought of that.
I saw him on the original Stiffs tour with Elvis, Wreckless Eric, Nick Lowe etc. I loved the Essex voice he had as that was my part of the world. Strange to think he had actual bona fide big chart hits.
24 years? F**king Ada! My first musical hero. I was lucky enough to have met Ian a few times. The best was when we were allowed backstage to his post-show drinks and he chatted for ages with me and me mates. This was that early ’80s period when he’d left The Blockheads for a bit and wasn’t bothering the charts anymore. I think he was pleased that a bunch of teenage herberts were still interested in him, so he was very gracious. Love the old rascal.
Bit of triv – Remember all those cartoon videos and album covers the Tom Tom Club used? Chaz Jankel’s sister drew them.
I still have one of those cardboard record shop promos for the first ‘Tom Tom Club’ 1981 album. I didn’t know the artist – cheers.