Struggling with polio for most of his life, Ian was educated, clever and artistic. A true poet and add that to one of the tightest jazz bands that's ever been in the blockheads you have nothing short of brilliance. Instead of punk rock this is pub rock and they were at their best live and I was lucky enough to have seen them a couple of times. As you said Ian was most definitely a one off.
@alistairmacdonald3813Ай бұрын
Saw him in Edinburgh once when he gave it everything and kept falling over , the roadies had to keep picking him up . The blockheads were so tight musically. I will never forget them.
@alambyantАй бұрын
I saw his son’s band down in Bristol years ago and spoke with him about his dad after the gig. Very nice lad.
@peterdore8690Ай бұрын
Your dead right about the blockheads The only other back up band comparable to them I can think of are the Attractions
@KenPassey-hd2mcАй бұрын
Spot on .😂😂
@PhilipBurton-dn3ceАй бұрын
I can always think of a few reasons to be cheerful listening to Ian
@stevenhoward3358Ай бұрын
but the only one you need is part three
@PhilBurns-oc2vgАй бұрын
Nice play on words both of you, from another blockhead
@stevenhoward3358Ай бұрын
@@PhilBurns-oc2vg You could say "There aint half been some clever bastards". And in reply we might say about our talents "What a waste"
@philbell5774Ай бұрын
Ian and the Blockheads were tighter than two coats of paint.
@KyleS.1987Ай бұрын
Such a brilliant mix of punk and funk. Ian was a true original. And shout outs to Norman Watt-Roy absolutely slaying that busy busy bassline.
@scraggerАй бұрын
The bass line is incredible, I tell people to have a listen if they want to hear a master at work
@adrianmorris5546Ай бұрын
Ian Dury was such an incredible musician who gave the whole world so much enjoyment over the years
@stevefoulstonАй бұрын
Ian Robins Dury (12 May 1942 - 27 March 2000) was an English singer, songwriter and actor who rose to fame in the late 1970s, during the punk and new wave era of rock music. He was the lead singer and lyricist of Ian Dury and the Blockheads At the age of seven, Dury contracted polio, most likely, he believed, from a swimming pool at Southend-on-Sea during the 1949 polio epidemic. After six weeks in a full plaster cast in the Royal Cornwall Infirmary, Truro, he was moved to Black Notley Hospital, Braintree, Essex, where he spent a year and a half before going to Chailey Heritage Craft School, East Sussex, in 1951. His illness resulted in the paralysis and withering of his left leg, shoulder and arm. Peace out.
@markhodge3112Ай бұрын
A very talented writer and put him with the blockheads and they were brilliant one my favourites was "What a Waste " from 1978.
@alansynnott4843Ай бұрын
Musical sensory overload, pure genius, all of them!
@aprilsjoy107Ай бұрын
Reason to be cheerful: you reacting to Ian Dury😊
@Levenstone132Ай бұрын
Top class musicians and Ian's genius. Can't go wrong.
@andrewmason7207Ай бұрын
a poet . with a very hard life and illness. fought to overcome it. hats of sir , cheers guys
@cyclops60Ай бұрын
Fantastic band, excellent live. Ian Dury was a great performer and lyricist. Many great songs - Sex & drugs & Rock 'n' roll, What a waste, My old man, Reasons to be cheerful, Sweet Gene Vincent to name a few! Cheers
@chicotime69Ай бұрын
Reasons to be cheerful is my FAV!!!!! Great Sax solo!!!!
@daviddouglas6610Ай бұрын
Shame that i can only give 1👍to such a great song
@karenglenn6707Ай бұрын
I’m an Aussie and this song was huge here. Still love it!!
@pmR32redАй бұрын
👍
@angelachicken4141Ай бұрын
Yeah, I love his lyricism, his use of London accent, references to working class culture, music hall, allsorts. The band was amazing, too.
@robertdnero2217Ай бұрын
Fun fact. Chaz Jankel, The Blockheads keyboardist and guitarist wrote "Ai No Corrida" made famous by Quincy Jones.
@chrispy865Ай бұрын
My favourite reactors reacting to my favourite artist!! Ian was one of the greatest wordsmiths that British music has ever produced and should have become our poet laureate. He spearheaded the "New Wave" music scene and with the Blockheads became one of the best live bands on the scene. Despite a very tough upbringing with polio and strict boarding schooling to survive, he forged a truly unique musical path for himself that produced some truly incredible masterpieces that maybe are only truly appreciated if you have a English background, but you both seem to be very international in your taste and knowledge. He certainly wasn't a vocalist but, no one else could do justice to the songs he wrote, they would have lost their meaning. I cried when we lost this incredibly talented man too soon. Peace and love.
@diogenesagogoАй бұрын
In my opinion, this is worthy of Shakespeare: If I was with a woman I'd threaten to unload her Every time she asked me to explain If I was with a woman She'd have tp learn to CHERISH THE PURITY AND DEPTH OF MY DISDAIN look a them larfin' ...
@MerchantOfAlbaАй бұрын
Many thanks. Glad you enjoyed it ☺️
@vinnywarren2144Ай бұрын
Ian Drury's roadie was a guy called Pete rush who was a friend at school in Bournemouth.And I met him occasionally after school.They wrote a song about him which was called " The sulphate strangle" Unfortunately he died in the cell at the police station in Bournemouth.The Blockheads were a brilliant band.🇬🇧👍
@donaldbohn3183Ай бұрын
I saw him in concert in Coventry. He literally embodied his hit "Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll".
@user-sr4gw3gs4vАй бұрын
RIP Ian Drury, he certainly was different!
@spacespace764Ай бұрын
I absolutely LOVE this song …. and ‘What a Waste’. On hearing, I’m back to the late 70’s in the UK; a wonderfully, exciting, creative time to be in your late teens! ❤❤❤🇬🇧
@tonycasey3183Ай бұрын
You know how you love a song that becomes even better because your parents hate it? This was the one for me.
@MerchantOfAlbaАй бұрын
Yes! 😀
@cliffwheeler7357Ай бұрын
Another big hit from Ian was “Sex & Drugs & Rock and Roll”
@WooBino.Ай бұрын
Childhood polio left him with a need for a walking stick but he rocked it.
@Brian-om2hhАй бұрын
Ian Dury lived with polio for most of his life, but didn't allow it to dull his undoubted talent..... Ian and his Blockheads enjoyed much success during the late 70's and into the 80's..... Sadly no longer with us.
@rossmacintosh5652Ай бұрын
I was a student at university In the mid-1980's. One day I was singing this song aloud while walking down an empty hallway. As I turned a corner, there was one of my professors standing in front of me. Without missing a beat I continued singing. I still remember the shocked & confused look on his face as I passed by singing. I really doubt he had ever heard the song before. Without a doubt he must have thought I was a lunatic.
@MerchantOfAlbaАй бұрын
Awesome 👍 Thanks for sharing 😊
@Drinckx2Ай бұрын
Coming out of punk, albeit with a fantastic jazz-funk band and Dury’s poetic lyrics, a fantastic combination. Dury contracted polio as a kid, struggled through the harsh regime of the specialist school for disabled children, Chailey Heritage, studied art and became a great songwriter and performer.
@janewatkins9801Ай бұрын
Wonderful ❤😊. Now you have to react to Reasons to be Cheerful Part 3. Love Ian Dury.🎉🎉
@angharaddenby3389Ай бұрын
Before The Blockheads, Ian Dury was part of the pub rock band Kilburn And The High Roads.
@markferrett700Ай бұрын
Absolutely loved this back in the day.....Ian was a very clever ( Trevor!) Songwriter/poet😊
@winchy162Ай бұрын
Ian was a fantastic poet who then with the blockheads put his poetry to music
@thunderspike1892Ай бұрын
Written by keyboard player/guitarist Chaz Jankel. Davey Payne on saxophone. The last song Ian Dury did before he died on March 27 2000 was Madness feat. Ian Dury - Drip Fed Fred that was released November 1999.
@teesmith945Ай бұрын
when this song first came out I remember thinking.. this was a bit weird, and novelty type song... but catchy...... he also suffered from polio growing up., but didn't let his disability hamper his quest for music.. interesting fellow., look him up
@RP.Burton-Stanley-BooksАй бұрын
He had Polio hence his physical appearance. He died from colon cancer. He was freaking awesome!
@slayerrocks2Ай бұрын
Celebrating the groove.😊
@stevo728822Ай бұрын
The B side of this song was a funny song called "There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards".
@KevinIdenАй бұрын
That was Fun haven't herd that for years
@kimcutts6153Ай бұрын
🇬🇧 There was no-one like Ian Drury, before or since. "Reasons To Be Cheerful" next by this great & very unique band. 🎵🎶🎼❤
@paulfenton7776Ай бұрын
Ian is singing about a universal human truth. Brilliant musicians. Great song.
@sloot69xАй бұрын
Ian was a victim of polio he caught as a child and was partially paralysed.
@petenorton883Ай бұрын
I think the subtext is that we are all just human beings wherever we come from.
@lysfleming3331Ай бұрын
I loved this song back in the day.
@darkpitcher5242Ай бұрын
Ian Dury was unique
@margaretnicol3423Ай бұрын
Take your eyes off my walking stick and concentrate on the rhythm stick!
@davidgroat3625Ай бұрын
Check out “Swett Gene Vincent” by them as well. It was Ian’s tribute to Gene Vincent.
@mojobag01Ай бұрын
I saw them by accident. I was a very lucky boy.
@warrenburroughs3025Ай бұрын
I am glad that you mentioned the bass line, I came here to highlight it. It's a complete work out on the instrument.
@markhorton857816 күн бұрын
Rythm stick was a nickname for a spliv or cannabis cigarette, many musicians used cannabis a lot. Among other effects are colours seem slightly brighter and beats are more noticable in music.
@steviesellersАй бұрын
This was a NO.1 single in the UK
@adamdalton3492Ай бұрын
Ian Dury and the blockheads are one of my favourite bands , I've had his new boots and panties album since I was about 5 or 6 lol please react to sex and drugs and rock and roll . Ian Dury is the Godfather of Punk
@rorykeegan1895Ай бұрын
First saw this lot in a pub off the Finbough Road in 77. Ian fell over during the opening number and spent the rest of the set going around in circles while lying on the floor. They kicked arse, great band.
@btj-oo8xcАй бұрын
Funky funky
@markbradwell6913Ай бұрын
New boots and Panties still top of my CD Collection, I wore out the vinyl but kept the cover, all the love to Ian, Legend!!
@davidhollands3338Ай бұрын
Ian was probably one of the most unique and best song writers and lyricist of modern times fantastic live and the Blockheads were pure talent RIP ❤ Dickie. We need another Ian
@ianwebb3496Ай бұрын
I'm another Ian!! Oh, wait, that's not quite what you had in mind; sorry.
@elenasancho6074Ай бұрын
Listen to Ian Dury also: Reasons to Be Cheerful, Pt. 3. Also very funny.
@surlechapeauАй бұрын
add in his "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" !!!
@MrJimitheeАй бұрын
I love "My Old Man" buy Ian Dury... Quite different in tone, it's actually a little moving... But it has an equally FUNKY bass line!
@gordondafoe3516Ай бұрын
Alba's, the image was all stage. They were well grounded people during "day yo day" life.
@runningsuperskaАй бұрын
His son Baxter Dury is a musician, too. He's got a good song called, I'm Not Your Dog.
@tomhogan9046Ай бұрын
Ian was a great Gene Vincent fan with his recording of sweet Gene Vincent
@patrickmaloney6440Ай бұрын
What a band, and what a poet he was... amazing...
@naebodyknows7016Ай бұрын
Gotta love Ian Dury, he once got punched in the face by Omar Shariff !!!! I mean how cool is that.
@Robert-wn2cwАй бұрын
Saw Ian and the boys live a few times back in the day, and they always put on a great show. Ian didn't care what other people thought and you can see that in the lyrics of his songs. New boots and panties is a great album. You should check it out. Thanks guys.
@MrSteveishereАй бұрын
I love this tune, when I was a teenager back in the 70's I worked at a cabinet makers and we would have the radio on all day, when this tune came on some of the old lads that worked there would say " he needs bloody hitting ", every old tune holds a memory...
@MerchantOfAlbaАй бұрын
Such a great memory 😍
@robertobrien5709Ай бұрын
People like Ian and the group Madness made me form and choose my life's motto , Better to be mad than sad.
@loungejay8555Ай бұрын
I'm sure the bass player was being paid by the note!
@justinwilton4603Ай бұрын
His son Baxter dury is putting out some pretty damn good music :)
@michaelatkinson8291Ай бұрын
When Rush drummer Neil Peart spent some time in London in the early 1970's trying to make it in the music business, he auditioned for a few bands. I remember he wrote that one audition he attended, the band had a singer who was partially disabled. Could this have been Ian Dury & the Blockheads ? Peart didn't make it in London & ended up working in a shop in Carnaby Street before heading back to Canada where he was more successful in his next audition for an up & coming band called Rush. It's funny how things work out sometimes.........
@MerchantOfAlbaАй бұрын
Oh, thanks for sharing ☺️
@Howie57Ай бұрын
Have met JohnnyT a number of times
@BrianM0OABАй бұрын
Passed away 24 years ago RIP.
@williamking1554Ай бұрын
fantastic talented band
@richardhargrave6082Ай бұрын
Ian Drury was a one off genius. The Blockheads are one of the tightest bands ever and they're still going Ian's son Baxter, is also a singer songwriter, a chip off the old block in many ways
@brewstergalleryАй бұрын
Ned from Spain saying thank you guys for posting this great, humorous and wicked song by a phenomenal band and their fearless leader. Other songs that I love by him and them, Wake Up Make Love to Me, My Old Man, Sex n Drugs n Rock n Roll, If I was With A Woman, What a Waste, Clever Trevor, Aint Half Been Some Clever Bastards, Razzle in My Pocket and many more.
@dbking4194Ай бұрын
His lyrics are kind of everyday man in the street but with great humour that has a kind of unique poetry. His song lyrics are so clever but kind of child-like. He wrote songs like “The ain’t half been some clever bastards”, “ The razzle in my pocket” (about stealing a porn magazine from a shop when he was younger) and “Reasons to be cheerful”.
@Moz1011Ай бұрын
So many great songs from them.
@derekharley7343Ай бұрын
There is a live version of this. It is amazing.
@stevemorris6855Ай бұрын
Bought this as a present and never gave it. Still in it's paper bag.
@andywatts8654Ай бұрын
Try their song “wake up and make love to me’
@dalemcmillan7231Ай бұрын
Cool! Love it!❤
@leehallam9365Ай бұрын
I think it's just about the international language of music. Ian is a unique performer, and he definately care what people thought. You must check out Reasons To Be Cheerful. That's my favourite of theirs.
@simondobbs4480Ай бұрын
I think it is about sex
@z0n0ph0neАй бұрын
Many thanks for playing and reacting to this, Im glad you had fun with it. Ian and the Blockheads were certainly a force to be reckoned with, sadly he is no longer with us. Music is so enjoyable because there is such a variety of styles and genres which evoke so many emotions. Its great to watch the reactions of someone hearing something for the first time. Back to my collection to find something else interesting for you. Best wishes. Jim
@MerchantOfAlbaАй бұрын
It is always a great fun discovering new artist. And Ian and The Blockheads put us in such a great mood. Thank you kindly. Love and peace from Romania 💚
@z0n0ph0neАй бұрын
@@MerchantOfAlba By the way there was a famous jazz musician, I think his name was Roland Kirk who's speciality was to play two saxophones at the same time.🙂👍
@AP-gb3ehАй бұрын
Great Fun
@ericj166Ай бұрын
Ian Dury and the Blockheads - simply brilliant album "New Boots & Panties."
@deckofcards87Ай бұрын
Hello. I don't know if you lovely folks have covered Lou Reed yet ..aka the King of New York. Either Lou's solo career or ANYTHING by The Velvet Underground is a must.
@iainsmith2434Ай бұрын
No.1 must listen is Sex and Drugs and RocknRoll by Ian Drury and Blockheads.
@ChasBeauregardeАй бұрын
Great Choice!!
@neilmccarthy5102Ай бұрын
No - no deeper meaning … just the world over - let’s get hit by the rhythm stick!
@MerchantOfAlbaАй бұрын
Amazing 😍
@reggawardle4874Ай бұрын
Left and centre of the punk revolution, which lasted 15 years..🤪
@bobm7359Ай бұрын
He died before his first child was born, he never was able to hold or even see it. He sarcastically thanked god for this in a interview. He also had a song called "Spasticus Autisticus" about his ailment, and caught a lot of flak from the then existing PC brigade...
@bobm7359Ай бұрын
@@mick6721 from a comment below the studio version of "Spasticus Autisticus" Ian’s own words about this song: “I’d written this in the Year Of The Disabled”. I was going to start a band called Spastic & The Autistics, because the word ‘spastic’ is a swear word. There was that girl group Bananarama who used to talk about “Spazz Dancing”. Their ignorance is their own affair. I wanted to do something for the Year Of The Disabled so I wrote ‘Spasticus Autisticus’ knowing it would be unacceptable to the BBC. They banned it as they did ‘Wake Up And Make Love To Me’ and ‘ Sex And Drugs And Rock And Roll’. They actually don’t BAN it. They just don’t play it. Apparently you could only play it after dark, with written permission. I did about 140 interviews related to the song that year. It was a war cry for my brothers and sisters who are disabled. Only a spastic could understand that. It’s not describing a condition. It’s just being spirited” The video itself is at : kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3zRc5qAfJ50bqcsi=3YiicX8ripmvzh5X (Indeed there was no major PC brigade then, but still there was one, even if not major)
@rayjermyn4541Ай бұрын
When this came out I thought being hit with rhythm sticks had something to do with bdsm. Years later clicked he was talking about drum beat
@alexanderbeta-werburghii6176Ай бұрын
'Rhythm stick'... "Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it". Post punk/New Wave [of the art rock sub-genre].
@JohnBullardАй бұрын
You should hear his song SEX AND DRUGS AND ROCK N ROLL.
@RushfanUKАй бұрын
Never really a fan but this has a great bass line.
@artistjohАй бұрын
I don't remember the song sounding like this. Is there a significant difference between the radio recording, and live performance?
@cruncie2581Ай бұрын
🔥🔥🔥🔥😁
@thegroovetube3247Ай бұрын
This came from nowhere to be UK No.1 in 1979.
@russell-di8jsАй бұрын
Sex + drugs + Rock 'n 'roll, Ian Dury RIP
@ndboultonАй бұрын
don't judge british music from this song
@PhilBurns-oc2vgАй бұрын
Forget Eminem,ian duty was the first white rapper
@russellpetrie119Ай бұрын
i think with the music being dull back then it was like a challenge sent out there to others who can do better like a wake up wheres the talent