The pop history books reveal that Ian Dury And The Blockheads enjoyed five hit singles and two Top Ten albums between 1978 and 1980, but this undoubtedly worthy achievement is no measure of the affection in which Ian Dury is held by music lovers around the world.

 

   Video: Watch Ian Dury and the Blockheads >>

 

The roots of Dury's creativity can be traced back to the cultural wastelands of post-war Essex and the various schools Dury attended in the 1950's. Incapacitated by polio, Dury fought hard to gain respect and found sublimation in drawing and painting and the wild rock'n'roll sounds of Gene Vincent And The Bluecaps.

The Blockheads' sound drew from their many musical influences - which included jazz, rock and roll, funk, and reggae - plus Dury's love of music hall. The band was formed after Dury began writing songs with pianist and guitarist Chaz Jankel.
Jankel took Dury's lyrics, fashioned a number of songs, and they began recording with members of Radio Caroline's Loving Awareness Band, drummer Charley Charles, bassist Norman Watt-Roy, keyboard player Mickey Gallagher, guitarist John Turnbull, and the former Kilburns saxophonist Davey Payne.

Songs from the set-list are:
- Billericay Dickie
- Wake Up and Make Love With Me
- What a Waste
- We Want the Gold
- Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
- Sweet Gene Vincent
- Blockheads
- Reasons to be Cheerful Part 3
- Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll