This is my Tribute Blog to Ian Dury, the Winston Churchill of British punk.
Ian Robins Dury (1942-2000) is one of my favourite lyricist and singer. And he should be made a Sir.
Ian Dury is a multi-hyphenate – English songwriter, singer and actor. The Guardian described Dury as “one of the few true originals of the English music scene”.
Dury is best known for being the frontman of Ian Dury and the Blockheads. What a great band!
My favourite Ian Dury and the Blockheads album is “New Boots And Panties!!” (with two “!!” marks).
An eternal Punk at heart, Dury drew from music hall and punk traditions, incorporating observational British humour and word play in his lyrics.
To me, Ian Dury is the Winston Churchill of British punk.
Ian Dury – The Cosmic Pirate (above image). I love Dury’s cool, colourful and wild stage costumes.
My favourite top three Ian Dury songs are “Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll”, “Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 3” and “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick”.
My Ian Dury And The Blockheads CD Collection (above image).
See the little kid next to Ian Dury in the “New Boots And Panties” album cover? Centre row, two left albums. That Ian’s son Baxter. Baxter’s (1971) now 54 years old! A musician like his dad, he has already released nine studio albums to his name. He does his dad proud.
My Rare Signed “New Boots And Panties!!” #88/350 Lithograph (above image). Signed by Sir Peter Blake and Chris Gabrin, the original photographer of the album cover. Thanks for the auspicious series number #88/350, Sir Peter Blake!
I am forever grateful for Sir Peter Blake’s personal message to me – “To Eddie Sung. I know Ian Dury’s your favourite! Enjoy! Best regards, Peter Blake.”.
The title “New Boots And Panties” is derived from Dury’s habit of buying clothes second hand and refers to the only items of clothing he insisted on buying new.
The album cover photograph was taken by Chris Gabrin outside Axfords underwear and lingerie shop at 306 Vauxbridge Road, Westminster, close to Victoria Station. Gabrin’s Mini van and the Woolworths store on the opposite side of the road can be seen reflected in the shop window.
The hand-drawn lettering on the front (“New Boots And Panties!!”) and back (“There’s nothing wrong with it!!”) album covers, which was written by Stiff’s receptionist Cynthia Lole using a magic marker.
“There’s nothing wrong with it!!” as the reaction of the Blockheads upon hearing the first playback of the finished record.
My Hard Rock Cafe “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick” Golf Ball (above image). Hit me, hit me, hit me! (Rhythm Stick pun).
Genius moment: the golf balls holders are actually “pizza stools”, those plastic thingies that prevents the top of the pizza box from collapsing onto the pizza. Haha, I can see Dury’s gnarly smile.
I await patiently for Sir Ian Dury’s Knighthood!
