Sad because it's gone and no matter how sensible and grown up I try to be deep down in my 70 years old darkness there is this tiny glimmer that if I wish hard enough I can be magically transported back to being 18 and not giving a fuck ✌
Ian Dury was a total and absolute trail blaiser with his music. No wonder Wilko joined them. The Blockheads still remain one of my favourite bands long after Ian's tragic passing.
The Blockheads remain, forty-ish years later(!), one of the best live bands I have EVER seen. And believe me I have seen a lot of bands since. God bless you Ian Dury, sadly missed.
I saw the Blockheads last night - without Norman as he's on tour with Wilko. Absolutely awesome. Honouring Dury's legacy but nowhere near a tribute act. Guys who can really play and clearly enjoy doing it, even in their 60s and 70s. I can't imagine how exciting this gig with Wilko must have been - this is such a fantastic clip, thanks for posting.
He cemented his place in my hall of respect when we saw him play with Wilco Johnson at the Tram Shed in Woolwich: he and Wilco continued to sound like a five-piece band even while he broke a string on his bass and had it rethreaded while he carried on. THAT is fucking rock and roll. Nuff respect to the roadie who re-threaded a new string while he played on, obviously.
A little dude with a huge brain and even bigger VOICE! This muthafugger was SO criminally under appreciated in the US/Canada that it makes yer head spin. ALL his records are GEMS! Saw him and the Blockheads open for Lou Reed and they BLEW LOU OUT THE DOOR!!!!!
I started watching this only to see Wilko with the Blockhearts, but the whole thing just carries you away. It's so infectious. What a band, and what a great concert closer.
I remember seeing Ian Dury when he was fronting Kilburn and the High Roads. They were playing support for the Who at the Lyceum in London (first Quadrophenia tour, I think 1973). A great night.
Kind of a shock to see just how great this group were all those years ago. Staggering musicianship . Ian and the Blockheads at the top of their game. Certainly a tragedy that cancer robbed us of both Ian (singer) and Charley (drummer) . I am extremely grateful for what they left behind for us.
The whole band at the very top of their game, both the band and the crowds love and respect for Ian obvious - get him to the mic and he was a god, immortal. Rest in peace son, you lived one hell of a life.
This is great. Saw them live twice before wilko joined them. They had Max Wall on stage at the Hammersmith Odeon 😂. There was no one to touch them as a live band.
My Lord what a band they were. Takes me back to seeing them live at Leeds University in 79 (IIRC). Monsters. I've never seen a more funky bassist than Norman Watt-Roy
What can you say about this masterpiece that hasn't already been said ... Two diamond geezers doing 24 carat music Wilco Norman & the Guv'nor gone but not forgotten 👃➕😎👍 ......
This clip should be mandatory watching for all conservatoriums around the world, every member of the band at their very best, everyone a star/lead in their own right. Still miss you Ian, rest in peace mate, from an expat Brit in Australia.
Wow! They kicked ass on this one. Being an American, I gotta tell you all of the best bands came out of England. I remember hearing a lot of Ian Dury at the punk bars in Chicago in the early 80s. Love it.
I was lucky enough to see the Chas Charles tribute concert at the old Town & Country club, Blockheads with Wilko. What a terrific night still remembered as one of the best music nights ever.
In 1964 I played the spoons with an Ian Drury band of the time at someone's birthday party. A lifetime achievement! Ian asked "Are you a dauber an' all?" He was at the Royal College of art.
Love Wilko! He wrote in his memoirs that as much as he loved the band, he found his "three chords and the truth" style hard to reconcile with the more complex arrangements “For quite a while it was difficult for me, they were doing all these augmented chords and things...Sometimes, when we started playing live, it would get to bits in the song where it was a little bit beyond me and I would just turn down my guitar and mime. The thing is with a big band…keep a determined expression on your face and nobody knows.”
Well what music he made still great to hear it now so many years on..xxlove him so much and the band. Cxser you all at Dingwalls. CxTony Blockhead xxx ❤❤❤
Over Four decades ago an absolute Doll gave this Blockhead NB&P in special unlimited Gold Vinyl, still have it and nothing to play it on. Years later, another absolute Doll, Whose Dad grew up with Ian took Me up london for a surprise, a pub gig. Amazing, The Gig, The afters. I knew HIM, but He knew Her, Wotcha Girl? Where's Dad? "He said to say Hello, this is My Boyfriend, Dad likes Him, can't understand Him, but still likes Him!" An unforgettable weekend!
Fantastic! The Blockheads at their peak with Wilko, David Payne really whips it out here! Sad to see Ian at the end leaving, what a under rated lyricist and true performer.
The Blockheads are pretty much wholly unappreciated here in the States. It's too bad we can't see Ian, anymore. Except in stuff like this. Showing how amazing that band was (particularly Watt-Roy - a top 5 favorite bass player for me. Just a virtuoso)
Swings both ways, we missed out on a lot on Zappa. You needed to be there when it happened perhaps. I saw Dury and I saw Feelgood, but I never saw Johnny Thunders. All these people have forged us and never having seen them does that make us less? Does it bollocks.
I saw these lads loads of times, from New Boots and Panties right up to their last original line up tour nearly 20yrs ago. It’s not till he,s gone and you remember how much you enjoyed them. At least we,ve got RU-vid to keep us happy. I also met Ian in Cheltenham Town Hall during his last tour.
I always get a warm feeling inside when I tell people I saw them live at Manchester Apollo. A much cooler feeling when I can't recall how I lost the tee shirt. Bless you, Ian. Keep on doing what you do best, Wilco ... being luvverly! Best wishes to all the others who made this band legendary. x
Saw Ian Dury when they did a Stiff Records tour. Brilliant. They thre t-shirts into the crowd with "If it ain't Stiff it ain't worth a f***" on them (uncensored). Saw him again at the free concert at Crystal Palace which was arranged as an alternative to Charles and Diana's wedding. The police didn't stop anyone smoking dope and everyone started swimming in the pond in front of the stage. Fantastic day.
Brings back great memories...i miss Wilco, their was only one Wilco & Ian Dury....luvved Dr Feelgood, RIP Wilco & Ian Dury...Norman Roy Watt was a big influence in playing bass...fantastic....oh the good old days......it's really not in a healthy state the music business nowadays.....
Ian Wilko and the rest of the band are always guaranteed to cheer me up and make me smile when I hear them. That's not bad for a bunch of bleedin' blockheads and no mistake.
this clip is pure joy. Ian, you fuckin beautifully weird little English bugger, we miss you so much. goddamn i wish i'd seen this band...they influenced me terribly.
One of the greatest bands EVER, I remember seeing ID and the Blockheads back in '81, a gig I will remember until I die. Just sublime musicians, thanks for posting.
