The Blockheads
The Blockheads
Biography
Formed in 1977 to promote Ian Durys' album 'New Boots and Panties' on the first Stiff Records tour of the U.K. Chaz Jankel, Norman Watt-Roy, Charlie Charles, John Turnbull and Mick Gallagher became known as 'The Blockheads' In 1978 released 'What a Waste' that reached number five in the U.K. charts. They were then joined by saxophonist Davey Payne and toured the U.S.A supporting Lou Reed across North America ending with their own dates in California.
In 1978 Chaz composed 'Hit me with your Rhythm Stick' with Ian, and in 1979 had a number one hit record with it in the U.K. They went on to record the 'Do it Yourself' album and toured Europe and the U.K. recording 'Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3' in Rome. Released as a single in late 1979 it reached number three in the U.K. charts.
In 1980 Wilko Johnson joined to record and release a third album called 'Laughter' and released 'I Want to be Straight' and 'Supermans Big Sister' as singles. They toured throughout 1981 in the U.K and Europe, ending the year with a tour of Australia.
In 1982 Ian Dury & The Blockheads disbanded and were not to play together again until 1987 when they went out to Japan to play three shows, disbanding again until 1990 when the death of Charlie Charles in September of that year re-united them to play two Benefit gigs at The Forum, Camden Town in aid of Charlies' family. The band recorded a live album 'Warts & Audience' at the Brixton Academy in December 1990.
In 1994 the band were invited to play the Madstock Festival in Finsbury Park which led to a series of hit and run gigs in Europe, Ireland, the U.K.and Japan throughout the rest of 1994 and 1995. In March 1996 Ian was diagnosed with cancer and, after recovering from an operation, was determined to write another album.
To this end The Blockheads went into rehearsal in August 1996 and began recording. The album 'Mr. Lovepants' was released in 1998 and in May, Ian & The Blockheads hit the road again.
The band now including Dylan Howe and Gilard Atzmon continued to play gigs throughout 1999. The last performance by Ian Dury & The Blockheads was February 6th 2000 at The London Palladium. Ian died at 9am on 27th March 2000.
At this point the band had to make a decision to either stop or continue. The choice was made and the band have continued making albums and touring the world. Now after nearly a decade since Ian passed away The Blockheads still perform to packed out venues around the world.
A new fan base has continued to build on the on the foundations already laid.
Now after over thirty years The Blockheads are still building their wall of sound and it just gets bigger and better.
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To book the band please contact Peter Barton at Rock Artist Management.
Tel 01200 444544 - 07712628366
emailrockartistmgmt@aol.com
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Recent reviews
The Fiddlers, 11.12.2010
By Elfyn Griffith
Well knock me down with a feather, look who's here... just the tightest white funk band to merge from this island in decades.
The Blockheads were Ian Dury's marvellous musical platform from which he could launch his highly original and brilliant vaudevillian songs. They played a superb blend of funk, music hall, ska and r'n'b embellished with jazz touches, and well over thirty years on from their earliest days with Dury they still do.
The eccentric punk poet laureate genius that was Dury may be dead and gone, but he is immortalised forever in his music and lyrics, and, with the film that came out earlier this year, there's a kind of need out there for Dury's material which, gladly, seems stronger than ever. The Blockheads, save for two other original members, are still intact and years of playing and recording together have made these veterans as tight and as rhythmically pleasing a band as you're likely to see.
As should be the case really - after all the core of the group existed pre-Blockheads as the Loving Awareness Band, forming with Dury's own Kilburn & the High Roads in the 1970s to create the unforgettable Brit-funk medleys of Ian Dury and the Blockheads.
Taking over vocal duties these days is Dury's old friend and minder Derek 'The Draw' Hussey whose sandpaper estuary vocals do the songs proud. Chaz Jankel, the songwriting partner and musical brain behind much of Dury's great stuff provides his distinctively airy keyboards, John Turnbull is still on guitar, the ever-animated Norman Watt-Roy still on bass, although the other original, keyboardist Mickey Gallagher, wasn't here tonight. Guitarist Lee Harris, saxman Gilad Atzmon and drummer Dylan Howe (son of Yes frontman Steve Howe, pop-pickers...) made up the rest.
But 'made-up' doesn't begin to explain the quality of musicianship here, the tightness and the fluency which at times is like the Average White Band meets the Rolling Stones, with, as mentioned, those ska and jazz touches adding and colouring great rhythmic textures . Comfortable and familiar yet solid and seductive would maybe have it.
We get a generous bag of great Blockheads material tonight, 'If I was With a Woman' playing as we enter the club, 'Inbetweenies', 'Clevor Trevor' , 'Wake Up and Make Love With Me' a handful of the Blockheads more recent post-Dury songs - which have a similar flavour and lyrical influence (how can they not?! ) but somehow lack that something extra while still having the quality of music - and the last single Dury ever recorded with the band, 'Dance Little Rude Boy'.
A really strong climaxing last bunch of numbers, 'Sweet Gene Vincent', 'What a Waste', Sex and Drugs and Rock'n'Roll', 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick' and the fitting finale of 'Blockheads' brings a, how shall I put it, bleedin' good show to its end.
There ain't half been some clever bastards...
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Waterside Arts Centre October 2010
THE idea of seeing The Blockheads without Ian Dury seemed wrong at first. A bit like fish without chips or a drinking session without a dodgy takeaway on the way home.
Five minutes into their set at the Waterside Arts Centre and my initial misgivings had totally disappeared. In Derek the Draw the band have an equally accomplished front man, even if he looks like he should be casting spells rather than delivering classic pop songs. There will only ever be one Ian Dury of coutse, but Derek has the charisma to carry an audience with him and have it eating out of the palm of his hand.
When The Blockheads piled on stage they have the demeanour of a group of mates who have decided to make some music for a bit of a laugh. They may not take themselves seriously, but that shouldn't detract from the fact that they're seriously talented musicians. Chas Jankel's mastery of the piano and the guitar was enough to leave musical wannabes weeping and Norman Watt-Roy's bass playing was a joy to behold.
Musical highlights ranged from Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll to What A Waste and the superb Sweet Gene Vincent. Near the end of the gig Derek the Draw looked up to the heavens as if the late Ian Dury was there looking down on his former band mates. For a moment it felt like this much loved musical icon was in the room with us. Who knows, maybe he was.
* Star rating - ****
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CONCERT DATES
February 2012
Saturday 18th The Longfield Suite, Prestwich. Manchester. M25 1AY , Tel 0161 253 7227
Friday 24th Jazz Cafe, London
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April 2012
Saturday 28th Harpenden Public Halls, Harpenden
Sunday 29th, The Great British Alternative Festival, Butlins, Minehead. With From The Jam, Boomtown Rats, The Damned, The Beat, Anti Mowhere League, UK Subs, Eddie and The Hot Rods, Dr Feelgood, Nine Below Zero, Department S and many more
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May 2012
Saturday 19th Bridgewater
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June 2012
Friday 8th Cheese and Grain Frome
Wednesday 27th Spain tbc
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July 2012
Saturday 7th Festival To be anounced, Yorkshire
Sunday 8th Festival To be anounced, Yorkshire
Sunday 22nd Lost Weekend Festival, Rutland Water
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August 2012
Sunday 19th Isle Of Wight
Saturday 25th Date booked To be announced
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September 2012
Saturday 1st Bath Tbc
Sunday 2nd Bath Tbc
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October 2012
Friday 19th Waterside Arts Centre Sale, Manchester
Saturday 20th Mill Arts, Banbury
Sunday 21st Pavilion Theatre, Cromer Pier. Norfolk, NR27 9HE. Box Office 01263 512495
www.deckchairproductions.co.uk
Saturday 27th near Swansea
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November 2012
Friday 9th Brighton To be confirmed
Saturday 10th Corn Exchange, Hertford
Friday 16th Holmfirth Picture Dome To be confirmed
Saturday 17th Astor Theatre, Deal
01304 370 220
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December 2012
Saturday 1st Mick Jagger Centre. Dartford
Saturday 8th Colchester Arts Centre
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Recent reviews
Waterside Arts Centre October 2010
THE idea of seeing The Blockheads without Ian Dury seemed wrong at first. A bit like fish without chips or a drinking session without a dodgy takeaway on the way home.
Five minutes into their set at the Waterside Arts Centre and my initial misgivings had totally disappeared. In Derek the Draw the band have an equally accomplished front man, even if he looks like he should be casting spells rather than delivering classic pop songs. There will only ever be one Ian Dury of coutse, but Derek has the charisma to carry an audience with him and have it eating out of the palm of his hand.
When The Blockheads piled on stage they have the demeanour of a group of mates who have decided to make some music for a bit of a laugh. They may not take themselves seriously, but that shouldn't detract from the fact that they're seriously talented musicians. Chas Jankel's mastery of the piano and the guitar was enough to leave musical wannabes weeping and Norman Watt-Roy's bass playing was a joy to behold.
Musical highlights ranged from Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll to What A Waste and the superb Sweet Gene Vincent. Near the end of the gig Derek the Draw looked up to the heavens as if the late Ian Dury was there looking down on his former band mates. For a moment it felt like this much loved musical icon was in the room with us. Who knows, maybe he was.
* Star rating - ****
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