The definitive biography of Ian Dury, published on the tenth anniversary of his death.
Ian Dury
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'Will Birch's exemplary biography presents us with a much fuller and illuminating portrait of Dury than the forthcoming biopic. Birch's book is well considered in every aspect, inspired by huge admiration for its subject and the songs he wrote, but clear-sighted enough to be able to separate the facts from the embellished fictions about his past that Ian was prone at times to indulge himself.' --Uncut
'Makes a good case for including Dury's work and personality in any Brit-culture list of Reasons to be Cheerful.' --The Independent on Sunday
'The poet laureate of punk.' --The Sun
'One of British pop's most dazzling songwriters. But as a new book and film recall, he was also one of its angriest and most confrontational.' --Daily Telegraph
'Ian Dury had some life. Music scribe Will Birch's more warts than warts and all music biography of Lord Upminster, Ian Dury, charts the punk-era poet's life from childhood when he was stricken down with polio, to his triumph with the classic and still influential New Boots and Panties.'
--The Crack
'As a chronicler of Seventies England, Dury was the bovver boy to Ray Davies' Wildean fop and Will Birch is adept at tracing both the sources of Dury's lyrical gifts and the details that made up his evolving Mockney Geezer persona. He emerges as a complex, unlikable man, a portrait endorsed by the new film biopic Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll.
It is to Birch's credit that he creates a relatively sympathetic portrait of a man whose psychology was informed by his unconventional upbringing and twisted by his disability. Hampered by a withered arm and calliper-strapped leg due to contracting polio as a child, Dury used language as his weapon of choice, though he was not averse to a physical dust-up on occasion. It is an ugly, compelling story with last-minute redemption that sees Dury in his final years working as an actor and lyricist at the Royal Court and as an ambassador for Unicef.' --Daily Express
'I'm fascinated by Ian's life and how that came to be reflected in his music. The book does a fantastic job tracing the development of Dury's career. It also shows how Ian's life shaped his uniquely individualistic style.' --Peter Hook (former Joy Division and New Order bassist), Daily Mirror
'Makes a good case for including Dury's work and personality in any Brit-culture list of Reasons to be Cheerful.' --The Independent on Sunday
'The poet laureate of punk.' --The Sun
'One of British pop's most dazzling songwriters. But as a new book and film recall, he was also one of its angriest and most confrontational.' --Daily Telegraph
'Ian Dury had some life. Music scribe Will Birch's more warts than warts and all music biography of Lord Upminster, Ian Dury, charts the punk-era poet's life from childhood when he was stricken down with polio, to his triumph with the classic and still influential New Boots and Panties.'
--The Crack
'As a chronicler of Seventies England, Dury was the bovver boy to Ray Davies' Wildean fop and Will Birch is adept at tracing both the sources of Dury's lyrical gifts and the details that made up his evolving Mockney Geezer persona. He emerges as a complex, unlikable man, a portrait endorsed by the new film biopic Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll.
It is to Birch's credit that he creates a relatively sympathetic portrait of a man whose psychology was informed by his unconventional upbringing and twisted by his disability. Hampered by a withered arm and calliper-strapped leg due to contracting polio as a child, Dury used language as his weapon of choice, though he was not averse to a physical dust-up on occasion. It is an ugly, compelling story with last-minute redemption that sees Dury in his final years working as an actor and lyricist at the Royal Court and as an ambassador for Unicef.' --Daily Express
'I'm fascinated by Ian's life and how that came to be reflected in his music. The book does a fantastic job tracing the development of Dury's career. It also shows how Ian's life shaped his uniquely individualistic style.' --Peter Hook (former Joy Division and New Order bassist), Daily Mirror
Book Description
Widely described as 'punk's poet laureate', Ian Dury is a cultural icon. With his band The Blockheads, he exploded onto the television screen in 1978, appearing on Top of the Pops with his hit single 'What a Waste', followed later that year by 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick'. By now Ian was thirty-six and had worked hard for many years to reach this moment, struggling all the while to find acceptance inspite of the disability he suffered as a result of childhood polio. And yet fame, when it came, almost destroyed him. This groundbreaking and authoritative book gives the first in-depth and compelling account of the life of this charismatic yet complex artist. Author Will Birch interviewed Dury several times during his lifetime, and has also spoken to more than sixty people who were extremely close to Ian, including family members, fellow musicians, friends, lovers and business associates.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
You don't have to be a fan of The Diamond Geezer, or to be of an age (like me) and grown up knowing what Oi Oi! meant to enjoy this marvellous book. Easy to read and full of humorous and sad true stories about a man and his music. But more than this, a picture is painted of places and events and people that entertain. Be a Clever Trever and buy this. Read it more than once - you will want to!
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
'Hallo sausages...' were the only two words that Ian Dury managed of his autobiography, understandable as he was exhausted and enduring the final stages of the cancer that would kill him a few weeks later. Will Birch's remarkable biography let's Dury speak for himself utilising the author's interviews with him, his family, and the many people who met and worked with Dury. Birch has a secure grip on London's post flower power/hippie scene as it fractures and partially morphs via pub rock into punk,as well as developments on the fringes of reggae and rap. If you enjoyed Mat Whitecross's biopic 'Sex And Drugs And Rock And Roll' (2009) - with Andy Serkis's stunning portrayal of Dury primarily as a singer, Birch's wider lens records Dury's considerable talents in a variety of fields including his appalling behaviour to others whether family, friends, lovers or colleagues.
Dury did not commit to a career as singer until he was thirty - until then artist and painter seemed a more likely career, having trained at Walthamstow College of Art and the Royal College of Art and been taught by, among others, Peter Blake. On his marriage to the artist Elizabeth Rothmell, he described himself on the marriage licence as a `painter and freelance illustrator', he was at the time working for the Sunday Times. Over the last four decades of the Twentieth Century he would also be a photographer (under the pseudonym `Duncan Poundcake'), actor - both on stage and in films (with Polanski directing), raconteur, interviewer and teacher and charity worker - a role he relished towards the end of his life.... Read more ›
Dury did not commit to a career as singer until he was thirty - until then artist and painter seemed a more likely career, having trained at Walthamstow College of Art and the Royal College of Art and been taught by, among others, Peter Blake. On his marriage to the artist Elizabeth Rothmell, he described himself on the marriage licence as a `painter and freelance illustrator', he was at the time working for the Sunday Times. Over the last four decades of the Twentieth Century he would also be a photographer (under the pseudonym `Duncan Poundcake'), actor - both on stage and in films (with Polanski directing), raconteur, interviewer and teacher and charity worker - a role he relished towards the end of his life.... Read more ›
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Will Birch has written an excellent and authoritative biography which charts the lows and highs of Ian Dury during an incredibly eventful life. By having ready access to his musical peers, his family and other friends and acquaintances Will has built up a very well informed picture of a complex and multi-talented character. Ian's disability and difficult times, particularly when growing up, have not been shied away from, neither have they been allowed to distract the reader from a thoroughly well-researched and entertaining life story. Will has discussed how Ian's early experiences may have affected his temperament and attitude to life. Will also believes that they may also have given him added strength to cope with many ups and downs, especially during his tragic illness during his later life. Ian could apparently be domineering and cruel at times. However the book is littered with many episodes where he and peers have fallen out, only to get together again after a period of time, thus proving that his friends had major respect for his talents and an abiding affection for the man himself. Ian referred to his own "wordsmithery" - Will is no slouch in that direction. He has already proved that with his dry and witty lyrics for The Kursaal Flyers and many other artists. If you haven't already read Will's first book: "No Sleep Till Canvey Island" buy that too - hence the title of this review: "New Books and Panties!!"
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have three connections to the Blockheads, so it was easy for me to buy. I was delighted and read this in a week. As it says on the tin - definitive. Well written, chock full of information from those who knew the man. Will Birch has opened the vaults and delivered a 'warts and all' account of the life/times on the genious wordsmith (punk) poet laureate. Go see the movie and buy this book.
Format:Paperback
Quite simply a special book about a special bloke. Funny, sad, shocking and a great read that I read very quickly and enjoyed every page.
Format:Paperback
HONEST, WELL RESEARCHED, FAIR - WITH JUST ENOUGH SENTIMENT. THE BEST OF THE BOOKS ABOUT IAN OUT THERE BY FAR.
HIGHEST RECOMMEND.
HIGHEST RECOMMEND.
Format:Hardcover
excellent-informative-it gives a valuable insight into the 70's pub rock scene-a real warts and all depiction of an incredible man and the life he lived-told by those who were closest to him. there is only one drawback-more pictorial evidence of his artwork would cement the link between ian dury and his mentor, peter blake.(a small quibble.)
By VP
Format:Hardcover
As Ian Dury is practically a god (in my opinion), this is a must for the Ian and Blockheads fan. Well written and easy to read. Read it while on holiday. Can't wait for the paperback!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
book
Bought as present - first one I orered didn't arrive after four weeks due to poor carriers. Re ordered and pleased with item
Published on 29 July 2010 by Mrs. Rosamunye Hudson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Warts 'n' all
I thought this was an excellent, balanced and incisive biography. Even those committed Ian Dury fans such as myself who suspected that Ian might be a difficult and complex figure... Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2010 by Robin Webster
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