Great to see someone doing their research and showing genuine interest in some of our music heroes from the UK my favourite eras of British music

This one takes me back, such a cool Band! I appreciate them so much more now I’m older. 🙏❤️

I was at 'junior school' age 10/11 when Ian Dury was first in the charts or on music shows. He represented rebellion and his voice echoed the dissatisfied young who were waking up to a world totally at odds with mum and dad's views. I remember feeling suddenly resistant to the traditional British world view. Ian Dury was also a polio sufferer and was one of the first 'disabled' artists to perform on TV. He is a hero and an icon . It was one of the first dissenting voices that challenged British status quo. His message was liberating at the time. Love to you Ian xx

Ian Dury is the governor, Huge influence on me

Ian Duty and the Blockheads did a song called Spasticus Artisticus which he did for a charity which is about his veiw/life the authorities did not like it. This song was chosen on the closing ceremony of the 2012 Paraplegic games sung by the disabled who had a choice if the wanted to cover this song with with the scientist Hawkins promoting it.

The blockheads was so ahead of their time iconic

Shout out to Norman Watt-Roy's incredible bass lines...

What a legend, I can't even begin to imagine how much he had to overcome to become such an incredible artist, and he was an artist. Spasticus Autisticus was considered a total outrage, the fact that Tina Weymouth was involved, links heavily with the musical symmetry of Talking Heads, of course in recent times we also appreciated that David Byrne had Asperger's.

Their opus was Reasons To Be Cheerful Part 3 - incredible band live.

Amazing 😮 just fuckin Amazing. Thanks for the upload

I have always loved all of Ian Drury and the Blockheads songs, I still do.

I thought he was a little weird back in the day but I still enjoyed his songs. Now I appreciate his unique character and brilliant talent . Thank you for the memory Lane.

Hi Driving with Todd. With respect, you've sort of missed the point. Ian isn't saying that taking on any of those professions (lawyer, bus driver etc) would have been a waste. He's saying, in a very British, ironic way, what most "right thinking people", whoever they are, would say: "you could have been a lawyer, but look at you, fronting a 6 piece band. What a waste". He beautifully counters it with "Rock'n Roll don't mind" (not "I don't mind"), making the point, I think, that Rock'n Roll doesn't expect people to follow traditional paths. Your videos are great, by the way.

They and he were magnificent and unique, standing out in a mass of turbulent music at the time. Sadly forgotten I fear, thank you my friend for keeping this fabulous performer's work available. My God we need his sublime work in this homogeneous age. Keep up the good work. 👍👍😃😃

I think he’s got an underrated voice. It’s very smooth at times.

Reasons to be cheerful another great song

Geez what a doozy, some of the best keyboard work ever - piano, synth, organ. Love the Zappa bit in the middle.

Utterly unapologetic for his choices and really inspirational to a teenage me. Watt-Roy's bass is incredible. Always wondered whether the music hall was an influence lyrics.

Great song, I havn't heard this song for many years. The music of my youth, Great TEE shirt Stiff records had so many amazing bands signed up to them, The UK band Madness had many hits whilst singed to the lable. I would recommend watching the official videos to the song Shut Up, One Step Beyond and Baggy Trousers. Keep up the good work.

Ian Dury was just a fantastic poet

❤️ his voice.

Fantastic. "Hit me with your rythm stick", another great track.

Remember hearing him for the first time on the Annie Nightingale Sunday afternoon show on Radio 1 in about 78/9....co-incided with A level revision...Clever Trevor was an early one I think...loved his lyrics, even when you've misheard them it's great to find out what they really are

The Blockheads have an interesting story in their own right. It starts with a mad but genius Irishman called O' Rahilly, a rusty ship in the north sea, and a need for some promo music for a lady by the name of Caroline

And to think this was mainstream chart music then - those were the days!

My ex wife went to the gig in Leicester aged 15 - they had nowhere to sleep so asked for accom. Her Polish dad said NO. 🤣 Ken. England

This is my favourite Ian Dury & The Blockheads song 😃 and I have it on 7” vinyl !! Although I didn’t actually buy it until about 5 years ago from a 2nd hand seller on eBay 😆

Brilliant post man i done late 70s early 80s .it was mental. All good mate .

Back when I used to listen to Dury I didn’t have the videos and couldn’t really have a full appreciation for him as an entertainer. I also really didn’t appreciate the band as much as I do now. Just thought they were great songs back then

What about - "There haven't have been some clever bast***ds?? absolute class!!!! Ian Dury at his best and cynical

I like the way you interpret all the other jobs as being a waste - I think the normal interpretation is that being in a band is a waste. But it's clever and cool that it can be taken either way.

For me, "What a Waste" sounds like how well-meaning "sensible" kept nagging him about career choice. I also love his post Stiff records.

You probably know that he was sometimes called The Bard of Upminster - Upminster being a London outlier. I once had the honour of sharing the stage with him when he was with his previous band, Kilburn and the High Roads.

The absolutely brilliant In Dury..

I was quite young, (from the UK) and mostly remember 'Rhythm Stick' and 'Clever Trevor' got a lot of airplay, less so 'Sex&Drugs', probably because of the title? I always felt cool that he said Tigar Bay in HMWYRS, as it was local to me. It was an area in Cardiff, Wales, which has been wiped off the map now, due to re-development. But back then, it was a buzz to hear it mentioned on national radio in the song, lol. As for What a Waste, I don't remember it getting airplay. Now days listen to it and his other stuff.

exactly. Damn right with every comment.

Great analysis Todd, really enjoyed your commentary and this track has got to be up their.

Todd, your so great doing this; not a waste :-)

Magnificent 👍

I grew up with this music in the UK, I'd say what was going on is people here at least considered punk and new wave kind of arty elite bs so we got what was labelled pubrock . Dr feelgood! But I love new wave, krautrock just as much. Good review my friend

Yes I have this single! (And it's in a picture sleeve)!

It would've done ok in U.S. if released later, into the 80's... They were ahead of the time...What❗Nuh-uh! Aussie girl here, f... that No no no, he was RIGHT ON time in UK & here In Australia 😎 America was behind the times. 1976 UK ~ Punk was first with the Sex Pistols 1980 ~ New Wave was emerging. Ian Dury was Punk! I lived it🎵

His last album was Mr. Lovepants.

"A Tribe Called Quest" sampled this along with 'Walk on a wild side".

The blockheads were touring upto the start of COVID, but Derek the drawer, Ian's friend who took over on vocals passed away a few weeks ago and don't know if they will be back.

The line is, 'what a waste, what a waste, Rock & Roll don't mind' It's also NOT about wasting his time doing all those things, it's about the waste of time his life IS, & he's regretting not doing those other things.

Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll WAS with the Blockheads, and he wasn't saying what a waste to be all those things but a waste NOT to have a vocation of some sort - tho he didn't mind coz he was having so much fun. The 'wallpaper' album is Do It Yourself.

Ian Dury had polio as a child and was paralysed on one side and walked with a stick . Underrated singer song writer.

Rock'n'Roll don't mind

Rock n Roll don't mind

Reasons to be cheerful part lll please please please Todd❤️

So I guess, I'm the first to point out that the amplifiers are faced backwards. The band having a bit of fun with with the then common practice of shooting a performance video on a stark white background. The Knack's "My Sharona" and Tony Basil's "Mickey" and "Be stiff" were also filmed that way.

Dude... the words are... "What a waste, What a waste, Rock and Roll don't mind."

What a waste, what a waste, ROCK N ROLL, don't mind.

Mickey Gallagher played with the Clash

What a waste what a waste but I don't mind.

Ian fury very English humour

Just cause I ain't ever had non never Not ever ever ever Whatever

I don't think he says "but I don't mind", to me it sounds like "rock 'n roll don't mind".

If you have the original vinyl of stiff singles read the run offs

He's being ironic ..... he's saying what his teachers and family possibly said to him when he chose to be a musician

If you want a real laught listen to Razzel In My Pocket

Ripped off by rap group