That bass line ought to be the British national anthem. It's immeasurably epic.

If we are praising the rhythm section we must not forget the wonderful Charley Charles on drums. RIP.

Can we all take a moment to bow our heads to Norman Watt-Roy, who is one of the most underrated bassists of all time. Fucking Genius.

Norman Watt-Roy on creating one of the best bass hooks of all time: "I was relatively new to music, I thought I was getting paid by the note." Legend.

everybody going off about the bass line (and don't get me wrong the bass line is great) but are we just gonna ignore this guy DUAL WIELDING SAXOPHONES!!

His whole band was absolutely FIRST RATE.

How does Norman keep his bass line going for that long? Ridiculously awesome.

Norman Watt-Roy is one of the gods of bass guitar. That is all.

Played the Bass for 45 years and still this is one of the most challenging bass-lines ever. Bloody epic!

The drummer... steady - ab brill!!

Thats what i call a tight band having fun getting low down and funky 👍👍👍 awesome Performance of an awesome piece of music - epic 💜🔥💜🙏🌈👽🖖😘

Geezer literally playing two saxophones at the same time live on stage and it's still not as impressive as that bassline. Norman Watt-Roy is a fucking savage.

When I leave this life I want to go out to that bass line.

Everybody`s talking about the bass. That´s great. What about the leading prick? Mr. Ian Dury. What a voice!

The bass player is insane.

The stamina you need to keep that pace up on your right hand for the bassline is phenomenal. I'm almost sure Ian was prolonging sections of it a little live sometimes to tease Norman. You can hear where Norman moves to the octave up either for a break ( frets are smaller there and it's less of a stretch), or to try trigger Ian to sing a verse. Brilliant stuff. What an absolute machine! |There's as lovely bit at the start where he trips over himself but he gets his mojo back rapidly and is unflappable til the end Long Live Norman Watt-Roy!

One of the greatest bass lines. Take a bow Norman! 👏🎸

The backing band ( Blockheads) Truly Loved Ian and none more so than Norman Watt Roy, I met him briefly last year only 2 weeks after he suffered a heart attack, he said he was back working again, I said to him " you will never stop will you" he looked at me and said No, NWR is a true legend of the music industry and a bloody humble and nice fellow, respect to you Sir!

I am truly blown away on how good this band is....every single guy is top flite at what they do.

Everything about this performance is perfect. God I wish had a chance to seen this live. The saxaphone player is fucking amazing. Bless you blockheads x

Norman Watt-Roy is criminally underrated

One of the greatest monster bass lines ever, and right up front in the mix like it should be (unlike the recorded version, where I have to strain to hear it)

When I was an apprentice mechanic in 77, I turned the radio up to full volume in the garage workshop when this came on. My miserable foreman would go ballistic.

NORMAN WATT-ROY fckn legend 👏

WOW THIS WAS SPECIAL! Mind blown by the time we get to the sax..... xx

As a teenage bass player here in the u.s.I remember hearing this for the first time and being totally blown away by the lyrics tight band and the extraordinary bassist after that Itried to get my hands on every recording I could

Tightest band around in their day, class, Norman Watt-Roy?, best bass player of them all!

Whats amazing about the Blockheads is they are still going strong, after the sad loss of Ian Dury RIP...

What talented geezers they were and are

That was Awesome Amazing double sax

What a bass line! A few years ago I met Norman and Chas, really lovey people, talented guys.

Even knowing how to play the bass line is little help at this tempo....cramp....the guy is a machine.....amazing

They were known back in the day for being 1 of the best live bands.

Damn that sax is a killer!

The blockheads were the best British backing band of the 70s and 80s. An incredible bunch of musicians - highly underrated

What a sax man ian dury and blockheads what a blend of extremely talented musicians never to be repeated blessed we had them the bass player is in a whole Fantastic go bass a master of the strings kippers smelly knickers to reading this ha ha you know now go

What an absolute classic version of a classic. Wish I could play that bass line.

Back when music was music. Wonderfully creative, edgy and oozing talent. Outstanding by all involved.

I was at this gig. What a band. What a poet.

What a Genius!,, great band, music, time!,, OH what we have lost?. Love 2 all & keep enjoying the music.....

Ian,, if you can hear me in the heavens above .... that bit of Harry Billafonte line. midtune, did you no favors. No matter,,, still luv u. Greetings from Ireland 😍😍

the best live version that i've seen so far amazing.

One of the best of all time live versions of a song Seamless rendition better than the studio song

Question: Has there ever been a better and more skilled an joyful band in the history of mankind? Answer: No there hasn't.

I was 16 years old when I first heard Ian Dury and Blockheads in 2004. I was going to London for couple of weeks from Scotland and wanted some music. I never left and this music became my sound track. It continues to be my music for the best city on earth.

Norman Watt-Roy is a god on bass.......unbelievable!!!

This incredible, the entire band. Ian Dury,,,,, We Luv u !!! like a rhythm stick.

Fk this never gets old, everyone at the top of their game at the perfect venue ---- all bass players go to heaven son, all of 'em......

The legendary Ian Dury

I was gonna make a comment about how awesome the bass line is but I can see you lot have said it all ......cheers..........

Ian knew how to to get the best sounds: he chose the best bloody musicians he could find. What a crackingly good base player Norman is oi oi oi!

Got to be up there for Greatest Basslines Of All Time.

Surely the greatest ever "backing band" which of course they are . Backing band ...........? No way , Ian and the band fed off each other in such a way that it was all just perfect .

Charlie Charles & Norman Watt-Roy! One of the BEST rhythm sections ever!

That band, especially the bassist, is off the hook!

This is the best version of this song. I hope, I pray, their music will continue. Norman Watt-Roy you will never be bested. And a humble man to boot.

Forgot how good this band was. Haven't listened to them in years. This is why I love youtube. Great song!

Everyone is performing at a five star level here, you just want to keep on a repeat loop. Fantastic long live The Blockheads

Heavy dury weighty blackheads rest in Power kiddo🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿😎

There is honestly nothing better than this. The funkiest, coolest, groove. I'll never stop loving it.

Got to be one of the best live performances EVER!!

Had the pleasure of meeting Norman Watt-Roy at Milton Keynes station of all places recently. Absolute legend. Nuff said......

My stepfather introduced me to this band when new boots cameo it have loved them since long it ago

Legendary band at a legendary venue, this is a national treasure.

Norm is the guv of funky rock bass and charlie fucking soild r i p charlie

Norman Watt Roy, the best bass player ever

I can honestly say I first heard this on the radio in my old man's car when I was 8. I loved it then and I love it all the more now. What an incredible band. Absolutely stellar musicians the lot of them and with with Ian Dury at the helm it's hard to think of a better British band.

It’s NUTS just how good this is!

*_The Funky Bassist here, Norman Watt Roy is really underrated, plus he's very skilled_* *_and you can tell it by watchin' him playin' this funky bassline so easily._* *_One of the BEST basslines EVER written

Unbelievable Ian Dury! Ibought all LPs when I was young❤

Imagine these guys in today’s smaller venues without seating? We would have a blast!!!

Gorgeous Charlie, my good friend R.I.P I often think of you xxx

Fuckin cool drummer. Love the 16ths on the hats, not quite straight, not fully swung, somewhere in between.

OH AYE! Thats when Ian nails it.... The perfect moments? Every member of the bockheads is Ian.

One of the greatest basslines of all time

Love Ian Dury here with long hair this song is the best ever gets me every time, great live band and just listen to that voice love it, What a song to leave behind for us to hear immortal, Miss this Man!

Norman Watt - Roy genius on bass.

The shear joy of the musicians and audience is great! Everyone enjoying themselves. Just great!

I tried to play this bassline at tempo and my eyeballs popped out.

The best is: there is so much humor and ironic in these music! Can the other people not see this? It is unique!

All the members of the group are excellent!!!

still a classic after all these years....

Great song, amazing tempo by the drummer, and bass. Dbl sax to the max.

The Blockheads are an amazing funk band. I was always focused on Ian, but the more I listen the more I admire the Blockheads. The rumble of the bass, the amazing drumming - funky keyboards - fabulous. And a great song Anyone here see them live??

Brilliant. I was only 16 In 1979 still gives me a shiver. And Ian wrote it. Underrated band by far.

NORMAN WATT ROY!!! Fucking genius.

Mr dury sir you are missed

Now that's a concert I'd go back in time for!!

right wicked sax solo dave very roland kirk great high notes in there man

how underated was this fantastic band watched them live to many years ago ian was brilliant

Still sends shivers done my spine WOW

Monster Bass.

It should be split screen. Ian and Norman.

Absolutely cannot be equalled. We miss the master of Funk and Lyrics. Perfect.

The bass part is tough enough at the tempo on the single. Its a good few BPM faster here!

Norman Watt Roy, got the least ovation, yet its HIM who makes the song !

The drummer kills me. Not all the videos have the same intro on Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll. But that opening drum roll is sexy all in itself.

Brilliant bassist. I was practising this bassline this morning and it's mindblowing.

HOLD ON TO YOUR STRUCTURE a very apt title cos this lot could rip it apart. What a band and what a frontman. I have seen them live and they blew me away. R.I.P Ian and Charlie and pleased to hear wilko is still with us. Respect to all you Blockheads all you Blockheads

Great version of the tune. The double-sax and "Scarlet Ribbons" interludes! Thanks for this celebration of British Nihilism!