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BUY THE CD
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The Blockheads may not be at the top of the charts, and they may not be a band you are familiar with, but their music has influenced many other bands, like Madness, Bad Manners, and a plethora of bands who emerged from the pub rock scene of the 1980s in the UK. They are one of the best bands to see live. In fact, after 35 years, they are still going strong, writing new material and playing to packed houses, which proves that you don’t have to constantly top the charts to remain firmly in the hearts of thousands of followers.
The Blockheads were once best known as the backing band of Ian Dury—famous in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s for a succession of hits, including “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick,” “Reasons to Be Cheerful,” and “What A Waste.” In 2010, a film was released about the life of Dury, their lead singer, called Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, and it received good reviews from cinema goers.
Formed from an amalgamation of The People Band (free form jazz musicians), Kilburn, and The High Roads (a pub rock band with a massive following in London), and Loving Awareness, who were the Radio Caroline house band, The Blockheads are all accomplished musicians. With Ian Dury as front man, they played second fiddle to his outrageous and provocative persona, but after he died in 2000, they had to decide whether to stay together or not.
The band did split for about three months before coming back together and going on tour. To their surprise, they found audiences willing and waiting. A new singer, Derek Hussey—a long-standing friend of Ian’s and the band—sax player (Davey Payne was fired in 1998 and replaced by Gilad Atzmon, although Davey makes occasionally returns to the band), and drummer (Charley Charles died in 1996 and was replaced by Dylan Howe and later by John Roberts) were found, and The Blockheads were back in business.
The other band members are accomplished musicians in their own right. John Turnbull plays for Bob Geldof, Norman Watt Roy (bass) plays for Wilko Johnson (and also played the famous opening bass line on Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s “Two Tribes“), and all of them played for countless musicians as backing and session players. The music has a punk influence and yet is not punk; it has a jazz influence but is not jazz; and it has a pub rock influence but is not pub rock. This is what makes The Blockheads stand alone in their class and what attracts large audiences to their gigs.
Their music continues to be a mix of pub rock, interspersed with songs that tell the tales of London-based characters, like reporter Byline Brown and prostitutes Ada and Patricia. Their audience continues to grow as fans include people who remember them from the ‘70s and ‘80s, as well as newcomers. Most of all, all gigs are loud, noisy, and great fun.
What makes The Blockheads stand alone is that they are unlike any other band. They have been asked to tour with people like Hugh Cornwell, The Damned, and other groups, but they prefer playing their own way, using various support acts in different venues. They believe in offering new acts a chance, too.
When you go to a Blockheads gig or listen to Blockhead music from their latest album Staring Down the Barrel, you find yourself relating to the music because the songs (now written by Chaz Jankel and Derek Hussey) tell stories of people like us: workers, lovers, and characters you will know and relate to. Add the brilliant music and hard hitting rock beats, and you will find it difficult to take the CD out of your player.
The Blockheads today play festivals, theatres, and smaller venues all over the UK. You can find a gig by checking the “Live” link at their website, TheBlockheads.com.
The future looks bright for the band. They are making a documentary for their 35th year, they have more live gigs around the UK next year, and they continue to go from strength to strength.
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