Chaz Jankel (aka Chas Jankel) - Guitar, Keyboards and Vocals
Mick Gallagher (aka Mickey Gallagher) - Hammond Organ, Piano and Synths
Norman Watt-Roy - Bass
John Turnbull - Guitar and Vocals
Derek The Draw (aka Derek Hussey) - Vocals
Dylan Howe - Drums
Gilad Atzmon - Sax
Davey Payne - Saxophone man (if we are in the West Country!)
On The Bench
Lee Harris - Damage Control and Guitar Dep
Dave Lewis - Sax
John Roberts - Drums
Mark Snowling - Bass
Ian Close - Sax
Mitt Gamon - Guest Harmonicist
Past Members
Ian Dury - Wordsmith and Vocals
Charley Charles - Drums
Stephen Monti - Drums
Merlin Rhys-Jones - Guitar and Songwriting
Will Parnell - Percussion
The initial line-up of our band comprised: Ian Dury (vocals), Chaz Jankel (guitar/keyboards), John Turnbull (guitar), Mickey Gallagher (keyboards), Davey Payne (saxophone), Charley Charles (drums) and Norman Watt-Roy (bass). Stiff Records signed Ian in 1977 and his first single (co-written with Chaz), "Sex & Drugs & Rock 'n' Roll, became our signature tune at every gig. New Boots And Panties the classic album which featured Chaz, Norman and Charley, received superlative reviews and spent more than a year in the UK album chart. Ians' dry wit, sensitivity and brilliant lyrical caricatures were evident in songs such as "Clevor Trever", "Billericay Dickie", "Wake Up And Make Love To Me", the beautifully poignant "My Old Man" and the tribute song "Sweet Gene Vincent".
The success of the album was partly due to the fact that these songs had been written over a period of some years by Ian and most successfully with Chaz. By the time they were finally recorded, with Chaz at the helm, no rearranging was needed; they were already perfect.
We became front-page tabloid news and briefly crossed over from critical acclaim to worldwide commercial acceptance with our UK number 1 "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" in December 1979. The following album Do It Yourself was similarly inspired, although lacked the impact of the debut, and by our third album Laughter we had teamed up with ex-Dr. Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson and lost the co-writing partnership of Chaz. We broke up soon after this.
Like many before him, Ian turned to acting and appeared in several television plays and films in the mid-to-late 80s. Among those were the movies The Cook The Thief His Wife & Her Lover, Judge Dredd and Hearts Of Fire, and the plays A Jovial Crew, The Country Wife, and The Queen And I: A Play With Songs some of which Mick wrote the music for. In 1989, Ian and Mick(who it should be noted was once The Clash's keyboard player) wrote the excellent musical Apples.
Ian developed bowel cancer in 1996, but responded well to chemotherapy. He was well enough to travel to third world countries as UNICEF's goodwill ambassador. The cancer returned with a vengeance at the end of 1997 after we had recorded (the warmly-received) Mr. Love Pants and Ian reunited with us in 1998 (now with Gilad Atzmon on Sax taking over from Davey who has been a family man in Cornwall since 1997) and Dylan Howe (on drums - taking over from Stephen Monti who had so finely filled the drum chair for most of the 90's from Charley who very sadly passed away due to cancer in 1990 and is greatly missed by us all) . Many of the songs on Mr Lovepants had been written for a number of years, and once again the fact that they had evolved into their own arrangements over a period of time made the songs stronger.
Although very unwell Ian continued to make live appearances with us and was seen and heard discussing his illness throughout this time, he even found time to finish his swansong with us in the shape of Ten More Turnips From The Tip right until a month before his death in March 2000.
Ian was an amazing character and a man of many different talents. The way he dealt with his terminal illness was remarkable, but ultimately he will be remembered for the cockney rhyming slang and humour of the highly original catalogue of songs we share with him...
We could go on about how Robbie Williams recorded with us and how Charlie, Mick, Norman and John played on Relax (perhaps even helping to write that very famous Frankie Goes To Hollywood track with Trevor Horn) but we won't!
In 2001 Derek The Draw (who had been in the extended Blockhead family for years prior to Ian's death) joined the group as a vocalist - sharing duties with Johnny and a guy called Lee Harris came on board as our caretaker. In 2004 we released Where's The Party?, in 2005 a live DVD and it's now our 30th anniversary! We are looking forward to releasing a brand new album of original material in the Summer.
Great gig at Glastonbury glad we made one gig that weekend ha ha!! hope to see you soon gone punk trance a little lately, czech out our new material up on our player now, new ska tune called 'i hate cebeebes' on it way soon much love Tor Rubble formely of the Toretz and Ali Luia xx
Hello guys saw you live for the first time at South Shields last year, it was worth the wait you one of fav british bands, Mr Watt Roy you playing superb mate..
Marvel at LIVE Burlesque from resident troupe BELLE DIABLO: *Treating you to her own brand of twisted comedy burlesque is your sexy hostess FANNY DIVINE*
*Getting you all hot under the collar, firey neo-burlesque starlett MISTY LUX*
*Shimmying for your pleasure, the fabulous and seductive DAISON MERRIERE*
Plus more HOT burlesque action:
*From the Deville Dolls, Nottingham's finest teaser SCARLETT DAGGERS* *Mixing politics with burlesque it's the fantasic HEATHER SWEET*
*Graceful tease from one of the UK's top Pin-Ups, MS ZARA ANN*
*Slinky striptease from the very sexy FRANKII WILDE*
PLUS: *As seen on 'Britain's Got Talent' Live Magical Escapology and Eyewatering Contortionism from the very VERY bendy ** Mr CHRIS CROSS ** AND:
*Hilarious Surreal adult Puppet Show from PICO and PUPPETUAL MOTION* WITH:
*Deviant Comedy from your host JOE SPARROW*
*Playing everything from swing to rock DJ TREBOR
AND NOT FORGETTING:
*Unique handmade clothing and accessories from CALL GIRL CLOTHING*
Hi guys, just wanna say what a great gig you played at The London Music Show. You just seem to get better and better. Best band over the whole weekend, nice one. All the best for the rest of the year.
May I take the cheeky route once more and sneak a plug for Breathing Space at the Shire Hall at Howden on Saturday June 21st on to your comments please? Full details via the link to the Howden Live website on me myspace page.
after spending the day at the recording studio yesterday, we have uploaded one of the demo tracks! please have a listen and let us know what you think! xxx behaveya
30 years ago, today, I was made "Champion Blockhead". Despite being just a competition, it really did change my life. It opened my eyes to what was possible and opened so many doors for me. Admittedly I had to barge my way through many of those doors, nevertheless, they had been opened. So. thank you Blockheads, both alive and passed on, for giving me an enjoyable and interesting life.
