Ian flashes his Union Jack grin, 1978

At a surgery in Harley Street, Ian was measured for new crowns and fitted with a temporary veneer on his lower incisors. ‘Can you paint on the veneer?’ he enquired of the dentist, knowing it would soon be time to fly the flag. An hour later, he strode out into the spring sunshine, flashing a Union Jack grin. When Kosmo heard about the teeth he was on the phone to the press. (Photographer unknown)
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Stardom awaits these two dapper Kilburns

Style was all important in the early days of Kilburn and The High Roads. Their singer and mentor Ian Dury would frequently take out his tape measure to ensure that Keith Lucas and Humphrey Ocean weren't exceeding the regulation 14" bottoms on their neat white Jekylls.
Photograph courtesy of Ed Baxter, captured in Camden, 1973.

http://www.ed-baxter-photography.co.uk/

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Ouch! Omar whacks Ian - can you name the artist?

Le Caprice, 1985: 'All the films you've made since Lawrence of Arabia are rubbish,' Ian told the actor Omar Sharif, following a refreshing dinner at an exclusive London eatery. Diners looked up in disbelief as Sharif jumped from the table, throwing the first (and last) punch. There were no photographers around, but can you name the artist behind this picture? And the publication it appeared in? It's in the style of Guy Peelaert (of 'Rock Dreams' fame) and was kindly sent to me by Mick Gallagher of the Blockheads (thanks Mick), but its origin remains a mystery.

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Ian winds up, Ian winds down, Bristol 1974

This great photograph was taken by Alain Le Kim, minutes after a sweat-soaked Ian Dury came off stage at Bristol Granary Club in 1974 where he appeared with Kilburn and The High Roads. In the audience was Ian's art college tutor and mentor Peter Blake, who spent most of the set in front of the stage, mesmerised by Ian's performance. 'Ian would wind people up,' recalls Blake. 'At one point he tried to get the other Kilburns to throw the man who ran the Granary Club off the balcony!'

Photo copyright Alain Le Kim

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Announcing a 'fab' new book about Ian Dury

My biography of Ian Dury is due to be published in 2010, a year that marks the tenth anniversary of Ian's death and also sees the release of 'Sex And Drugs And Rock And Roll', a biopic starring Andy Serkis.
I felt compelled to write Ian's biography shortly after completing 'No Sleep Till Canvey Island - The Great Pub Rock Revolution'. During my research for that book I met with Ian a number of times, primarily to talk about the pub rock era. My extensive interviews with Ian form the backbone of my new book with valued contributions from scores of interviewees including Peter Blake, Humphrey Ocean, Denise Roudette, Charlie Gillett, Dave Robinson of Stiff Records, Malcolm McLaren, members of Kilburn and the High Roads and the Blockheads and Sophy, Jemima and Baxter Dury.
I will be writing here about the evolution of the biography and its path to publication, hopefully with some interview snippets and photographs.