Details

This play by Jeff Merrifield (The Dafne Work) sets out to reveal Ian Dury's flawed genius by exploring three phases of his infamous life between 1980 and 2000; the man at the top of his game, the man who nearly blew-it and the man who gave everything his best. The scenes are set in locations that define his life during each phase and in discourse with his minder/road manager, Spider Rowe, the enigmatic man behind the music, and stage persona is gradually revealed. Commonly regarded as a 'diamond geezer' or, 'Durex' to his friends, Ian Dury rose to fame during the punk and new wave era of rock music in the late 70s. Crippled in childhood, Dury studied at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe and in 1964 won a place at the Royal College of Art. He is considered the only man to have successfully combined the energy and excitement of Rock 'n' Roll and funk with the bawdy humour, wit and home-spun philosophy of music-hall and of his native Essex. By 1978 Dury's lyrical dexterity was rewarded with a Top Ten single, swiftly followed by the No.1 hit 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick'. His 1981 his song 'Spasticous Autisticus' intended to mark the International Year of Disabled Persons was banned by the BBC because the lyrics which included 'I dribble, when I nibble', whilst composed by a disabled person, were deemed to be uncompromising. Shortly, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer Dury married his girlfriend, sculptor Sophy Tilson and collaborated with Madness on their first original album in 14-years. His final performance was at a charity concert in aid of Cancer Bacup in February 2000 at The London Palladium.

Creatives/Company

Author: Jeff Merrifield