'Looking Back At Me' by Wilko Johnson and Zoe Howe

Talking of blockheads (see last review here) here we have former Blockhead Wilko Johnson's autobiography (of sorts).

This book is chock full of photos and memorabilia from Wilko's life which takes up over half of the pages of this book making it into a coffee table book rather than a straightforward biography.

Obviously the idea of Wilko sitting down and writing his memoirs seems totally at odds with the man we all picture in our minds. This book is actually a collection of interviews between Zoe and Wilko then carefully edited and arranged into chronological order.

The book is a blast. You can’t help but read it all in Wilko’s distinctive voice which just adds to the fun. Although not a full or ‘proper’ biography, there’s enough in here to let you know his life story and to get inside his head (scary thought, huh?). Lots of his travels to India his love of astronomy and of course Dr. Feelgood. Apparently they might update this book to include the fantastic new album with Roger Daltrey and of course the big C. If so, I’d defiantly go buy this again as it’s amazing!

'Ian Dury: The Definitive Biography' by Will Birch

Ian Dury is one of the most beloved figures in 20^th century popular culture despite the fact he could be a complete twat! Will Birch's biography shows Ian in a well rounded light, showing his highs, lows and everything in between.

“Hello Sausages...” was as far as Ian got in writing his autobiography, thankfully there's a whole lot more in Will Birch's book, but it does maintain the silly, fun and humorous president that Ian set with just two words. The book is very well researched and contains thousands of quotes from the many people who were in Ian's life giving the book a very personal touch despite it being a biography.

Ian didn't start his musical career until his thirties, so there is also plenty of Ian's childhood, the contracting of polio and the hell he went through not only with the disease but at the 'special' school he was put into. Then we move on to where he becomes an artist and a teacher, all the time trying to be a little more working-class and 'one of the people'.

Obviously the main attraction of this book is going to be the stories of 'Kilburn and the Highroads' as well as 'The Blockheads' which it is safe to say take up a huge part of this book. Showing Ian's need for acceptance and his slow spiral into megalomania as the fame he so eagerly awaited came with a raised self-importance and the booze took over any rational thinking and kind words.

This book is great. A really interesting read and a disturbing insight into the life of the punk poet. The latter years as Ian moved into acting falls a little flat as Will hasn't found too many people to interview, plus knowing the reader isn't really that interested in the tiny bit parts he filmed. So the ending does suffer from biography-syndrome which here has the last part of the book end up almost as a list of films with the occasional quote from a star saying “yeah, I kinda remember him”.

Apart from a little quibbling aside that you always get with biographies, this book is well worth your time and money (even if you're not a blockhead fan!)