'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!)