I saw him and the band in the Olympia theatre, Dublin back in the 90's, (I think). It was a sit down gig and the audience was fairly complacent until he played Spasticus. Suddenly they realised that this man had made art out of a disability, was in a way celebrating his condition, and woke up, stood up, and didn't sit down for the rest of the gig, which was followed by three encores and the band had to drag him off in the end cos he wouldn't leave the stage. A great night.
I remember seeing him at the Capitol Theatre back in 1980 on his "Antipodean Progress Tour". Next to me were several people with cerebral palsy. He came on stage announcing "Hello all you out there in Normal Land!" and launched into Spasticus Autisticus. None of them were upset by it.
Does anyone know where to find the whole episode of this program, I can't find any info online about it, I remember watching it when it aired ch4 put a lot of good programs around this time, if I remember correctly there was a section on d mob aciiiid as well.
I have learning difficulties myself, yet I don't find Spaz offensive. As they said, Ian wasn't trying to have a go, nor make fun at disabled people. The message was he wanted those with disabilities to be treated fairly, not like dirt.
I always thought this was a piss take, not of disabled people but of the establishment and the attitudes that isolate disabled people. I remember a disabled guy I worked with say 'I'm disabled not stupid'. Anyway this clip confirms my belief of Ian's motives, a great bloke who was too clever for all of these know all dick-heads.
Totally agree,I live in Canada and the first album I bought by Ian was Do it Yourself.I became almost obsessed by he and his great band of great player's.
Aye. The Jam's Down in the Tube Station at Midnight was banned by them, before Paul Weller phoned in to say it was against the racist murder that was mentioned in the song. They shouldn't have just jumped to conclusions.
I was a bit unhappy that none of the other songs got air play. I loved that whole album. But here in the US I never knew any of this stuff. I just thought it was a fantastic album.
52 Americas, Master Musclebound, Miss Spastelastic, and one hundred thousand bureau quotes, from 27 Personnel Plastics, its plasticus articulus! its plasticus articulus! there's fuck all and there's love all, inside your personal bubble, Its plasticus articulus! Its plasticus articulus!
I love singing this live it makes people awkward me and my bass player are both autistic
I saw him and the band in the Olympia theatre, Dublin back in the 90's, (I think). It was a sit down gig and the audience was fairly complacent until he played Spasticus. Suddenly they realised that this man had made art out of a disability, was in a way celebrating his condition, and woke up, stood up, and didn't sit down for the rest of the gig, which was followed by three encores and the band had to drag him off in the end cos he wouldn't leave the stage. A great night.
I really wish I could have seen Ian Dury back in the day. One of my heroes who was truly done too soon.
I remember seeing him at the Capitol Theatre back in 1980 on his "Antipodean Progress Tour". Next to me were several people with cerebral palsy. He came on stage announcing "Hello all you out there in Normal Land!" and launched into Spasticus Autisticus. None of them were upset by it.
RIP Ian. Your contribution to music will never be forgotten.
Dury is still fabulous! Love his work.
Tim Yeo has the courage to say he was wrong. So that song DID change peoples perception.
So happy Ian and the Blockheads back in the day.
Fantastic - what a sophisticated man and what a superb band - lucky enough to see them 2 or 3 times - wish I had gone and seen them more
And then the songs stars in the paralympics 2012 justice for Ian (rip)
I wonder what Ian Dury thought of the song being performed in the Paralympics opening ceremony?
He was smiling from the great hereafter
Does anyone know where to find the whole episode of this program, I can't find any info online about it, I remember watching it when it aired ch4 put a lot of good programs around this time, if I remember correctly there was a section on d mob aciiiid as well.
I have learning difficulties myself, yet I don't find Spaz offensive. As they said, Ian wasn't trying to have a go, nor make fun at disabled people. The message was he wanted those with disabilities to be treated fairly, not like dirt.
I’m quite pleased to see Nabil Shaban being interviewed here.
well when the song came out in 1981 I understood it straight away then and it was an excellent song
I always thought this was a piss take, not of disabled people but of the establishment and the attitudes that isolate disabled people. I remember a disabled guy I worked with say 'I'm disabled not stupid'. Anyway this clip confirms my belief of Ian's motives, a great bloke who was too clever for all of these know all dick-heads.
Ian and the blockheads are legends. Absolute legends.
Totally agree,I live in Canada and the first album I bought by Ian was Do it Yourself.I became almost obsessed by he and his great band of great player's.
its Sil from Doctor Who!! yeah i remember seeing this on tv, i was listewning to Ian Dury since birth! Legend!
It was sung at the opening of the 2012 Paralympics, sadly not by Ian so I Suppose it has now been accepted now
we don't need to be accepted ... just heard!
I had the album for years and loved the song...But living it the states I never knew about the controversy until many years later.
On Parkinson from 1979.Parky bangs onto Ian about his, disability .The BBC didn't know?!
Hard to believe it was banned by the BBC, when he was addressing the problem of peoples perception to the disabled.
Great video my friend, I bought this great song when it came out :-)
gerdenshed.
Love that it was used at the London games.
Aye. The Jam's Down in the Tube Station at Midnight was banned by them, before Paul Weller phoned in to say it was against the racist murder that was mentioned in the song. They shouldn't have just jumped to conclusions.
Is that Hermione Norris narrating? Luvverly bloke, Ian.
wonderful
Spastics of the world unite : )
Yeah me too. Great single, great message.
Reasons to be cheerful.................Ian Dury! Always told it like it freakin' was. Top Boy!!
Good old Ian what a star he was rip
It's just because He Was Superman Big-sister ,top -period'80's,love'"Mich
Leçon de vie !!!
@barnessutcliffe Huh? I forget what I put?
If he'd used it to raise money for the Spastic Society, i.e. that guy's salary, I'm sure they wouldn't complain
This may seem to be quite obvious but I'm guessing that he had been listening to quite a bit of New York rap at this point seemed to influenced him
I was a bit unhappy that none of the other songs got air play. I loved that whole album. But here in the US I never knew any of this stuff. I just thought it was a fantastic album.
Tim Yeo, a major politician, with very minor understanding. What scoper.
@1:55 okay, I can understand not wanting to coddle disabled people, but that still sounds kind of harsh. At least to me.
No, it's not.
52 Americas,
Master Musclebound, Miss Spastelastic,
and one hundred thousand bureau quotes, from 27 Personnel Plastics,
its plasticus articulus!
its plasticus articulus!
there's fuck all and there's love all,
inside your personal bubble,
Its plasticus articulus!
Its plasticus articulus!
Yeo himself would've been better as a chairman of the Single Mothers Club.After all,he created two of these types!
What a waste.
5* to Ian
all the best
kean
its politicals
he was A man. nothing less.