Spasticus Autisticus - Ian Dury

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I am a fan of Ian Dury, and I still cannot understand why he was banned by the BBC.

However, what do you think of his song "Spasticus Autisticus?"

Spasticus Autisticus - YouTube

Wasn't he the one who wrote a novelty song called 'Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick' about 30 years ago?? I did enjoy that song BTW

Good song, 1st time I heard of this guy.

Yes, that's him.

I guess he's still a Blockhead...

That's a terrible song, it's not informative, offensive, funny or artistic. Does the song have any purpose?

"What a waste! What a waste! What a waste!"
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3sCtQOML6k&feature=related[/youtube]

Because of you, I just learnt he had cancer and is now dead.

What a man!
What a group!

I loved his voice.

I understand that Ian wasn't trying to offend auties when he wrote/performed this (my mom just happened to stumble upon this song while doing research at work one day - she then looked up more info about it and that's how I know this is true. Forget which site she found it on though ) Aside from that, I LOVE "Sex And Drugs And Rock & Roll" and "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick". These songs are like David Bowie meets Elvis Costello. They're great! "Spasticus Autisticus" is really good too! He was really trying (more or less) to reach out to auties when he did this song, not insult them.

On Sunday, apart of his cancer, I also learnt that when he was a little boy, he got polio.
Must have been a very bad one: one of his legs was very short/weak compare to the other and if you look to other videos, it's even the whole body which doesn't look too good.

I'm sure that's when and where he met autistic people: in those years (late 40's, early 50's, the war was just over), all disabled people were probably mixed all together in some kind of hospitals or institutions.

He knew what he was singing about.

Yes, the song was released 1981, that was the International Year of Disabled. I was 14 back then. There were no official ways to diagnose AS yet. But since I knew I was "odd" and "different," I liked the words in that song: "Hello to you out there in normal land."

Sex and drugs and rock and roll
Is all my brain and body need
Sex and drugs and rock and roll
Are very good indeed

Keep your silly ways or throw them out the window
The wisdom of your ways, I've been there and I know
Lots of other ways, what a jolly bad show
If all you ever do is business you don't like

Sex and drugs and rock and roll
Sex and drugs and rock and roll
Sex and drugs and rock and roll
Is very good indeed

Every bit of clothing ought to make you pretty
You can cut the clothing, grey is such a pity
I should wear the clothing of Mr. Walter Mitty
See my tailor, he's called Simon, I know it's going to fit

Here's a little piece of advice
You're quite welcome it is free
Don't do nothing that is cut price
You know what that'll make you be
They will try their tricky device
Trap you with the ordinary
Get your teeth into a small slice
The cake of liberty

Sex and drugs and rock and roll
Sex and drugs and rock and roll
Sex and drugs and rock and roll
Sex and drugs and rock and roll
Sex and drugs and rock and roll
Sex and drugs and rock and roll
Sex and drugs and rock and roll
Sex and drugs and rock and roll
Sex, drugs, rock, roll
Sex, drugs, rock, roll


Now, what do you think the BBC thought of that?
They maybe were not thinking of the same drugs to fit brains and bodies?

Well, I don't know what he and his band did or say to be banned from the radio.
... But it may be difficult for some normal and ordinary people to be made fun of by a smart educated and disabled young man, singer of a band who don't care for nothing, except the essential.

And also, I was remembering of the 70' (yes, I'm old enouhg to remember them).

Punks didn't come from nowhere.
It was the economic situation ok, but there was also a war going on.
A terrible war in Ireland.
Extremely violent.
A religious war.

... Maybe they (Ian Dury and the Blockheads) said things about it that were unacceptable to hear at that very time of England's history?

Ian Dury is a legend!

love that song - love the whole idea (going by what I've read about him/it) of someone being chosen (probably as a 'token' disabled person) to record the offical(?) sort of theme song for The International Year Of The Disabled, I think for/by the BBC, and instead of giving them something sentimental/'inspirational' about "how wonderfull 'the disabled' are", but
completely subverting it and seriously taking the mick out of people's patronising attitudes.