Ian Dury's life took a dramatic turn at the tender age of seven when he was struck by polio, leading to a series of institutional residencies over the next few years. Despite these challenges, he pursued his passion for the arts by enrolling at The Walthamstow College of Art at the age of seventeen. For nearly a decade, from 1966 to 1973, he worked as an art teacher in various schools, cultivating his creative skills and laying the groundwork for his future endeavors.
However, it was during this period that Dury's musical career began to take shape. He co-founded the band Kilburn & The High Roads in the midst of his teaching career, marking the start of a journey that would span several years. Although the band's success was limited, they managed to release an album in 1977, albeit to a lukewarm reception. The band's eventual disbandment shortly after was a setback, but Dury refused to let his creative spirit be extinguished.
Undeterred, he regrouped with a new lineup of musicians and formed Ian Dury & The Blockheads, a collaboration that would ultimately yield greater success in the UK. With this new venture, Dury's music career gained momentum, and he finally found the recognition he deserved as a talented artist.
