Current Slate On Release sex&drugs&rock&roll
Sex&drugs&rock&roll
sex&drugs&rock&roll is a biopic of Ian Dury, one of England’s most original and influential singer-songwriters of the last thirty years. Crippled by polio as a ten year-old boy, Dury’s dogged determination, perseverance and wit led to him becoming one of the founders of the punk movement in the 1970s. His records sold consistently well in the UK, Europe, Japan, South Africa, Australasia, and the top ten countries in North America. Together with his band The Blockheads he enjoyed a very successful career with releases such as Hit Me with your Rhythm Stick.
Starring Golden Globe and BAFTA-nominee ANDY SERKIS, sex&drugs&rock&roll was produced by Damian Jones (Adulthood, History Boys, Kidulthood, Welcome to Sarajevo) and directed by BAFTA-nominee and Silver Bear recipient Mat Whitecross (Shock Doctrine, The Road to Guantanamo). The original screenplay was written by Paul Viragh. Financed by Prescience, Aegis, the UK Film Council and Lip Sync, worldwide sales are being handled by Metropolis International Sales and Entertainment Film Distributors ("EFD") have acquired UK rights to the film. EFD were responsible for the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and are currently the UK's leading independent distributor. Warner hold the music rights and will schedule a revival campaign of The Blockheads's music to coincide with the film's release.
Joining ANDY SERKIS (Lord of the Rings, King Kong, Longford) in the impressive cast line-up are NAOMIE HARRIS (Pirates of the Caribbean, 28 Days Later) as his girlfriend Denise, RAY WINSTONE (Beowulf, The Departed, Sexy Beast) in the role of Dury’s father Bill, OLIVIA WILLIAMS (The Sixth Sense, Rushmore, Flashbacks of a Fool) as his first wife Betty, BILL MILNER (Son of Rambow, Skellig, Is Anybody There?) as his son Baxter, and TOBY JONES (Harry Potter, Frost/Nixon, Mrs Henderson Presents) as tyrant school tutor Hargreaves. BAFTA Orange Rising Star 2009 NOEL CLARKE (Adulthood, Kidulthood) and MACKENZIE CROOK (Pirates of The Caribbean) also joined the cast. ARTHUR DARVILL (Little Dorrit, Pelican Blood), JAMES JAGGER (Vivaldi), TOM HUGHES, SHAKRAJ SOORNACK, CLIFFORD SAMUEL and JOE KENNEDY played Dury’s band The Blockheads.
Legendary pop artist Peter Blake who taught Dury at The Royal College of Art worked with production designer Richard Bullock on the look and design of the film. Original Dury collaborator Chaz Jankel was the composer and the original Blockheads pre-recorded several tracks for the film.
His first album New Boots and Panties sold over a million copies, the hit singles Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick and What A Waste followed and the phrases Reasons To Be Cheerful and Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll entered the English language to stay. Permanently disabled by polio, Dury campaigned for the disabled in his own unique and uncompromising way releasing Spasticus Autitiscus a song about disability in 1982 – The United Nations Year of the Disabled. The track was subsequently banned!
The film was released in the UK on the 8th January 2010.The film's website can be found at:http://www.sex-drugs-rock-roll-thefilm.com/
AWARDSBAFTAsThe film has been nominated for the following British Film and Television Awards: Leading Male Andy Serkis Best Music Chaz Jankel
BIFAs
This film was developed in collaboration with the Dury estate. 27th March 2010 is the tenth anniversary of Ian Dury’s death to cancer. 2010 is also the 50th anniversary of the Polio Vaccination. This film is supported by The Polio Society. The production operated a disability training programme for young disabled filmmakers during the shoot.
PRESS:Screen International 8th January 2010 The Daily Mail October 8th 2009 Uk talent drawn to 'Sex & Drugs' - Variety.com April 21st 2009 'Sex' sextet set for U.K biopic - Hollywood Reporter April 21st 2009 Ray Winstone was interviewed on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross promoting the film on January 15th 2010, and the film was also reviewed on Film 2009 with Jonathan Ross which aired on December 9th 2009. Unfortunately, both episodes are no longer available on BBC iplayer. |
Andy Serkis stars as British music icon Ian Dury in producer Damian Jones’ latest feature with rising talent and BAFTA-nominee Mat Whitecross at the helm... 
Through Dury’s words, songs and relationships with those he loved most – particularly his young son Baxter, sex&drugs&rock&roll follows his journey in mythical and fantastic style from his early fight for life and harsh upbringing through his rise to fame on the razor’s edge of the punk and New Wave era. Artist, urban poet, and trailblazer in every sense, Ian Dury’s influence on music, fashion and popular culture is felt to this day. His charisma and powerful stage persona set the benchmark for others to follow, influencing the likes of The Clash, The Pretenders and the Sex Pistols. His London rap delivery has mutated over the years to influence the music scene bringing Suggs, Damon Albarn, Mike Skinner, Plan B, Lily Allen and Kate Nash and his pun-drenched wit and imagery have inspired the likes of Carter USM and the Arctic Monkeys.
