The cast of the Ian Dury biopic, “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll,” is growing. Naomie Harris, Ray Winstone, Olivia Williams, Noel Clarke, Toby Jones, MacKenzie Crook and Bill Milner have all signed on to star in director Mat Whitecross‘ biopic of punk legend Ian Dury. Harris (Pirates of the Caribbean) has signed to play Dury's girlfriend, and Winstone (The Departed) will play the singer's father.
Arthur Darvill, James Jagger, Tom Hughes, Shakraj Soornack, Clifford Samuel and Joe Kennedy are also on board to play Dury's band members the Blockheads.
The film will focus on the musical career of Dury (singer of the British band Ian Dury and the Blockheads), his influence as one of the pioneers of the New Wave movement, and his battles with polio and cancer, which led to his death in March of 2000. In addition to their hit songs like “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick” and “Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3”, the title of this based off of Dury's hit single “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll”.
Paul Viragh penned the script, Damian Jones is producing and shooting begins on May 3rd in London.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBLeVcP_JQg[/youtube]
This is a life story waiting to be filmed. About time too !
Good luck from his old mate in our Cranham and Upminster days.
Barry Anderson