Ian Dury "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll"

"Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" is a 1977 single by English singer Ian Dury, co-written with guitarist Chaz Jankel and released on Stiff Records. Though now considered a defining anthem of its era, the song did not chart in the UK upon release, partly due to a BBC ban and the label’s policy of quickly deleting singles after their initial sales burst123.

Creation and Musical Roots
The song originated in Dury’s flat in Oval Mansions, London. Dury persistently presented the lyrics to Jankel, who initially struggled to find a fitting musical setting. Inspiration struck when Dury sang the riff he had in mind—one that, as it turned out, was lifted from Ornette Coleman’s jazz tune "Ramblin’" (itself borrowed from an older folk melody)123. The track features members of what would become the Blockheads: Chaz Jankel (guitar), Norman Watt-Roy (bass), and Charlie Charles (drums)1.

Lyrics and Meaning
Despite its title and chorus, Dury insisted that the song was not an endorsement of hedonism or excess. Instead, he intended it as a critique of ordinary, restrictive lifestyles and an encouragement to seek out alternative ways of living. The verses are playful and riddle-like, suggesting that there’s more to life than "pulling a lever all day in a factory" or just pursuing sex, drugs, and rock and roll13. Dury said, "I was trying to suggest there was more to life than either of those three... If all you think about is sex and drugs and rock’n’roll, there is something wrong"3.

Cultural Impact and Legacy
Although the single sold only about 19,000 copies and was quickly deleted by Stiff Records, "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" became a staple of Dury’s live performances and a crowd favorite23. The phrase itself, though in use before the song, was popularized worldwide by Dury and has since become shorthand for a hedonistic, rebellious lifestyle4. The song’s popularity grew through live shows and word-of-mouth, eventually achieving anthemic status and being used widely in media and pop culture23.

Key Facts Table

Summary
"Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" is a witty, infectious single that became an enduring slogan for nonconformity and alternative living. Far from celebrating excess, Ian Dury used the song to challenge listeners to look beyond the obvious and embrace a broader, more liberated approach to life123.