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The song was a cross between a battle cry and an appeal for understanding: "Hello to you out there in normal land. You may not comprehend my tale or understand." The repeated refrain "I'm
Spasticus, I'm Spasticus, I'm Spasticus Autisticus" made explicit reference to the line "I'm Spartacus" from the
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329:. Dury had been considering touring under the name "Spastic and the Autistics", playing on his disability and the term "blockhead", before his friend Ed Speight suggested: "No, it should be Spasticus Autisticus - he's the freed slave of the disabled."
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contracted in his youth. Fed up with repeated requests to get involved with charitable causes, Dury wrote an "anti-charity" song.
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deemed the lyrics offensive ("I dribble when I piddle 'cos my middle is a riddle") and along with other radio stations
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The song was performed live on television and broadcast worldwide during the
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and then used as the title for the charitable
Spastics Society (now known as
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344:), was becoming taboo in Britain due to its use as a derogatory term. The
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684:"Paralympics 2012: Ian Dury's 'Spasticus Autisticus' was electrifying"
521:"Orbital & Stephen Hawking Rock the Paralympic Games – Synthtopia"
169:
352:. The record also received little promotion from the record company
311:"Spasticus Autisticus" was written in 1981 as a protest against the
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297:, released both as a single and on Dury's second solo studio album
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The title and lyrics were deliberately provocative, as the word
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598:Polio and Its Aftermath: The Paralysis of Culture
490:"Terence Blacker: Spasticus Autisticus revisited"
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763:
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709:"'Spasticus' and the crime of condescension"
393: – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals,
822:The Bus Driver's Prayer & Other Stories
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756:
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532:
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68:Learn how and when to remove this message
570:A Summer Plague: Polio and Its Survivors
31:This article includes a list of general
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1016:
527:
313:International Year of Disabled Persons
981:Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
914:Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
751:
681:
653:
629:Index on Censorship: Smashed Hits 2.0
591:
566:
463:"Ian Dury was a one of a kind talent"
441:Harold Dorsett – backing vocals
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13:
1044:Songs about diseases and disorders
660:Ian Dury: The Definitive Biography
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560:
402: – bass guitars, arrangements
37:it lacks sufficient corresponding
14:
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881:With Kilburn & the High Roads
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567:Gould, Tony (11 September 1997).
682:Rahim, Sameer (30 August 2012).
501:from the original on 24 May 2022
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942:Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3
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481:
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1:
935:Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick
871:Ten More Turnips from the Tip
448:
269:"Spasticus Autisticus" (Live)
1029:Songs written by Chaz Jankel
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378:
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408: – drums, arrangements
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444:Gina – backing vocals
424:Steinway & Sons pianos
307:History and ban by the BBC
1034:Songs written by Ian Dury
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336:, a name for people with
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603:Harvard University Press
1054:Songs banned by the BBC
794:New Boots and Panties!!
623:. Glanville, Jo (ed.).
365:2012 Summer Paralympics
289:" is a song written by
80:1981 single by Ian Dury
52:more precise citations.
1059:Songs about disability
949:Sueperman's Big Sister
864:Straight from the Desk
542:Red Bull Music Academy
438: – backing vocals
432: – backing vocals
373:Graeae Theatre Company
128:"Instrumental Version"
86:"Spasticus Autisticus"
963:Dance Little Rude Boy
575:Yale University Press
155:Compass Point Studios
956:Spasticus Autisticus
808:4,000 Weeks' Holiday
737:Spasticus Autisticus
667:. pp. 234–236.
287:Spasticus Autisticus
689:The Daily Telegraph
371:and members of the
921:Sweet Gene Vincent
744:(list of releases)
707:(31 August 2012).
497:. 31 August 2012.
467:The Irish Examiner
400:Robbie Shakespeare
293:and co-written by
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674:978-0-283-07121-8
646:978-1-4462-4500-2
637:SAGE Publications
612:978-0-674-04354-1
584:978-0-300-07276-1
523:. 31 August 2012.
350:denied it airplay
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991:Related articles
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705:Blacker, Terence
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595:(30 June 2009).
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361:opening ceremony
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48:this article by
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605:. p. 103.
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577:. p. 253.
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561:Further reading
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495:The Independent
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44:Please help to
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1039:Ian Dury songs
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834:The Blockheads
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801:Lord Upminster
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730:External links
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538:"Tom Tom Club"
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436:Laura Weymouth
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387: – vocals
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338:cerebral palsy
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300:Lord Upminster
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262:Official audio
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144:April–May 1981
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114:Lord Upminster
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1003:Drip Fed Fred
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786:Studio albums
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469:. 12 May 2017
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430:Tina Weymouth
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412:Tyrone Downie
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218:Songwriter(s)
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1024:1981 singles
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928:What a Waste
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718:. Retrieved
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693:. Retrieved
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546:. Retrieved
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503:. Retrieved
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483:
471:. Retrieved
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395:arrangements
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64:
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36:
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998:Discography
655:Birch, Will
593:Shell, Marc
505:29 November
473:29 November
391:Chaz Jankel
295:Chaz Jankel
241:Producer(s)
231:Chas Jankel
58:August 2014
50:introducing
1049:1981 songs
1018:Categories
896:Wotabunch!
625:"The Deal"
548:26 October
449:References
406:Sly Dunbar
323:1960 film
180:post-disco
33:references
639:Ltd: 31.
420:Prophet-5
416:clavinets
379:Personnel
326:Spartacus
170:Post-punk
157:(Bahamas)
889:Handsome
850:Laughter
779:Ian Dury
720:10 April
695:10 April
657:(2010).
499:Archived
414: –
385:Ian Dury
303:(1981).
291:Ian Dury
226:Ian Dury
175:new wave
141:Recorded
133:Released
105:Ian Dury
906:Singles
742:Discogs
369:Orbital
363:of the
354:Polydor
334:spastic
274:YouTube
210:Polydor
46:improve
815:Apples
671:
643:
609:
581:
544:. 2014
248:Jankel
188:Length
150:Studio
123:B-side
101:Single
35:, but
973:Films
832:With
635:(3).
367:, by
342:Scope
317:polio
205:Label
163:Genre
722:2019
697:2019
669:ISBN
641:ISBN
607:ISBN
579:ISBN
550:2021
507:2020
475:2020
251:Dury
136:1981
740:at
346:BBC
272:on
103:by
1020::
711:.
686:.
663:.
633:39
631:.
627:.
601:.
573:.
540:.
529:^
493:.
465:.
422:,
418:,
375:.
356:.
197:00
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771:e
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649:.
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509:.
477:.
285:"
195::
193:5
71:)
65:(
60:)
56:(
42:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
