ROCK icon Ian Dury s clever songs like Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, What a Waste and Reasons To Be Cheerful... set a standard for punk music. SEX&DRUGS&ROCK&ROLL (15) tells his story, starring Andy Serkis. Left disabled after contracting polio as a chil

ROCK icon Ian Dury's clever songs like Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, What a Waste and Reasons To Be Cheerful... set a standard for punk music.

SEX&DRUGS&ROCK&ROLL (15) tells his story, starring Andy Serkis.

Left disabled after contracting polio as a child, Dury - who often claimed to have been born in Upminster although he was actually born in Harrow - was one of the trailblazers of the punk scene.

The film looks at his personal battle with his disability and the effects of fame on his relationships.

Screenwriter Paul Viragh says: "Ian was very unique - he was peeved at politics, but was political for people rather than political in terms of party.

"If you look at that time - the recession, the world in crisis, society in crisis as well - what he did was slightly bigger and greater than a lot of other people did with music at that time.

"He came with a huge wealth of experience behind him and he had so many different influences.

"He was coming up with stuff in the early '70s that didn't come to fruition for five or six years, 'til the mid to late '70s, and I think that kind of dedication and energy and concentration on a cause, on a fight, is something we kind of need now."

Producer Damian Jones adds: "He was brilliant lyricist, he spoke about life as the underdog and he had that British bulldog spirit. We're making this film for a lot of people because Ian Dury is an unheralded icon, so hopefully we'll put that right. His songs and their themes are universal, they explore love and hate, despair and happiness..."

Ray Winstone, Naomie Harris and Mackenzie Crook also star.