Ronnie Corbett

 

 

 

R.I.P. 

 

Ronald Balfour Corbett - Stand-Up Comedian, Actor, Writer and Broadcaster

 

(4th Dec 1930 - 31st March 2016)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

George Martin

 

R.I.P.

George Henry Martin - Record Producer, Arranger, Composer, Conductor, Audio Engineer and Musician

 

(Jan 3rd 1926 - March 8th 2016)

 

 

 

Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band

 

Often lauded as Britain's answer to Frank Zappa's 'Mothers Of Invention', 'The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band' are a rare, but typical example of this country's eccentricity in both sound and vision.

After four years of getting together and establishing their unusual sound, it wasn't until 1966 that the group started to break into the big time. In February of that year, the group made their first live TV appearance when they performed on the childrens show 'Blue Peter'. Then in April, they were offered a record contract with Parlophone who were still host label to 'The Beatles' at that point.

When the group, consisting of six members: Vivian Stanshall, Neil Innes, Rodney Slater, Roger Ruskin Spear, Vernon Dudley Bohay-Nowell and 'Legs' Larry Smith discovered that their first two single releases were flops, they made a conscious decision to start writing their own material from here on in.

The bands early efforts such as 'My Brother Makes The Noises For The Talkies' were covers of comedy records from the 1920's with a dash here and there of Jazz music. Undeterred, it was decided that they move with the current trend of the era by adding a 'Rock' edge, but still maintaining a comedic music hall/avant-garde element to give the sound a parodical twist. 

By 1967, news of their talents started to find its way to the ears and eyes of the UK's music and television elite when they were invited by future Monty Python stars, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin to be regular performers on their new weekly kids show 'Do Not Adjust Your Set'.

In what many would consider too un-PC for todays standards, one episode sees the group do a performance of 'Look Out, There's A Monster Coming' while blacked up with vocalist Vivian Stanshall singing in a mock African style. The show was also notable for being an early launch pad in the career of TV acting royalty David Jason.

In fact, it is he who introduces the band for the song which he does with gusto in a game show host style pseudo-American accent typical of the era.

Also that year, a certain Paul McCartney was so impressed by the groups anarchic/avant-garde style that he invited them to perform 'Death Cab For Cutie' as part of a brief skit set in a night club which can be seen near the end of The Beatles 'Magical Mystery Tour' made-for-TV movie.

Although when shown on Boxing Day 1967, the film proved to be a flop, it was the The Bonzo's scene which was voted by many as one of the films few highlights.

By 1968, the group had released two albums, none of which made the charts, but have since become cult classics. Many of the songs performed on 'Do Not Adjust Your Set' including 'Death Cab For Cutie' can be heard on both 'Gorilla' (1967) and 'The Doughnut In Granny's Greenhouse' (1968).

However, it was once again with the help of production by a Mr Apollo C. Vermouth (AKA Beatle Paul) that they released their most famous song of all, the catchy and upbeat, 'I'm The Urban Spaceman' which reached a heady No.5 in the UK charts at the end of the year.

The following year saw the band at possibly their busiest and more importantly at a crossroads. After releasing two new albums in the shape of 'Tadpoles' and 'Keynsham', The Bonzo's left the UK for a tour of the US alongside rock legends 'The Who' and 'The Kinks' shortly after appearing at the newly formed 'Isle Of Wight Festival'.

At the very end of 1969, the band once again undertook another tour of America. However, whilst on the tour, they had a meeting which culminated in their decision to call it a day upon their return to England once the current tour ended. Indeed, the groups final concert took place in January 1970.

Despite a record contract obligation in 1971 getting them back together for one last album, the groups heart was never going to be in it. The resulting record, 'Lets Make Up And Be Friendly' (1972) was typical of their humour even in the face of melancholy times. Two years after their final album release, The Bonzo's performed two gigs at universities in both Kent and York.

And then suddenly, they disappeared...and were not heard from again until 1988 when the band got back together to record a song called 'No Matter Who You Vote For, The Government Always Gets In (Heigh Ho)'. The track was originally intended as a tie-in for a forth coming British election, but was not released until just before the start of the next election campaign in 1992.

Alas, all good things must eventually come to an end and this was sadly the case when original founder member and ever eternal eccentric frontman Vivian Stanshall died in a house fire in 1995.

Despite this great loss, it wasn't until 2006 that the surviving members of The Bonzo's agreed to get together for one last hurrah. Joined by comedy favourites such as Ade Edmondson, Stephen Fry, Phil Jupitus and Paul Merton, they helped the band perform live all of the most well known songs at a made for a straight to DVD concert in Londons Brixton Astoria.

With Neil Innes agreeing to go his own way in 2008, the group continued on until 2012 still playing the old favourites, but with members such as Bohay-Nowell being 82 at the time, they realised that they couldn't out do father time and called it day yet again...

....Or have they???



Core Band Members:

• Vivian Stanshall (1943-1995) Trumpet, Lead Vocals
• Neil Innes (b. 1944) Piano, Guitar, Lead Vocals
• Rodney 'Rhino' Desborough Slater (b. 1944) Saxophone
• Roger Ruskin Spear (b. 1943) Tenor Sax, Various Contraptions
• 'Legs' Larry Smith (b. 1944) Drums

Discography:

Albums -

• (1967) Gorilla
• (1968) The Doughnut In Granny's Greenhouse
• (1969) Tadpoles
• (1969) Keynsham
• (1972) Lets Make Up And Be Friendly
• (2007) Pour L'amour Des Chiens

Singles -

• (1966) My Brother Makes The Noises For The Talkies
• (1966) Alley Oop
• (1967) Equestrian Statue
• (1968) I'm The Urban Spaceman
• (1969) Mr Apollo
• (1969) I Want To Be With You
• (1969) You Done My Brain In
• (1972) King Of Scurf
• (1992) No Matter Who You Vote For, The Government Always Gets In (Heigh Ho)

Joan Sims

 

 

 

 

Forever linked with the Carry On film series of the 1960's and 70's, Joan Sims was always been one of the UK's most underrated actresses. This is probably due in no small part to her lack of choice roles, the 'Carry On' series aside.

It is perhaps not so well know that Joan was very much a loner for most of her life, by choosing to live alone and not get married despite having two meaningful relationships with fellow actors Tony Baird and her former stage manager, John Walters.

Asked in later years why she never married - Joan replied, 'Because the right man never came along. There's no point looking for any darker meaning, because there isn't one'.

Born Irene Joan Marian Sims on 9th May 1930 in Laingdon, Essex, she first got the acting bug, when applying for a scholarship at RADA in 1946 at the age of 16, but was initially unsuccessful.

Undeterred, she tried again a short while later and after eventually graduating from RADA, her first major appearance was on stage with Scottish actor and comedian, Stanley Baxter (Later to achieve UK fame with his own TV specials in the 1970s).

Her early career highlights included starring with comedy legend Norman Wisdom in 'Trouble In Store (1953) and then onto the 'Doctor' film series being given the character of Nurse Rigour Mortis next to Dirk Bogarde.

After being a regular in the 'Doctor' series, Joan was asked to play a small part in 'Carry On Admiral (1957) although this film bore no relation to the later Carry On series, it undoubtedly put her in a good position to be considered as one of the early team members of the cast.

Early in 1958, producer Peter Rodgers sent her a script for a brief role in a comedy called 'Carry On Nurse' (1959). After liking Sims potential in the 'Doctor' series, he thought she would be a good addition to what was to be the second of two films made by Rodgers and Gerald Thomas, after their first joint effort 'Carry On Sargent' (1958).

From here on Joan began to appear regularly in the Carry On series' for the remainder of its lifespan which ran until 1978. Her characters in the series began with Joan being an object of men's lust, and gradually over time, she was turned into the frumpy nagging wife type, usually played off next to Sid James hen-pecked husband.

Despite being so well known as a 'Carry On' performer, this still didn't stop other offers coming her way, most notably during her hot period of the 1960's. Indeed, she was to star in 23 films in the period from 1960-69 beginning with 'Watch Your Stern (1960) to Carry On Again Doctor (1969).

Her roles next to some of the UK's comedy acting profession reads like a veritable who's who?

How's this for a role call of names - Norman Wisdom, Peter Sellers, Dirk Bogarde, Jack Warner, George Cole, Jon Pertwee, William Hartnell, Margaret Rutherford, Stanley Holloway, Kenneth More, James Robertson-Justice, Prunella Scales, Dora Bryan and Alistair Sim. Of course, there were so many more as this was only early in her career up to the end of the 1950's.

After the Carry On series ended with 'Carry On Emmanuelle' (1978), Joan began to do a lot more TV work. Just prior to this, she was cast alongside acting legends Katherine Hepburn and Laurence Oliver in a film made for TV called 'Love Among The Ruins' (1975).

From the 1980s onward, Joan began to drink heavily due to bouts of depression. This was perhaps no doubt brought on by the sudden deaths of her agent Peter Eade, fellow 'Carry On' regular Hattie Jacques and her mother all within a short space of two-years.

In the later nineties, her health began to decline when she was diagnosed with Bells Palsy in 1999 and then broke her hip the following year due to a fall. Despite a remarkable recovery, the drinking didn't stop. She was offered rehab on one occasion, but declined.

The last two years of her life were not happy ones in terms of her health. Admitted to hospital for what was supposed to be a routine operation, Joan fell into a coma in 2000. Inevitably, on 27th June 2001, she passed away aged 71, due to a combination of liver failure and diverticulitis. Diabetes and COPD were also major factors all linked to alcoholism.

But thanks to the endless repeats on TV and DVD releases of her films, Joan Sims, the self-proclaimed 'Queen of Puddings' will outlive us all.


(Profile)

• Full Name: Irene Joan Marion Sims
• Date Of Birth: 9th May 1930
• Place Of Birth: Laingdon, Essex, England
• Date Of Death: 27th June 2001 (aged 71)
• Place Of Death: Chelsea, London, England
• Cause Of Death: Diverticular Disease
• Years Active: 1951-2000

(Filmography)

• Click here for a full list of Joan's Film & TV appearances

(Further reading and viewing)

• Click here for essential Joan Sims books and DVD's

Brian Clough

 

 

 

Synonymous with being outspoken, brash and opinionated, Brian Clough's achievements as a football manager have always seemed to be largely under-rated. Up against the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Matt Busby, Bill Shankly and many more who have consistently won British Football's highest accolades over a sustained period, these beliefs are well founded.

However, one only has to take a look at the clubs Clough managed (Derby and Nottingham Forest) and see where they were when he took over. What he achieved with them in such a short space of time is nothing short of phenomenal.

Despite being a striker in his playing days with a superb strike rate for both Middlesborough and Sunderland, Clough never played at the highest level, albeit only in a handful of international appearances for England at senior level in 1959.

With an awful knee injury received late in 1962, Clough only managed to play on for another 18 months, before being forced to retire from the game in his prime at 29. This prompted him to start coaching the youth team at Sunderland then to venture straight into full-time management at Hartlepool's United at the tender age of 30 in 1965.

The seeds of the Clough legend as we know and love today though, were to be gradually sewn when he then took over at Derby in 1967. Of course, where would we be without mentioning the 1972 League Championship success with 'The Rams' or the two back-to-back European Cup triumphs with Forest in 1979 and 1980. 

To think, he only took over at Forest in January 1975 following a disastrous 44-day spell at bitter rivals Leeds United following the resignation of Don Revie six months earlier. The East Midlands side were on the brink of relegation and almost went down again the following season until a dramatic turn around in fortunes saw them scrape promotion in the old First Division in 1977.

The job he most coveted which has been well documented down the years was the England managers position. Clough once publicly stated that the reason he never got it (despite going for an interview at Lancaster Gate in 1977) was because they were scared he would have taken over at the F.A. and then went on to conclude that they were probably right.

He could also be a man of many contradictions as well as being arrogant to the point where it cost his career dearly, but far more importantly, his health. The infamous falling out with long-time trusted friend and confidant Peter Taylor in 1980 caused him to start drinking heavily. Many claim to this day that he never got over the parting of ways and took the pain of this to the grave with himself.

Television interviews were undoubtedly a high point for any discerning viewer back in Clough's heyday of the 1970s and 80s'. Being a regular pundit for ITV, he was invited to be part of the panel for the deciding World Cup Qualifer between England and Poland at Wembley October 1973.

He was derided by many for his pre-match comment that Polish stopper Jan Tomaszewski was a 'clown'. As fate would have it, Tomaszewski went on to perform what was without doubt the finest and most famous game of his career in Poland's 1-0 victory which ultimately hastened the end of Alf Ramsey's tenure.

But Clough himself once said it best when either a fellow pundit or viewer disagreed with what he said about one particular player - 'It's only an opinion, its what makes the world go round'.

I don't think many of us can argue with that...

(Profile)

• Full Name: Brian Howard Clough
• Date of Birth: 21st March 1935
• Place of Birth: Middlesborough, North Riding of Yorkshire, England
• Date of Death: 20th September 2004 (aged 69)
• Place of Death: Derby, Derbyshire, England
• Height: 5ft 10ins (1.78m)
• Playing Position: Striker

(Honours)

Derby County -

• Division One Championship (1971-72)
• Division Two Championship (1968-69)
• Texaco Cup (1971-72)
• Watney's Cup (1970)

Nottingham Forest -

• First Division (1977-78)
• League Cup (1977-78, 1978-79, 1988-89, 1989-90)
• Full Members Cup (1988-89, 1991-92)
• F.A. Charity Shield (1978)
• European Cup (1978-79, 1979-80)
• European Super Cup (1979)
• Anglo Scottish Cup (1976-77)

Individual Awards -

• Manager of the Year (1977-78)

David Bowie

R.I.P.

 

David Robert Jones - Musician, Artist and Actor

 

(Jan 8th 1947- Jan 10th 2016)

 

 

 

 

Aftermath

 

 

 

Like the Beatles 'Rubber Soul' album, 'Aftermath' was a major step forward in terms of a more mature and worldly wise sound for the Rolling Stones in 1966.

Hot on the heels of the previous (US only) release 'Decembers Children' in late 1965, this album showcased another Beatles parallel. As messrs Lennon & McCartney had done on 'A Hard Days Night', this new Stones album was chock full of material written only by that of its chief protoganists, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

Tracks such as 'Lady Jane' and 'I Am Waiting' highlight a wistful depth and deeper emotion which was perhaps considered unusual for a normally straight Rhythm & Blues outfit. Even tracks such as 'Mothers Little Helper' tell the story of mothers who have become dependent on 'Diazepam' - the prescription drug obtained from any local doctor which suddenly became all the rage at the time.

In what was slowly becoming a Jagger trademark, the songs 'Under My Thumb', 'Stupid Girl' and 'Out Of Time' clearly underscore a scorn for women in general at this time. It may well have been the period where Mick was falling out of love with his long-time girlfriend, model Chrissie Shrimpton.

The US version of this album omitted four tracks from the UK release. These were 'Mothers Little Helper', 'Out Of Time', 'What To Do' and 'Take It Or Leave It'. The single 'Paint It Black' was included in the US copy as adding singles to albums was not yet common place in the UK.

But of course, it is must always be what takes place within the confines of a recording studio on which any musician is judged and there is no denying that 'Aftermath' has since became a classic in the annals of music history.

As a footnote, this was the last album the Rolling Stones would wholly record in the U.S. for at least another five years. Their next album would see the group return to London to complete a large majority of what was to become 'Between The Buttons' released early in 1967.

Album: Aftermath

Release Date: April 15th 1966 (U.K.) June 20th 1966 (U.S.)

Songs:

1. Mothers Little Helper
2. Stupid Girl
3. Lady Jane
4. Under My Thumb
5. Doncha Bother Me
6. Goin Home
7. Flight 505
8. High And Dry
9. Out Of Time
10. It's Not Easy
11. I Am Waiting
12. Take It Or Leave It
13. Think
14. What To Do