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
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
- (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)
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