Back in 1968 I was lucky enough to see one of my favourite bands play a concert at the Dome, Brighton. It was the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. Then in 2012 three of the original line-up, Roger Ruskin-Spear, Rodney Slater and Sam Spoons were booked to play the Brighton Fringe. These three living legends plus local musical legend Dave Glasson on piano were billed as 3 Bonzos and a Piano. Andy Roberts, another local musician, played guitar as a ‘permanent guest’ at 3B & P gigs. I was given the wonderful opportunity to interview them in advance of the gig and the release of their new album Bum Notes. The following brief excerpt is from the full interview that was dragged out of them with the usual booze, bribes and threats required with rock stars.
Roger – “In the early days the Bonzo premise was let’s blow as loud as we can and annoy everyone. This is still our basic concept today.”
Rodney – “Most of our instrument were home made from bits of older instruments and other bits and pieces we bought in junk shops.”
Sam – “All the stuff we use at gigs now is the same stuff we used back in the 60’s. We don’t need the latest and most expensive gear.”
Roger – “I still use the original Trouser Press.”
Sam – “You should see the expression on sound engineer’s faces when we turn up with our pile of junk.”
Rodney – “Brighton has a healthy music scene that would musically kick-start a lazy sod like me.”
Roger – “Health and Safety decrees we are no longer able to have our lovely explosions. We have overcome this by inviting the audience to shout BANG at the appropriate time.”
Sam – “As long as we feel fit enough and people turn up we will carry on. We don’t have to do it so as long as we can do it with decent hotels and a certain degree of on-the-road comfort we will. It is very much a cultural rather than business activity.”
Roger – “We will keep playing all the time we can stand upright and the audience want to come.”
All 3 Bonzos recalled good times in Brighton although Sam professed to an ability to collect parking tickets and Rodney wistfully reminded us that bitter was a shilling a pint on his first visit. Roger and Dave Glasson were booked by the council, billed as The Slightly Dangerous Brothers, to play afternoon concerts on the beach deck in the 1980’s.
Sadly, following a brief reincarnation as Almost The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band with two other original members, Vernon Dudley Bohay-Nowell and ‘Legs’ Larry Smith, it seems the regular touring days are over. Well almost, they may well do the odd 3B & P gig as long as the money is ‘right’ but seeing all 5 Bonzos together on stage is virtually impossible.
Let’s recall their impact on the social history of Great Britain, its Empire and Dominions. When the Bonzos were formed ‘teenage music’ was basically two set formulas – the pop band and the rock band. Pop equated to a good-looking boyish singer with smart dressed not quite so handsome backing musicians, some of whom were actually musically adept. They appealed to parents and older siblings. Rock equated to long hair, rebellious, loud and scruffy with an antagonistic approach to parents and anyone over early twenties.
Such was the musical universe – two divergent forms. But time moves only in one direction and entropy increases. With the formation of the Bonzos a musical super collider was created allowing elemental particles of Pop and Rock to be smashed together with older elements of jazz, blues, music-hall and a new genre emerged.
The new genre featured the handsome, matinee-idol, smooth and distinguished front man Vivian Stanshall on vocals, occasional trumpet, belching, tuba, ukulele and hose pipe. On keyboards, vocals and guitar was the legend who is Neil Innes. Adding some rock and jazz credibility the multi-instrumentalist (with emphasis on the mental) Rodney Slater credited with Alto, Baritone & Bass Sax, Clarinet, Trombone, Bass Clarinet, Trumpet, Oboe, Cornet, Guitar, Hand Jive, Carrot, Brown Ale and Recitation. Automatons were provided by the creative genius known as Roger Ruskin Spear who played Tenor Sax, Trumpet, Xylophone, Bells, Oboe, Accordion and Glockenspiel and created music from household objects including a Trouser Press and his own creation the Theremin Leg. Sam Spoons astounded all as an exponent of the Rhythm Pole, String Bass, Spoons and Percussion. The man with the best name in rock music Vernon Dudley Bohay-Nowell played musical saw, bass guitar and saxophones. ‘Legs’ Larry Smith gave meaning to the statement that all drummers are touched by madness and also bought tap-dancing to the masses. These talented musicians collectively and with various itinerant accomplices went where no other band could go. They experimented with progressive rock and outdid underground favourites Pink Floyd. The Floyd dabbled at making an album using household objects and gave up. The Bonzos created music with a multitude of household implements and gadgets live on stage. They could play any style of music, often several at the same time. Leaders, trend setters, fashion icons, music gods are just some of the accolades put on them and shrugged off with impunity.
Even the Beatles paid homage to them by inviting them to guest on the Magical Mystery Tour and recording a song that evoked the Bonzos, but never matched them, titled You Know My Name (Look up the Number). I give you The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band – makes you proud to be British.