BONZO DOG DOODAH BAND &VIV STANSHALL DOCU.

[@krisscanlon4051]

I always go back to the Bonzo's periodically and love when it returns. Neil and Viv plus Legs were a unique group of lads.

[@SuperDALLAMAN]

I have all their videos on disc amongst other numbers which I play from time to time. Only ever saw them once just before they were famous, but something you can never forget.

[@williamgeorgefraser]

Neil is a national treasure. Totally unrecognised composing genius.

[@steveng5516]

Dad used to play their albums on tape in the car when we were kids. I loved it then and still do. Dad wants The Sound Of Music played at his funeral.

[@SuperDALLAMAN]

Lovely story, and on that sad occasion The sound of music would certainly bring a smile to the mourner's faces!

[@fractuss]

@@SuperDALLAMAN I have requested "Jollity Farm" for myself.

[@SuperDALLAMAN]

@@fractuss It would raise a few eyebrows among the uninitiated though probably not as many as The sound of music!

[@fractuss]

@@SuperDALLAMAN Maybe but the bonzos are well known in my family and few will mourn me anyway.

[@SuperDALLAMAN]

@@fractuss Oh, don't say that, hope you're kidding!

[@Flamesofame]

Dr demento thank you for showing me wonderful music.

[@sharan5092]

Was lucky enough to see them in 68-69 era at a club in Kenmore sq. (Boston). Blew me away!

[@SuperDALLAMAN]

I saw them in Warrington c1966 I was gasping for breath from laughing so much and holding my chair so as not to fall off!

[@Steve20127]

I remember when the Bonzos walked the earth and all was well with the world. Happy days.

[@jossperring6233]

? "M."?" ".?.v " v. .n". ? cM ? b" .

[@iadorenewyork1]

I just love “Equestrian Statue” and “Summer Walks and Quiet Talks”. Neil Innis is such a great songwriter. Viv had a wonderful, resonant voice. The band flew about on Dadaist wings.

[@SuperDALLAMAN]

I used to sing Statue and Hunting tigers to my grandson, hope he remembers them, he's 20 now.

[@TheAwakeangel]

Thanks so much for the posting. How nice to be in England with Saint Vivian and the Bonzos. Who would ever think of all the bands from the sixties and seventies it,s the Bonzo- I return to time 'n time again. But it's Vivian I adore esp. "Sir Henry" - the broadcasts are pure comic genius. Now read on...

[@BURP39R]

Oh Stanshall you demented genius. If you're reading this Mark Gatiss, this is a role you would play to perfection.

[@fionaclements977]

I couldn't agree more! Mark Gatiss is a wonderful and dark comedian, who would capture Viv's eccentricities to a T! You can catch a wonderful clip of the Band performing "Look out, there's a monster coming!".

[@emilyoshiro]

fantastic film, thanks for poppin' it up. had the honor of seeing the BONZOS open for THE WHO in l.a., '69, they blew me away! i was 14 @ the time. so glad,i experienced the genius of VIV.

[@sharan5092]

Was lucky enough to see them in 68-69 era at a club in Kenmore sq. (Boston). Blew me away!

[@apowell65]

Thanks for the upload. Threw a lot of light on Viv and where he got his humour from. True originals.

[@hartley252]

Always been a fan since seeing Bonzos live in Manchester. Thanks so much for posting this.

[@ADayInTheLifeofMrsPerkins]

hartley252

[@richardgoffin-lecar5001]

I would love to have met Viv Stanshall. He was, without a doubt, a truly great English eccentric. As someone who prides himself on being of a similar inclination, I feel that we would have had a lot of fun, and produced some great comedy. Maybe, the flying spaghetti monster willing, his work will live on. Rest in peace Viv, YOU WERE GREAT!

[@laurieheadland9011]

Richard Goffin-Lecar I couldn't agree more. Viv's bounds were unlimted. A true English Loonie, just like me. Laurie

[@richardfinlayson1524]

Gosh he was only 51 when he died, still a young man, fantastic genius!

[@SuperDALLAMAN]

So unfortunate. A pity he couldn't have carried on for a few more years with the Bonzos, but he seemed to have lost his mojo for gigs and touring.

[@HughTerry69]

No mention of the Bonzos' appearance in Magical Mystery Tour - which is bizarre!

[@jaboajump5271]

this is the ultimate band from the early 70s they were my favorites and always will be thanks for posting this...

[@jpatt1000]

These guys were the Muppets without any puppets! I'm glad I found my Mom's copy of History of the Bonzos back in the early 80's when I was in first or second grade. My love for them has stuck through the years!

[@tonybarker-may3528]

My very favourite band. Saw them twice, once at Newcastle Town Hall and once at the Sunderland Empire, where I managed to con my way backstage and spent a happy hour after the concert drinking scotch and dry with the band in their dressing room. Heady stuff for a 16 year old!

[@frequencyfluxfandango8504]

What an amazingly funny character ! This phenomenon is something we have always been rather good at creating in Britain: eccentric geniuses. The Goons/Peter Moore/Peter Sellers/Spike Milligan, Monty Python, Bob Calvert, Arthur Brown...the list goes on and on. Our national treasures and we love them (even if perhaps they miiight raise an eyebrow in the mental health dept, must be stressful at times being so incredibly intelligent, gifted and creative like that... Rest In Peace Viv Stanshall.

[@frequencyfluxfandango8504]

Yes, I Know I could have added SO many more names to that list,,, , , , , , ,

[@sharan5092]

Sadly only Sellars & Monty Python got a majority of the publicity needed.

[@renashfield9796]

Vivian and the Bonzo's were like nothing else i'd ever heard before. Truly unique, precious and inspiring - like a Hungarian Knee Trumpet Saga! Thanks Guys, thanks Viv!!

[@steffiemay17]

My friend and I are know to quote Sir Henry at random times. Always makes us laugh and often cause puzzled brows amongst bystanders ...never forgotten, Vivian

[@mickymantle3233]

I did some Roadie work with their former road manager 'The Noz' with the band Fotheringey in 1970. The Bonzo's were complete & utter mayhem to work for, but what a national treasure they are !

[@SuperDALLAMAN]

Must have been laughs from start to finish with them

[@Tmuk2]

I was born in the early 80's and I'm just discovering this stuff for the first time. It's fascinating to see where material you're familiar with originated from - I'm thinking about Reeves & Mortimer in particular.

[@Preliminimal]

i relate well with Viv's background, a humorless angry military father and me an artist, except his dad sounds a much meaner guy. bonzo dog doodah band, a favorite since 9th grade. the first album i found of them was 'let's make up and be friendly'. thanks for posting this doc

[@iracknads]

Vivian Stanshall, as well as James Paul McCartney after the real one was ritually murdered in 1966, were both played by William Shepherd. His biological father was Aleister Crowley.

[@Obicere]

Thanks for that, I missed the programme. I lived in West Norwood for many years and passed that address in Rosendale often and never knew...

[@davidmortara]

I have never seen anyone make a connection between Vivian Stanshall and Kenny Everett, yet Everett (and perhaps his script writers Ray Cameron, Barry Cryer and Dick Vosburgh) clearly lifted some of Stanshall’s ideas for ‘spoof commercials’ presented on his 1970s BBC radio shows and adapted them for some early Kenny Everett Video Cassette sketches.

[@dougreed2257]

Ah yes,billy (mcartney stanshall shears)wake up people😊

[@shantrannyduck]

a feast of language were the Bonzos who else writes lyrics like these "Lips-a-gleam Hexachlorophene Cling-cling the ring Clang clang, she sang" On Keynsham

[@lrcb40]

A huge influence on my life during the "Gorilla" and "Tadpoles" era recordings. They didn't mention "Intro -Outro"...."A sessions gorilla on vox humana..." Love it!

[@gurgisjones1120]

I'm still new to the Bonzos, and Viv's solo work, but this documentary is priceless and greatly appreciated. It's helping provide the background to these wonderfully wacky and talented guys. Nice too that Larry Smith, Neil Innes, and Rodney Slater contributed. Live on Viv and the Bonzos!

[@Carl-im9gh]

Everybody who knows Vivs music knows he is a genius.

[@captainkundalini1]

About sums him up Wonderful stuff. Thank you so much for posting...

[@jimjohnston66]

thanks for posting this...jolly good show

[@JasonRoggasch]

I WISH MORE AMERICANS understood the brilliance of this man.

[@sharan5092]

Yes, brilliant waay offbeat humor!

[@ADayInTheLifeofMrsPerkins]

He is appreciated by me..greatly.

[@tazloon]

I'l never forget when Neil Innes first came to Beatlefest in Chicago and he said he couldn't get over how many Bonzo albums he'd signed that weekend as he had no idea we even knew about them.

[@gurgisjones1120]

Here's another American who appreciates Viv (and the rest of the Bonzos).

[@scotth5237]

Do they have any recordings that you can buy?

[@tonystewart3489]

both band and stanshall one of a kind

[@tSp289]

There was a man who had the voice and musicality to be among the best of the kind of musicians he was mocking, but chose to take the piss of them instead. I'm eternally grateful he did that. Canyons of your mind (without the talking intro) - no other song has made me laugh 5 seconds in, before there has even been any singing.

[@sharan5092]

His real Brilliance, "the fence of common sense" & his parody lyric from Pink Drainpipe.

[@TRASHBOUTIQUE-ow8gw]

Wonderful Chap! big influence

[@TRASHBOUTIQUE-ow8gw]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4O1lYVnrs6fbpIsi=yaIbxqcViiQO3Lk3

[@sarahmiller6347]

They were the soundtrack of my high school years. More mind-expanding than drugs.

[@divingduck1970]

Thanks so much.

[@bloke2201]

Родерик Рандом: I find a delightful irony in you calling anybody a "pathetic, loudmouth fool". Keep it up, the world loves a clown.

[@teddybedlam2022]

Please subscribe to us for all the new 2023 latest Bonzos dog shorts

[@RaysTrack]

Wonderful! Made me laugh so much. Can't help thinking with KZbin these days always out of audio sync (why is that?) that Neil reminds me of Rowley Birkin QC :-)

[@MsBonzodog]

😅😅😅

[@jeremiah123z]

An artist who appears to have earned all the cliche modifiers: tortured, insecure, unjustly ignored. And this: brilliant.

[@ericbush3597]

A question that this brings up for me is, was, Adrian Edmondson making a sort of homage to Stanshall by naming his Young Ones character, Vivian? (Mrs. Vivian, why did you give your Boy a Girl's Name?) As the character is a polar opposite in terms of temperament. Not exactly a 'Must Know' in the scheme of things but a curious connection that I am somewhat Curious About. (by the bye, Mr. Stanshall's rendition of, Monster Mash really threw me as I'd always known it for Bobby Pickett and his Crypt Kickers... as if a true Brit couldn't do as good a Karloff as a lounge singer from, Massachusetts!)

[@hughnique7717]

Absolutely. Ade has stated several times that he is a huge fan of the Bonzo's. By the way his characters name was written as Vyvyan. Vivian Stanshall's first name comes from his father who had changed his name to Victor. Vivian's given birth name was Victor. So they swapped names so to speak, I guess Viv did it as a dig to his father who didn't change his own name for nothing..

[@ericbush3597]

Thank You- Hugh! (you are truly, Hughnique!)

[@hughnique7717]

Your welcome. I totally forgot that Adrian went on tour with the reformed Bonzo's in 2006 :)

[@terryhumphreys4241]

Oh my god a blast from the past

[@makinandrew]

FYI Vivian is a boy's name. Vivienne is a girl's name.

[@patrixspringer2753]

45:14 -- Landing on My Feet Feet (sung by Steve Howe as Stinkfoot)----anyone know where this song can be heard?

[@JimTLonW6]

I don't know how inappropriate this is, but it came up with an ad to 'Cover your Funeral Costs', maybe Viv would have approved?!

[@edwardlouisbernays2469]

Almost makes ya believe in Telekinesis and The Dead playing Tricks, Eh, Wot?

[@marshaosheaneedham4864]

HES ALSO PHIL AKRILL AND PAUL MCARTNEY

[@RealScarlett33]

As I understand it, Vivian Stanshall was a fictitious character. His real name is William Shepherd. You are right: William still exists as 'Paul McCartney,' the corporate entity.

[@buddyneher9359]

That "Paul is Dead" guy was doing a fine job of sowing doubt in my mind.... till he came out with that "Paul is Vivian Stanshall" tidbit. Back to the drawing board....

[@garyhillman4993]

Looks like his son

[@haircole]

Thank you Bobbie Cruz for bring The Bonzo Dog Band to my life... When “Sir Henry At Rwalinson

[@haircole]

....Rawlinson End” opened in LA and NYC simultaneously, The critic from the Village voice reviewed it without having seen it and called Vivian miss?

[@krisscanlon4051]

Legs Larry Smith Innes and the Lads looking like Noel Coward and just a delight to praising the Ginger Geezer hisself.

[@grilledchicken5301]

Such varied and wacky music that has always stuck with me. A real lost treasure this lot

[@SuperDALLAMAN]

I saw them once in 1966 before they were famous, once seen NEVER forgotten!

[@SuperNevile]

Many artists today take themselves too seriously. The Bonzos were unique.

[@sharan5092]

Their crowning glory.

[@MrDogonjon]

The grotesque mockery of convention for theatrical effect is the goal of satire. Not all satirists have enough self deprecation skills to survive a Uke driven rant. I heard rumors of the Bonzo Dog Band and the legal issue forcing "doo-dah" into the name. Much like Dave Hicks and the Hot Licks Or Mike Hunt's Get Your Friend Laid Band their feigned lack of preparation shows the contempt for the media demonstrating for shock value raw performance art.(APPLAUSE)

[@DavidLPeel]

Nice to see the late great John Peel paying a tribute.

[@jamesallen6767]

Of course, the authority known as Stephen. Has to know all about them .... sigh! Like no one else ever did ... 12 yrs old?

[@ednasulejmanovic]

Can anyone tell me who the guy is at 1:15? What's his name?

[@billcobbett9259]

Neil knew perfectly well what happened to Viv towards the end of the first US tour... a drink handed to him in the dressing room was spiked, probably with LSD. That was the turning point. Viv's widow, now also sadly no longer with us, documented his life from then on in her book 'Vivian Stanshall, A Fairy Tale Of Grimm Art'

[@SuperDALLAMAN]

Thanks for that info. I knew something happened on the U.S. tour when he mentioned Viv being a changed man but not exactly why.

[@curmudgeon1933]

Very sad, a similar thing happened to Peter Green. Having had a few 'interesting' experiences with hallucinogenics in the past, I can understand how it could alter a persons perceptions.

[@richardgoffin-lecar5001]

Viv was a massive example to us all.

[@davidjohnson-pz2df]

Xelent I would have loved meetiing MY "brother"

[@jeremyb5468]

that paul McCartney that's nuts

[@garyhillman4993]

Yup it sure is him

[@david_4739]

nice upload - thank you

[@beatradar9537]

watdhed a gig of the doo dah bAND great night out

[@iconicshrubbery]

Definitively ..."The Sweet Essence of Giraffe"

[@andersandersen6295]

The thin line between genious and insanity.

[@SuperDALLAMAN]

A good description, though I don't think the boys were too close to insanity!

[@andersandersen6295]

@@SuperDALLAMAN It seems to me that Viv was on the spectrum, and from watching some docus he seemed to be mentally fragile. My comment was solely directed at Viv's state. I have seen so many creative types that walk that thin line and sometime they fall off to the wrong side.

[@SuperDALLAMAN]

@@andersandersen6295 I thought that this was the case. I myself have seen very talented people whom reaching a certain age suffer a setback in their everyday lives and something of a withdrawal from the norm.

[@GlasgowGallus]

Force of sodding nature, really...👍☺

[@tonnyberteloot2378]

does anyone knows the title of the song at 45;18 ?

[@Maccabee444]

People think this is billy shears who also plays macca

[@SuperDALLAMAN]

This is Neil Innes

[@Maccabee444]

No Neil plays Lennon

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

what? no "death cab for cutie"? to do a documentary on this band and making no mention of this song is like doing a documentary on the monkees and not mentioning their TV show. oh well. very interesting none the less. I was always curious about this strange band that made a strange appearance in Magical Mystery Tour. (the best part of the film too! except I Am The Walrus.) thanks for the video.

[@hermitcrabbot]

Shakespeare X LSD = Vivian Stanshall. The funniest social observer of the 20th Century.

[@SuperBagshot]

I love Viv cos he had the grace to die an ignoble death, we can only hope Stephen Fry goes in a similar way

[@jasrust]

+Peter Plasticon porron taste What a genius you are. You must forward me more of your writings. No, please do.

[@garyhillman4993]

It’s ok he s still with us as Paul Mcartney doing just fine

[@51scouser]

Thanks for this, :)

[@Khultan]

Is this a real documentary? I cannot tell with this fellows.

[@jaboajump5271]

who's your favorite Bonzo? Mine is Rodney Slater...

[@caitrionadoherty9166]

MINE TOO OH MY DAYS

[@jaboajump5271]

OMG we are normal and we want our freedom...thanks for your reply

[@DavidLPeel]

Mine is Neil Innes, the urban spaceman. lol.

[@jaboajump5271]

David Peel Awesome stuff it takes me back to the winter of 1971-72 what a band.

[@larrymclarnon-pd8xf]

A little bit of sanity in a world gone utterly mad.

[@theonewithoutidentity]

Any chance you could reupload this in higher res or is this all we've got?

[@paxwallacejazz]

I'll take Zappa or Beefheart instead any day thanks very much.

[@SuperDALLAMAN]

The Bonzos were more of a comedy outfit than straight-ahead rock like those two.

[@tommythetrain1945]

i love all 3 !

[@garyhillman4993]

Could play the instruments better than them esp Viv alias Paul Mcartney he s a one man band piano drums guitar trumpet etc etc he practically wrote all the Beatles song from 66 onwards

[@paultye1441]

it should be quite simple to sort out if vivian and paul from the beatles are one and the same, just cross reference the bonzo dog tour of america (1969) with what paul was up to.... if they are in conflict end of story

[@garyhillman4993]

Yes Viv is Paul Mcartney man of a thousand voices he even performed in the magical mystery tour as Viv and Paul

[@gavinhughes7136]

Wonderful ✨

[@SuperDALLAMAN]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it, once seen never forgotten!

[@bobburroughs6241]

Memorable - Doodah band at Epstein's Saville theatre, watched from a box by creased up bill-toppers Cream!

[@slimkickens]

Holy shit, that bit from the Sir Henry movie was brilliant

[@peterh1353]

Watch it all on KZbin....

[@iadorenewyork1]

I heard it on record many years ago, and my jaw ached from trying not to laugh.

[@larrymclarnon-pd8xf]

Antilope and repelephant spring immediately to my mind.if you dont get it, then that is your loss.

[@postatility]

The Bonzos and The Residents----Two countries,two genius ensembles.

[@Dususdo]

+postatility hear here

[@charlesloukas1946]

If they had made an album together!

[@voidforpurpose]

The musical Orwell-Meets-Swift with a viaduct of the Marx Brothers and aqueduct of Rabelais. Viva Viv!

[@annyleb9485]

viv stanshall sir faul mccartney same actor

[@richardfinlayson1524]

Some people think that being an artist has something to do with being successful and organised

[@29crespo]

Come back Viv, all is forgiven.

[@Ibrian8888]

He played Paul McCartney for a while

[@garyhillman4993]

He s still playing Faul Mccartney

[@charlesashurst997]

I have renewed hope for the all charlie tabernacle choir.

[@blackmore4]

@РодерикРандом1 What? How on earth is it possible to be so ridiculously negative? I couldn't care less if Fry had any personal "contact" with Stanshall or not. The point being that Fry is a significant (and very entertainingly eloquent) example of someone Stanshall reached through his work. Which is surely the point of any art.

[@annyleb9485]

paul mccartney, one of them

[@SuperDALLAMAN]

Very much of the same era as the Beatles, always went for the comedy view of things. Reckon the Beatles would have liked the Rutles take offs, they would appeal to scouse humour.

[@garyhillman4993]

Yes it’s Viv he is Paul Mcartney thinned down with face fillers man of a thousand voices and faces

[@KieranRobinson-zz6ug]

21:50 i didn't know viv wore wigs as that definitely a wig and a "fake mustache" dont yiu think

[@garyhillman4993]

Faul Mccartney used to hang about with John Lennon 😂😂 ha ha very funny old chap 👍

[@mike9klf]

Yes!

[@corinnafox114]

Paul is Vivian right ? Lmao

[@garyhillman4993]

No Vivienne is Faul Mccartney clever eh

[@jojojam6012]

......brush people aside as if they were matchsticks....hahahha

[@paultye1441]

just looked it up, the tour of America was the end of 1969, at this time Paul was at home in st. johns wood working on and recording his album "McCartney"......sorry all you conspiracy theorists but paul and vivian aren't one and the same..... this also casts a shadow over the book the memoirs of billy shears which is supposed to be by pauls replacement and claims he was also stanshall.......

[@buddyneher9359]

I just heard that theory for the first time. Could someone please find a pic of Viv and Paul in the same room at the same time and send it to "Billy Shears"? (Of course in these days of Photoshop I don't know how you prove anything is real anymore. Down the rabbit hole we go.)

[@garyhillman4993]

Sorry good try old chap yes it’s Mr Faul Mccartney 😊 the master of disguise like Mr too man chu himself he produced the bonzos and the Beatles , clever man eh

[@Steve-z9n1g]

Love billy.sorry viv ...

[@johnfarenden1080]

kieth moon/viv stanshall

[@louiseoshea7491]

Don`t get me wrong, it`ll only take a minute of your time and by the way George did get the message, i`m sure..dot.. dot...

[@bobgreen623]

Stephen Fry in a stripy T-shirt? It's just wrong, innit?

[@DrDespicable]

Bobby G No doubt he is incognito...

[@stephenhumphriesArtist]

This documentary doesn't really make sense and has many holes in it, vey strange, vey strange indeed.

[@thepossessor]

Why doesn't it make sense?

[@garyhillman4993]

Cos Viv looks like Faul Mccartney

[@smiles12331]

:)))