Vivian Stanshall - The Early Years BBC2's The Late Show Special (1993)

[@johnmitchelljr]

A comic genius with demons to match. Great video. Thanks for the treasure.

[@baronoflivonia.3512]

Big Grunt could have been such a vital part of 70's. 11 Mustachioed Daughters was so good on Marty Feldman special. It was a uniquely British version of a genre in the vein Zappa/Beefheart with so much more eloquence. We were so short changed. BDDDB deserved so much more recognition that they ever received at time. They were truly ahead of their time, and Vivian Stanshall Was The creative force, IMHO, that is still a influence today.

[@koosiecrackers]

Thank you for uploading this. He's playing the best music of his career here. Neil Innes made some really terrific music later on too. It gives one hope that those of us who remember a world before the internet still have something to give, even if, frankly, it really doesn't feel like that most of the time.

[@markandresen1]

Great to see this again. Thanks.

[@nickballard486]

A pure English Genius without which we couldn't have had the Great in front of Britain.

[@markc5771]

I'm going to go with Ray Davies on that one

[@newsles2]

Great upload, thanks! Btw, according to Wikipedia, the Late Show special was in 1991, but it doesn't really matter of course. Thanks again.

[@TheDarrenLock]

Well guess what? Wikipedia is wrong. If you look at the credit screen at the very end of the video, it actually shows the broadcast year as…1993… 🙄

[@newsles2]

@@TheDarrenLock Well guess what? There was no need to be rude since I was merely reiterating what I read and not expressing a view or saying you were wrong. So thank you very much for 'letting' me view and appreciate your content and for'letting 'me 'like' it and share it on my social media to help increase your reach. I really really appreciate that opportunity you 'gave' to me as well as the withering sardonic response from you when I expressed my appreciation of said. You will clearly go far with that attitude and I commend you for it.

[@johnmitchelljr]

Thank you. Great video and sensitive comments.

[@Claytone-Records]

Wikipedia is quite often shite.

[@OlafProt]

I am now the age Viv was when he died. I really truly believe had he not gone the utterly arbitrary way he did, I think he would have had a massive renaissance late 90s early 00s. So many bands, comedians, artists and writers unknowingly, or knowingly owe him so much. And the whole Britpop thing might have given him a platform too. Lots of performances on Jools Holland 😂😂😂. Mind you the gentrification of The Arts might have sickened him. But alas we shall never know, the silly fucker died.

[@TheDarrenLock]

He was edging towards that renaissance but we’ll never know. Also his alcoholism would have always overshadowed and led him down destructive avenues. I mean, it was that which stopped him from appearing on Tubular Bells II. So yeah, a wasted potential unfortunately! 🫤

[@johnmitchelljr]

Thank you

[@marcbolan1818]

Genius as was Innes

[@marsultra7032]

Viv had a fantastic speaking voice, wouldn't have been out of place on radio four, or the world service

[@TheDarrenLock]

Considering he was a Walthamstow boy, I often think part of it was an affectation, like Keith Moon (who he often hung around with) used to do...

[@SausagePie19]

Grand Piano…..

[@nektekket852]

He was born in Oxfordshire...

[@nektekket852]

And it wasn't an affectation, he spoke RP at home at the insistence of his father, and more "street" outside, so he (to quote Viv) "wouldn't get his f*cking head kicked in..."

[@Claytone-Records]

@@nektekket852RP?

[@_mono_01]

I've always loved Vivian's accent, so much so that I watch this video just to skip to the parts of him talking about his past.

[@PaulFormentos]

WHO? BILLY?

[@_mono_01]

what r u guys on about

[@MickDouglas-co1fy]

If anyone would care to take the time and have a look at James McCartney (pauls son) then have another look at Viv you may be surprised. Paul McCartney (Billy Shears) was Viv Stanshall. By the way the real Paul McCartney died on 11/9/66 and was replaced by this man Billy Shears. Don't believe me? Well it's all in the book The Memoirs of Billy Shears and if you don't believe that,its advertised on Paul McCartneys website.

[@PaulFormentos]

James is the spitting image of Viv, amazing how so many can't see it.@@MickDouglas-co1fy

[@JJ_FLA]

1000% @@MickDouglas-co1fy

[@twitchygiraffe4636]

I would’ve loved to have had this man as my friend!!!!

[@baronoflivonia.3512]

@@OlafProt A real Friend accepts you warts and all.

[@bob28952]

Tricky in his younger days with the Bonzo's though.........😕

[@richardenglish2195]

God, I miss Viv. He was like the bastard son of Edward Lear and Noel Coward.

[@GillMosley-wo9mf]

Or Ivor Cuttler.