The Bonzo Dog Band 50th Anniversary Gig 17, 4, 15

All I can say is Wow!!

It was incredible fun, incredible night and an honour to be thrown into the middle of performing with The Rutles & The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band.. surrounded by all these fantastic, talented crazy people re connecting with their fanatical fans. Celebrating 50 years of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band.

I played keys, adding backing vocals along with the rest of the Rutles.. the legend that is John Halsey (Barry Wom) on drums.. The lovely Leg-End himself Elliot Randall (Steely Dan, Reeling in The Years/Fame) Lead Guitar.. the 'Rutling' shredder Ken Thornton Lead Guitar.. the fat bass of the great Mark Griffiths.. and of course the genius that is Mr.. Neil Innes! :)

Had great fun meeting and supporting Rodney Slater, Legs Larry Smith and all the other Bonzos through some Bonzo classics, such as 'My Pink Half of the Drainpipe' 'Monster Mash' & Canyons of Your Mind'. We were also joined by the great Mike Livesley and David Catlin Birch for some top Bonzo numbers, perfoming so wonderfully in homage to Viv Stanshall.
A night to remember forever!

Many thanks to David Christie of 'Doo Dah Diaries' for documenting in photos the whole event, including rehearsals and the gig, which we'll see much more of.. here is a fantastic pic at the end of the night, with all the performers and the whole crowd behind us..

www.doodahdiaries.com

 

Here's to another 50 years ;)

Phil x

Bonzo Dog...

Compared to the Rutles, I didn't know a hell of a lot about The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band.. It was all before my time.. I am but a cherub..
But somehow I knew and got the feeling it was going to be a lot of fun playing and singing Bonzo songs.. I was right.

Neil said to me 'We had a big advantage over all the other groups.. we we're aloud to be funny'

But, more than this, they were really free to play any style of music they came across and liked.. their fans accepted it all.. including old time music hall, Trad Jazz, psychedelic pop, Rock N Roll etc.. With one of the greatest frontmen ever Vivian Stanshall leading some of the most bizarrely comical moments in popular 60s music. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonzo_Dog_Doo-Dah_Band

Here's one of my favourite songs of the band..  A great song that has everything.. Busted..