Music
 

Bonzo Dog Band

From Your Subculture Soundtrack, the music encyclopedia

Founded: 1962

Headquarters: London, UK

Website Link(s): Ian Kitching's site

Contents

[edit] Label(s)

[edit] Genre(s)

[edit] RIYL

[edit] Band Members

[edit] Includes Members of

[edit] Band Biography

The Bonzos (originally the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band) started as a ever-changing collective (lead by Vivian Stanshall and Neil Innes typically, though Neil joined later) that would typically perform songs of a older jazz/ragtime nature, with a dadaist bent to them. Their first record and early singles were of this nature (and splinter group The New Vaudville Band actually had a hit with this style of music with "Winchester Cathedral"), although the Bonzos wouldn't reach success until they shortened their name (though they never had a "the" like some bands), to just the Bonzo Dog Band, and changed their sound to a more accessible pop sound (though still dada). The psychedelic scene was more open to their dada ways, and made "I'm The Urban Spaceman" a hit -- though the Neil Innes penned song did have the help of its producer, one Apollo C. Vermouth. They only put out 4 records (aside from the label-mandated reunion record, which tended to be a collection of solo songs anyway), and broke up amicably into their own separate bands/solo projects, as the constant touring had stopped being fun. Neil Innes probably had the most success, although Vivian Stanshall had quite a bit, too, with not only his music and spoken word projects, but he also appeared in films and advertisements. Roger Ruskin Spear and Rodney Slater both put out solo projects as well, which were minor successes.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] EPs

[edit] Singles

[edit] Appears On

[edit] Compilations

[edit] Soundtracks

[edit] Mix CDs

[edit] Radio Shows

[edit] Further Reading