1960's

The Bonzo Dog Dah Dah Band
                       The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
                       The Bonzo Dog Band

Neil Innes was in the thick of things in the 1960's. He graduated from art school around 1965. He met and married his wife Yvonne in 1966. He had his first son in 1967. And he and some other art students from other schools met and decided to create a band that was a reflection of their interest in the 1920's and 1930's--trad(itional) jazz and the dada art movement.They added some of their own original comedic and pop compositions. Neil (vocals, piano, harpsichord, accordion, vibraphones, organ, harmonica, guitar) played the straight man as the chaos onstage erupted from Roger Ruskin Spear (saxophone, tuba) and his gadgets and Vivian Stanshall (vocals, trumpet) playing the recorder with his nose and producing naughty lyrics and gestures. Other members included "Legs" Larry Smith (drums), Rodney Slater (bass and alto saxophone), and several bass guitar players over time including Dave Clague and Dennis Cowan.They toured the UK, US, and Europe. They appeared on the pre-Monty Python children's show "Do Not Adjust Your Set" with Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Eric Idle. Most of the time it hardly seemed a show for children. They also appeared in The Beatles' film "Magical Mystery Tour." They made 5 albums together, the last being a contractually-obligated album they had to regroup to do in 1972 since they had broken up in 1970. It seemed the magic was still there even then.

Neil is shakin' his booty at this live performance at the Jazz Bilzen Festival in Germany in 1969. It appears he's not playing the straight man at all!

Neil and the band abandon their car when psychedelically-colored smoke emits from it in the film "The Adventures of Son of Exploding Sausage." This film has been found by the writer who has transferred it from film to DVD.

The Bonzos made an appearance on Beat Club, a popular UK show which featured current pop music performers.

This may be one of the first appearances of Neil's duck hat which he became (in)famous for wearing off and on almost up to the present.

The band made it onto "Beat Club," a popular pop music show in the 60's in the UK.

Rodney's wondering if Neil really is the straight man!

Neil is swaying to the music with Dave Clague (bass) and "Legs" Larry Smith (drums) on "Do Not Adjust Your Set."

So with Larry blowing kisses to us all, we move on to the next chapter of Neil's story.
All clips above except for Jazz Bilzen are from the film "Talking Pictures".