21 December 1968 BBC2 TVColour Me Pop 40-minute Bonzos set - part of a series celebrating the
arrival of colour to British TV.
The series gave rise to The Old Grey Whistle Test
(this set was repeated on OGWT on 24 April 1974).
1968 TV (colour): Bonzos perform I'm The Urban Spaceman Clip shown in BBC's The Rock'n'Roll Years: 1968
1968(?) German TV: Bonzos appear on Beat Club, performing
Spaceman and
Canyons of Your Mind - clips
shown on VH-1 (UK) in 1996/7.
?early 1970 BBC2: Frost On Sunday - late-night appearance by the Bonzos.
Adventures of the Son of Exploding Sausage, produced by Nigel Lees,
written, edited and directed by David Korr, 1969.
Andrew F Wilson comments:
We see the Bonzos set up their equipment in a farm yard and then perform a rather heavy instrumental set.
Despite the rather limited production values the film is quite fascinating with a touch of light humour.
Well received by the audience both times I have seen it.
Marty Amok, BBC TV, transmitted 30 March 1970.
Vivian Stanshall's biG Grunt performed one song.
One Man's Week, BBC TV, transmitted 9 April 1975.
Andrew F Wilson comments:
A half-hour documentary about a week in Vivian Stanshall's life. We see him cycling around London, appearing
on the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme and shopping for 78s in a record shop. A delight.
1974 Final season of Monty Python Contributed by Annie Sattler: Neil wrote and performed the song When Does A Dream Begin?
to Gilliam's soon-to-be wife, Maggie Weston.
1975 BBC2 Rutland Weekend Television by Neil & Eric Idle (and featuring George Harrison), which lead on to
The Rutles
spoof of the Beatles, consisting of
The Rutles album and the film The Rutles,
a spoof of A Hard Day's Night.
RWT ran for two series and a Christmas special.
Old Grey Whistle Test, BBC2, 31 May 1977.
Neil Innes performed I Want A Catchphrase and Randy Raquel.
1977 Terry Gilliam's film Jabberwocky Contributed by Annie Sattler: Neil had a very small part as the court musician:
King Otto smashes a drum over his head - hard to forget!
Noticed by Bert van der Leije:
John Gorman appears as a guard.
Late-70s BBC2 Innes Book of Records Eighteen 30-minute shows of songs and comedy sketches by Neil,
with a follow-up album.
1980 FilmSir Henry At Rawlinson End starring Trevor Howard as Sir Henry, Vivian as Hubert,
Denise Coffey as Mrs. E. and
Vernon Dudley Bohay-Nowell had a cameo role as Nigel Nice.
On video as Tartan Video TVT 034S (UK, 1993),
Island IVA 017 (earlier UK).
(Credits)
Availability: UK
1982 Opening night of Channel 4 Contributed by Dan Green: On the very first day of Channel 4 [2nd November 1982],
there was a very hastily-prepared-looking show in the evening, and on stage was
Roger Ruskin-Spear with sax, during the finale. I can't think why. I doubt there
is any way in which this could be verified, but I'm sure I remember thinking
'cor blimey' etc at the time.
1987 Vivian's TV ad for Cadbury's Creme Eggs
(apparently Mr. Cadbury's Parrot, a variation on
Mr. Slater's Parrot)
and the comic opera Stinkfoot.
1989 Neil provided the music for the film Eric The Viking.
1991 Barbican Theatre A group which included Vivian, Rodney and the poet Pete Brown.
Contributed by Giles Booth - extracts from a Rutles chat session on
Firefly:
The RUTLES: Some of us got together with Viv in 91, including Barry
Wom...Roger Spear, Rodney Slater, Ollie Halsall. It was for a live show.
1991 BBC2 Late Show autobiographical playlet
Crank by Vivian.
Early 1990s: Neil's TV ads for Quality Street
Contributed by <Afroray@aol.com>: "Magic Moments, when two hearts are share-hare-hare-ing!"
1992-93 (?) Neil's TV ads for Greene King IPA
1993 BBC2 Late Show special
The Early Years by Vivian, talking about his childhood and
featuring Vivian, Rodney and others performing largely autobiographical items.
1994 Neil's TV ads for Legal and General Assurance
Late 1994: Vivian's BBC Radio 4 show Essex Teenager To Renaissance Man.
Contributed by Stuart Martin: The story of Vivian's early years, featuring
appearances by mum, friends and a tour round his native
Southend. Quite a melancholic piece, and also practically his
own orbituary, given the fire in March. Features songs, whether
specially recorded I don't know.
1995 BBC2 Late Show obituary special
Diamond Geezer John Peel reminisced about Vivian and introduced a repeat of
The Early Years.
1997 BBC Radio 2 Return To Jollity Farm documentary
Featured members of the Bonzos reminiscing.
Inside the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band 2005 CRP1848 Classic Rock Legends
PAL; Region 0
due out 22-Aug-2005 review of the career of the Bonzos
Do Not Adjust Your Set 2005 BLVDD0047 Boulevard Entertainment Ltd.
PAL; Region 0; 259 mins approx.
9 recently-rediscovered episodes;
comedy family tree poster booklet;
new interviews with Terry Jones and Tim Brooke-Taylor
At last The 1948 Show 2005 BLVDD0041 Boulevard Entertainment Ltd.
PAL; Region 0; 157 mins approx.
5 recently-rediscovered episodes;
comedy family tree poster booklet;
new interviews with Terry Jones and Tim Brooke-Taylor
Looks Like A Brown Trouser Job
- Graham Chapman's 1988 US College Tours
2005 RDVD10803 Rykodisc NTSC; Region 0; 100 mins approx.
Material videotaped on tour and now released from his
personal archive;
extras include assorted video & audio items, including
GC's appearance in Iron Maiden's video Can I Play With Madness?.
"Liner notes read by Legs Larry Smith of the Bonzo Dog Band."
Miscellaneous
Record Collector, issue 100: Bonzos feature and discography
At that time only BBC2 was capable of colour transmission
(UHF/625-lines rather than VHF/405-lines), which is why the first few episodes of
Monty Python's Flying Circus
were transmitted in black and white, till BBC1's transmitters were upgraded.
![[Bonzo Dog]](bonzo.gif)