Ginger geezer

By Lucian Randall, Chris Welch

Subjects: Biography, Rock musicians, biography, Rock musicians

Description: This is the story of Vivian Stanshall, lead singer of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band , a true British eccentric. The group, who satirised traditional music, jazz, pop and rock, reached number 5 in the charts with I'm The Urban Spaceman in 1968. A punishing schedule of tours and television followed, including work with the future Monty Python team. The following year, broke and burned out, the Bonzos split up, leaving behind a loyal cult following. Vivian launched into myriad solo projects in music, film and theatre, giving himself several nervous breakdowns in the process. Vivian wrote the musical Stinkfoot, was narrator on Tubular Bells and provided lyrics for Steve Winwood. He was a hell-raiser of legendary reputation - assisted through much of the 1970s by The Who drummer, Keith Moon. Vivian drove the many who loved him to the limit, struggling with tranquilliser and alcohol dependency. He died at home in a house fire in 1995.