There’s not long to go now. Still Barking, the definitive 20-disc, limited-edition boxset that compiles, in micro-detail, just about everything that The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band ever committed to vinyl, tape or celluloid will be released on 14th December 2024. The excitement is palpable, and it became even more so when the three surviving Bonzos – “Legs” Larry Smith, Roger Ruskin Spear and Rodney Slater – along with a few friends -assembled at BFI on London’s South Bank on 14th November to savour the product, chew the fat and unveil some of the delights to come when the boxset hits the racks.

BONZO BULLETINS

You’ve probably noticed that there’s been quite a flurry of Bonzo activity within these pages of late. Just about a month ago, we featured our exclusive interview with saxophonist, clarinetist and founding band member, Rodney Slater and, last week, we followed up that chat with another Bonzo interview, this time with Rodney’s fellow-saxophonist – and the Bonzos’ ‘gadget man,’ Roger Ruskin Spear. And we’re not yet finished with our Bonzo Bulletins either; watch this space for the write-up of our marathon chinwag with drummer. tap-dancer and self-proclaimed ‘Mr Wonderful,’ “Legs” Larry Smith – coming very soon.

THE DEFINITIVE BONZO BOXSET

It’s all about that mind-blowingly wonderful product that will be invading our record shops in just a few short weeks. Still Barking is a fantastic package, of that there’s no doubt. The 17 audio CDs will feature remastered versions of every original Bonzo album, additional remastered versions of the band’s first two albums – Gorilla and The Doughnut in Granny’s Greenhouse in their original mono format, a compilation of all the band’s singles, two discs of demos, rehearsals and out-takes and two live concert recordings from, respectively, a 1968 Studio Amsterdam concert and a 1969 show at New York’s Fillmore East.

It doesn’t stop there, either. In addition to the audio CDs, the package also contains three DVDs of The Bonzos TV appearances, including every appearance on the groundbreaking Do Not Adjust You Set show, and a fascinating, reconstituted recording of the band’s Christmas 1968 appearance on the BBC2 show, Colour Me Pop. The boxset will be accompanied by a coffee table style hardback book featuring a new essay by famed Melody Maker journalist Chris Welch, archive writings, memorabilia, photographs and Andy Neill’s detailed chronology (or, if you prefer, Cornology) of the band. A Special Deluxe edition of the set will also include a shellac 78 rpm record (let’s hope that bit can survive the tender attentions of DHL…), an etched single-sided 7″ single, reproductions of early promotional posters and booklets, plus an exclusive signed print of the boxset artwork by artist Dan Abbott.

It’s not going to be cheap but, for the committed Bonzo fanatic, it will surely be indispensable.

And, so – to BFI and to the events of 14th November…

FOR STEVIE…

It was gratifying, indeed, that compere Michael Livesey took the opportunity to dedicate the evening to our friend Stevie Horton “A huge part of Cropredy and a huge part of the UK music industry,” as he explained. Stevie had passed away suddenly just a couple of days before the event – an occasion that she had been looking forward to tremendously; according to Michael, Stevie had been “…like a kid at Christmas” when Larry, Rodney and Roger were filmed opening the boxset for the first time. It’s clear, judging by the reaction to Michael’s dedication, that Stevie meant a great deal to many who had made the trip to BFI, ourselves at At The Barrier included.

COLOUR ME POP

The evening’s central event was a screening of that Colour Me Pop appearance that features in the boxset and the episode’s original producer, Steve Turner, was invited tot the stage to share some recollections of the show’s recording. Despite being recorded in the very earliest days of colour television – there were fewer than 200,000 colour television sets in the UK at the time – Steve was instructed to “Show off colour,” which he duly did. by his own admission, Steve “knew nothing about pop music” so he travelled around the country, listening to the groups that had been slated to appear on the show. He realised quickly that “…The Bonzos could play well enough and do enough different things to hold the attention of the show’s audience for 30 minutes. They were visual.”

Broadcast on the evening of 21st December 1968 (incidentally, just a few days before The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour – which, of course, also featured a Bonzos appearance) the programme is a true period-piece – psychedelic and utterly daft in equal measures and featuring all the ‘hits,’ it’s a show that just has to be seen, even if your budget won’t necessarily run to the whole boxset.

A TRIBUTE TO NEIL

It was former Bonzo mainstay, the late, great Neil Innes who came up with the original idea for Still Barking. Sadly, and largely due to the 2-year delay whilst the band fought in the High Court for the right to use their name, Neil had passed away before the plans for the set had reached fruition. It was wonderful, therefore that Neil’s widow, Yvonne, was able to join us at BFI to introduce the screening of Neil’s student film, The Artist as a Young Man.

In her brief introduction, Yvonne observed that “Neil always thought that he was a four-year-old…, “ before reminding us all that Neil’s Tribute Concert – a show that will feature appearances by, amongst others, Michael Palin, terry Gilliam, Ade Edmondson, Roger McGough, The Rutles and Yo La Tengo will take place at The O2 Indigo Room on Thursday 28th November. What an evening THAT promises to be… And, whilst we’re on the subject of celebrating the life of one of music’s – and comedy’s – true colossi, you might wish also to check out Yvonne’s biography of husband – Dip My Brain in Joy – available now.

Inspired by Viv after his encounter with mime artist Lindsay Kemp and starring Yvonne and her puffed-out cheeks, The Artist as a Young Man is another Bonzo-related movie that may have passed you by. It’s certainly well-worth seeking out.

WIT, WONDER AND WEIRDNESS

Interspersed with further clips of key Bonzo moments, it was, perhaps, the panel discussion, chaired by Michael Livesey and featuring “Legs” Larry, Rodney and Roger that was the most eagerly-awaited session of the evening. I particularly enjoyed footage of a live Bonzo appearance on the German TV show, Starparade, on which The Bonzos delivered a great performance – musically faultless and awash with controlled stupidity – to a bemused, tuxedo-clad studio audience (“That was in the days when we used to rehearse – we don’t rehearse anymore,” commented Roger).

The three Bonzos also recalled the right-to-use-the-name court wrangles – with regret, rather than with bitterness – and we re-lived that moment from just a few days ago when Larry, Rodney and Roger were introduced to the finished Still Barking product, before Michael brought the session to its show-stopping conclusion by reading a a beautiful letter from Stephen Fry in which the respected actor/comedian/writer expressed his thanks to The Bonzos for “Opening the door to him – the Odd Boy – with their wit, wonder and weirdness.” That’s a service that you provided to so very many us, gentlemen.

Lookout for At The Barrier’s in-depth review of Still Barking – coming soon.

Watch The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band perform Canyons of You Mind in a clip from that 1968 Colour Me Pop appearance (included in full within the Still Barking boxset) here:

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