NEWS: Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band Box Set Announced

We Are Normal but we are Still Barking

Madfish Music is delighted to announce the forthcoming release of ‘Still Barking’ a highly anticipated CD/DVD box set of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. The boxset is available to pre-order now for release on 13^th December’.

This major retrospective box set has been in the making for seven years. All band members – Roger Ruskin Spear, “Legs” Larry Smith, Rodney Slater, Vernon Dudley Bowhay Nowell, Sam Spoons and Neil Innes, were involved in defining the original concept. Titling the set ‘Still Barking was very much Neil’s idea. Sadly, Neil, Sam and Vernon passed away before the set’s completion but their involvement has been immeasurable.

Initial work on the box set was halted by a court case which the Bonzos eventually won. Armed with various contributors Madfish Music overcame numerous hurdles to clearing material, finding masters and sourcing unreleased material. Surviving and former band members contributed reminiscences and pithy tales and fans were invited to put forward their own memories and memorabilia. Sadly, shortly after giving the box his blessing and its title, Neil Innes tragically passed away.

The result of everyone’s hard work and dedication has culminated in two editions of the box set (see Editors’ notes for list of contents). The Standard Edition will feature 17 CDs and three DVDs plus a hardback coffee table book featuring a new essay by esteemed music journalist Chris Welch, archive writings, memorabilia and photographs, and a detailed chronology (cornology) of the band. The Special Edition release will also include a shellac 78 rpm record, an etched, one sided 7″ single featuring a previously unreleased version of ‘Boo!’, reproductions of early promotional posters and booklets, plus an exclusive signed print of the box set artwork by artist Dan Abbott.

Formed in the early 1960s by art students Vivian Stanshall and Rodney Slater, the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band began as a jazz ensemble parodying the music of the 1920s and 30s. Already proving they were a creative force, their art school training further encouraged them to think outside the box – twist the norm and mix genres. Elements of slapstick comedy, music hall, Mariachi flavours, psychedelia and bawdy seaside humour all conspired and inspired the growing band to evolve into a pioneering force in rock and comedy. Their satirical songs, surreal humour, eccentric and eclectic performances quickly made them a favourite on the London underground scene and secured them a permanent residence in the counter-culture prevalent at the time.

Their appearances on the TV show Do Not Adjust Your Set gained them national fame and featured many of the songs that have become lifelong favourites of fans and critics alike. I’m the Urban Spaceman, became the band’s most successful UK hit produced by Paul McCartney under the pseudonym Apollo C. Vermouth.

“We know Bonzo’s fans will be excited about this release” a spokesperson for Madfish Music explains “In addition to remasters of the band’s original albums, we have sourced rare and previously unreleased outakes , BBC Sessions, short films, vintage footage, live recordings and films of concerts in Europe and USA. This was a band that would leave an indelible mark not just on their fans but the music and comedy world.”

Still Barking, is the definitive 20-disc limited edition boxset, the ultimate tribute to a band that defined a genre. Dive into the eccentric world of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and experience their enduring legacy.

BOXSET CONTENTS

17 CDs documenting a spectacularly entertaining career featuring:

Stereo versions of all of the band’s original albums, carefully remastered to capture their idiosyncratic charm

Additional versions of ‘Gorilla’ and ‘The Doughnut in Granny’s Greenhouse’ in their original mono mixes

A newly compiled CD of all the band’s singles

Two discs of demos, rehearsals, and outtakes

A single disc of backing tracks

Three discs of BBC Sessions that capture the band’s eccentric live energy
Two live discs:
Studio Bellevue, Amsterdam. Recorded: November 1968. Transmission date: 3 January 1969
Fillmore East, NYC, 17 October 1969

A CD featuring a live rehearsal for a show from London’s Marquee Club and additional material of band rehearsals from the Manor Studios in Oxfordshire.

Plus:

Three DVDs of TV performances, including the complete ‘Do Not Adjust Your Set’ shows, ‘Colour Me Pop’, ‘Beat Club’, and more. Highlights include rare appearances, short films, and vintage footage from the height of their career.

148 page hardback coffee table book featuring an essay by Bonzos authority Chris Welch and an in-depth Day By Day Chronology/Cornology by noted author Andy Neill (The Who; Ready, Steady, Go!). Also includes tributes and remembrances from fans, friends and band members including Rodney Slater, Yvonne Innes, Roger Ruskin Spear, “Legs” Larry Smith, Pete Townshend & Stephen Fry, alongside images and photos from throughout the band’s career, and much more.

Note: the following content is only available in the Special Deluxe Edition: