I see my role in the Bonzos as being the straight man, in many ways.

Quote by Neil Innes

Topics: Neil Innes Quotes

But Dennis was a really solid musician, and we really needed somebody who could play...

But Dennis was a really solid musician, and we really needed somebody who could play...

So we used to look for funny songs, and learn them and play them. And...

So we used to look for funny songs, and learn them and play them. And...

As I said, when we needed to move over to rock'n'roll, Sam and Vernon couldn't...

As I said, when we needed to move over to rock'n'roll, Sam and Vernon couldn't...

I suppose we all loved those kind of sci-fi movies where terrible things came out...

I suppose we all loved those kind of sci-fi movies where terrible things came out...

But I mean, again, Zappa's far more musical than the Bonzos ever were.

But I mean, again, Zappa's far more musical than the Bonzos ever were.

Larry only ever wrote one song, and he wrote that with Tony Kaye, I think...

Larry only ever wrote one song, and he wrote that with Tony Kaye, I think...

But I remember we sold nearly 18,000 records in one day.

But I remember we sold nearly 18,000 records in one day.

In many ways, Viv and I were the only ones who were really songwriters.

In many ways, Viv and I were the only ones who were really songwriters.

Ladies and gentleman, I've suffered for my music, now it's your turn.

Ladies and gentleman, I've suffered for my music, now it's your turn.

But we used to go to flea markets and things, and look for old 78...

But we used to go to flea markets and things, and look for old 78...

We then took a shortened version of what we'd been doing in the pubs, with...

We then took a shortened version of what we'd been doing in the pubs, with...

But mostly, I wrote songs and Viv wrote songs.

But mostly, I wrote songs and Viv wrote songs.

It was just us lampooning our own peer group, saying, well hey, where did this...

It was just us lampooning our own peer group, saying, well hey, where did this...

Viv had this kind of stage presence where you couldn't ignore it. He walked onstage,...

Viv had this kind of stage presence where you couldn't ignore it. He walked onstage,...

I suppose Roger had the license to do anything that fitted the venue.

I suppose Roger had the license to do anything that fitted the venue.

I used to help Viv with the chords and melodies sometimes.

I used to help Viv with the chords and melodies sometimes.

Because Larry, by then, was a drummer, who would sort of get bored and tired,...

Because Larry, by then, was a drummer, who would sort of get bored and tired,...

I mean in recent years, I think you've only got to sell thirty or forty...

I mean in recent years, I think you've only got to sell thirty or forty...

I mean Gorilla was really our first sort of goes at songwriting.

I mean Gorilla was really our first sort of goes at songwriting.

When we did Top of the Pops for the third time, we decided to do...

When we did Top of the Pops for the third time, we decided to do...