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

Quote by Neil Innes

Topics: Neil Innes Quotes

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

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

We weren't by any means like the Grateful Dead or something, who could just roll...

We weren't by any means like the Grateful Dead or something, who could just roll...

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

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

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.

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...

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 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.

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...

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...

We weren't going to play the show-biz game, and be obsequious.

We weren't going to play the show-biz game, and be obsequious.

Eric Clapton always wanted to come out onstage with a stuffed parrot on his shoulder.

Eric Clapton always wanted to come out onstage with a stuffed parrot on his shoulder.

And Roger was crazy with his robots and everything.

And Roger was crazy with his robots and everything.

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 think most musicians do like to have a laugh.

I think most musicians do like to have a laugh.

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...

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...

In fact, Moon came on tour with us for a bit just before a big...

In fact, Moon came on tour with us for a bit just before a big...

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...

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

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