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

Quote by Neil Innes

Topics: Neil Innes Quotes

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.

I wasn't aware that Track Records were interested in the Bonzos.

I wasn't aware that Track Records were interested in the Bonzos.

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...

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.

And Roger was crazy with his robots and everything.

And Roger was crazy with his robots and everything.

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.

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...

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 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.

But mostly, I wrote songs and Viv wrote songs.

But mostly, I wrote songs and Viv wrote songs.

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...

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

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

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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.

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...